Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Atkinson, Thomas O.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown A-L


THOMAS O. ATKINSON real estate broker, and treasurer of 
Bucks County Trust Company, P.O. Doylestown, was born in 
Wrightstown township, Bucks county, October 12, 1834, and is 
a son of Edmund S. and Ruth (Simpson) Atkinson, natives of 
Bucks county, and of English and Irish descent. The first of 
the name in this country was John Atkinson, who came from 
England in 1699. He obtained a certificate from Lancaster 
Monthly meeting, England, dated February 3, 1699, for 
himself, wife and children to Friends in the province of 
Pennsylvania.  It is said that the patents both died at sea, 
leaving three children:  William, Mary and John.  The last 
named John had a son, Thomas, whose son, also named Thomas, 
was the father of Timothy Atkinson, grandfather of our 
subject.  Timothy Atkinson was a farmer, and owned a good 
farm.  Our subject's father had also been a farmer all his 
life, and is still living.  He was the father of eight 
children, three by his first wife:  Robert, Thomas O. and J. 
Simpson.  The last named is now living in Springfield, Mo.  
He has been an active business man in the west for a number 
of years.  Our subject remained at home until 24 years of 
age, going to school and teaching.  In 1858 he went to Linn 
county, Kansas, where he engaged in the mercantile business 
for about one year.  He then came back to Wrightstown 
township, and engaged in the mercantile business at Penn's 
Park, which he carried on until January 1, 1871, when he 
came to Doylestown and engaged in the real estate business, 
which he has since carried on, being a part of this time in 
partnership with A. J. Larne, now deceased, and later with 
S. A. Firman.  In 1886 he was elected treasurer of the Bucks 
County Trust Company.  He was married in March, 1861, to 
Mary B. Heston, of Buckingham township, by whom he has one 
child, Edmund R., deceased. He and his wife are members of 
the Society of Friends.