George W. Atkinson
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| George W. Atkinson | |
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| In office 1897 – 1901 |
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| Preceded by | William A. MacCorkle |
| Succeeded by | Albert B. White |
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| Born | June 29, 1845 Charleston, WV |
| Died | July 4, 1925 (aged 80) Charleston, WV |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician |
George Wesley Atkinson (June 29, 1845 - April 4, 1925) of Ohio County was the tenth Governor of West Virginia. He also served in the United States Congress in the House of Representatives, and was a judge on the United States Court of Claims.
In 1870, Atkinson graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with an A.B.. He received an M.A. there in 1873, and an LL.B. from Howard University in 1874. He served as toll collector on the Kanawha River Board from 1869 to 1871 and was appointed postmaster of Charleston in 1871. He was elected to the West Virginia state legislature in 1876. He was an Internal Revenue agent from 1879 to 1881; his success at interfering with moonshiners lead to his appointment as a United States Marshall, serving until 1885. In 1888 he ran for Congress as a Republican against John O. Pendleton, who presented credentials and served for almost a year before Atkinson won his challenge of the election and was seated instead.
Elected as a Republican to be the ninth Governor of West Virginia, he served from 1897 to 1901. He then served as the first United States District Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. In 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him associate judge of the Court of Claims. He served from April 15, 1905, until April 16, 1916, when he retired.
Atkinson was married twice and had four children. His first marriage was in 1868 to Ellen Eagan; after she died in 1893, he married Mrs. Myra (Horner) Camden, in 1897.
Atkinson died in Charleston, West Virginia on April 4, 1925 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery.
[edit] References
- (1976) The United States Court of Claims : a history / pt. 1. The judges, 1855-1976 / by Marion T. Bennett / pt. 2. Origin, development, jurisdiction, 1855-1978 / W. Cowen, P. Nichols, M.T. Bennett.. Washington, D.C.: Committee on the Bicentennial of Independence and the Constitution of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
[edit] External links
- George W. Atkinson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Biography of George W. Atkinson
- Inaugural Address of George W. Atkinson
- Southern District of West Virginia history page
- George W. Atkinson at Find-A-Grave
| Preceded by William A. MacCorkle |
Governor of West Virginia 1897–1901 |
Succeeded by Albert B. White |
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