WI BIO - Dane Co - ATKINSON, William B.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol I, pp 175

William B. ATKINSON, a farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in the city of 
Leeds, Yorkshire, England, 30 May 1839, a son of John and Sarah ATKINSON, the 
former a native of Leeds, and the latter of Yarmouth, England. The parents 
were married in their native country, and reared a family of nine children, 
six boys and three girls. They came to America when our subject was nine 
years of age, locating in Milwaukee, WI, the following year went to Rock 
County, WI, and the next year came to Dane County.

William B. ATKINSON attended school in England, also in Dunn Township [Dane 
County, WI], and was a student at the Stoughton Academy one year. In the 
fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 33rd WI Infantry, under J. B. MORE, in 
the 17th Army Corps. He served in the Army of the West, was one and a half 
years under SHERMAN and GRANT, and participated in all the battles and 
skirmishes of his regiment. His brother, E. J. ATKINSON, was killed near a 
spring between Jackson and Vicksburg by a stroke of lightning. 

William B. ATKINSON was mustered out of service at Madison in 1865, after 
which he remained at his father's home in Pleasant Springs Township [Dane 
County, WI], until 33 years of age. In 1873 his father gave him his farm, 
160 acres on section 31, where he has since been engaged in general farming, 
making a specialty of the raising of tobacco. In 1887 William B. ATKINSON 
erected a fine two-story brick residence, one of the best in Dane County. 
Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, has served as Supervisor 
of Pleasant Springs Township, and a member of the Board several terms. 
Socially he has been a member of Philo C. Buckman Post, No. 153, of 
Stoughton, for the past five years.

William B. ATKINSON was married in 1875 with Lucretia E. DEVOE, a native of 
Oakland, Jefferson County, WI. They have had five children: George E.; 
Willie W., deceased, at the age of four years nine months and nine days; 
Forest A., Lorenzo D., and Clare J. H. ATKINSON.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly