George Wesley Atkinson is Born

Today in Masonic History George Wesley Atkinson is born in 1845.

George Wesley Atkinson is an American politician.

Atkinson was born in Charleston, West Virgina. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University. He would graduate from Wesleyan in 1870 with a Bachelors of Arts. In 1873 he would receive a Masters of Arts from Wesleyan. In 1874 he would receive a Bachelor of Laws from Howard University.

From 1869 to 1871 Atkinson would serve on the Kanawha River Board as toll collector. In 1871 he would appointed postmaster for Charleston.

Atkinson would run for the West Virgina State Legislature in 1876 unsuccessfully.

From 1879 to 1881Atkinson would become an Internal Revenue Agent. His success with interfering with moonshiners would lead to his being appointed as United States Marshall serving until 1885.

In 1888, Atkinson ran for the United States Congress. Initially losing the election, it was later contested and Atkinson was declared the winner and finished out the term in Congress.

In 1896, Atkinson ran for Governor of West Virgina. Wining the election he would serve until 1901. He would later be appointed United States District Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.

In 1905, Atkinson would be appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as the associate judge of Court of Claims. He would serve on the court until his retirement in 1916.

Atkinson passed away in Charleston, West Virginia in 1925.

Atkinson was a member of Kanawha Lodge No. 20, Charleston, West Virginia.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.