WI BIO - Dane Co - ATKINS, Thomas
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol II, pp 554-555

Thomas ATKINS, one of the leading farmers of Sun Prairie, Dane County, WI, is 
the subject of this sketch. His father, George ATKINS, was born in Sussex, 
England, where he lived and died a farmer. His father [grandfather of the 
subject] was also named George. The mother of our subject was a native of 
England, where she lived and died. Of the three children born to these 
parents, Louisa, John, and Thomas, our subject is the only one who left his 
native land to come to America.

The removal was made when our subject was about 25 years of age. His early 
life had been spent on a farm, and his instruction was received from his 
father in addition to what he learned in the two weeks he attended school. 
In addition, he was well grounded in the catechism and Bible at a Sunday 
school that he walked one and a half miles to reach every Sunday, and also 
learned to write at a writing school. When he started to America he embarked 
in a sailing vessel from London, and after a voyage of 36 days landed in NY. 
The passage was a pleasant and safe one, and after landing at Castle Garden 
he journeyed up the Hudson River to Albany, thence to Madison, Madison 
County, NY, where he remained five years, spending most of his time on a 
farm. He then went, via canal and lakes, to Milwaukee, WI, and thence to 
Dane County, WI, where he obtained a farm of 176 acres, part of which was 
Government land, on which he moved. Here he found a log house and a 
blacksmith shop, the former 12 x 14 feet. On this land he settled with a 
yoke of oxen obtained in Milwaukee, and began to break land and make other 
improvements. Our subject now resides with his son, in Sun Prairie, on a 
farm.

Thomas ATKINS was married in NY to Mary A. PUTNAM, whose father removed to MS 
and there lived and died a farmer. Mary A. (PUTNAM) ATKINS died in Jan 1891, 
in Sun Prairie, Dane County, WI. She bore her husband the following 
children: DeWitt, Ella, John, deceased; and Charlie, Libbie and Emma, 
married; and George, a single man. Charlie has two boys and it is with this 
son that our subject makes his home in his declining years. The farm is a 
good one, and as the father helped Charlie gain it, the son is only too glad 
to have his father with him. Thomas ATKINS has a home and lot in Sun 
Prairie, but it is too lonesome for him to live alone since the death of his 
faithful wife.

Thomas ATKINS was converted in 1842, in NY, and has continued a decent, 
devoted Christian ever since. He has spent a large portion of his time 
exhorting and takes a great interest in the salvation of souls. His only 
desire now is to devote the balance of his life to the salvation of men's 
souls, to which end he spends all of his time in church work, in which he has 
always been interested. While his wife lived he had a faithful fellow 
worker, as she too was interested in the same good work. Thomas ATKINS is 
now connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sun Prairie. Thomas 
ATKINS has always been a hard worker and aided his children in obtaining a 
start in life. Although greatly interested in church work, he is ready and 
willing to go when the Lord calls. He is a Class Leader and Sunday school 
Superintendent, and embraces every opportunity to do good.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly