Village of Atkinson
R. W. MILAR. came from Ohio and settled in what is now the town in 1856. He found living in this vicinity when he came Lorenzo Eldridge, now of Chicago; Stephen Trekell, who left for California and died on the way on shipboard
Henry Bass, living two and a half miles north ; E. R. Lucas, the present Town Street Commissioner; Benj. Shearer, who re turned to his old home in the East; James W. English, Z. Welch, Hiram Grant and Michael Milar (the last four deceased), and John Crosby, now living in the southern part of the county; George Rummell, living in Geneseo; David Walters, in Nebraska; John Rummell, in Iowa; John Heller, in Missouri; Asa Crook,
Living near the village; John Bowen (deceased) ; Harry and Henry Fanes, now in Kansas; George Williams, living north of Green River; C. J. Gearheart, living on Green River; M. W. Taylor (deceased); E. F. Rose, in Chicago; George Lowbauch, in Geneseo; Andrew Miner, in Iowa; Sperry Howard (deceased), and some think he was about the first settler in the township; and Wally Smith, who went West years ago.
R. W. Milar's family were the first that got moved into the village proper. He built the first dwelling. There were two other houses going up at the same time, but Mr. Milar it seems worked the fastest and was a day or two ahead of the others. This first house occupied is now the property of Fred. Kizer.
One of the other two houses is now the hotel of the place. It was built by Trekell.
The other building was the first store room in the place, by N. W. it Taylor. It is now a harness shop on State Street.
Taylor was the first store keeper and Postmaster.;
With this flush start for a good town, the people put up as the fourth building a school house. It is now a dwelling and belongs to Thomas Nowers, Jr. At one time additions were put to it and it became a hotel, and when it served its day in this line the additions were separated and made into two dwellings, one of which is occupied by the agent, Emmons, and the other by A. R. Walters.
George Lowbauch put up the next building. It is now occupied by Daniel Seybert.
Then Dr. Lucas put up a dwelling. He sold to Brandon and left this part of the country. Brandon died some 25 years ago.
Slusser then built , just north of Milar's. Isaac Fry erected a building on Mail. Street, on the same block of Trekell's building.
Then E. F. Rose, just south of Milar's, and then Babbit built. Then E. F. Rose erected his elevatcr and opened it for the trade of the farmers.
Stephen Trekell then put up his store room. Lorenzo Eldridge built and opened his store about the same time, and soon after this Samuel Brant put up his building. The first brick building was erected in p 1867, by Edward Everett.
The first school taught in the place was by Elizabeth Nowers, now Mrs. Henry L. Lyon.
Rev. Wm.I White, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, preached the first sermon in the place.
A notice for the people to meet and vote upon the question of town organization was posted Jan. 12, 1867, signed by Luke Wills, Amos Fry and John Ashley. There were 19 votes cast at the election, 11 for and 8 against organization. A charter was obtained, and at the first election, Thomas Nowers,Sr., President, Dr. Levi Carter, John Ashley,Jr., George R. Babbitt and John M. Brown were elected a Board of Trustees, and John Ashley, Clerk. The town was under its special charter until June, 1878, when by a vote it changed to the general incorporation law.
The present population is 500;
Atkinson has four churches : —The Methodist Episcopal Church, the Free Methodist, Congregationalist and Catholic. Three dry goods stores, five groceries, one bank and one hotel.
The present village officers are, John Straly, President; John W. Smith, John Johnson, John English, John F. Nowers, J. C. Pierson ; and Charles E. Sheldon, Clerk.
The Congregational Church was organized in 1864. The same year they built their church at a cost of $2,700. The parsonage was built in 1868.
The M. E. Church was organized in 1857, by Rev. White, mentioned above as preaching the first sermon. Revs. D. M. Hill, O. W. Pollard and Knowlton were the Pastors in charge. Then Revs. Sheldon, Morey, Kinney, Woodruff, Frick, Heckard, Odell, Fleharty, Head, Swartz, Woodruff, Keller and Otterman. The church building cost $3,500.
The Catholic Church commenced its services in 1871. The church building cost $1,200.
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