Charles F. Atkinson
Charles F. Atkinson, farmer, of Plain City, Madison County, Ohio, was born on June 17, 1870, on the home farm were he now lives, in Canaan township, and is a son of William and Lucinda (Nunemaker) Atkinson. He was reared on the old homestead and obtained his early education at the public schools, after which he attended the Wittenburg College at Springfield, Ohio, where he took the scientific course. He has returned to the farm and assisted his father until the latter's death, and now has charge of the farm, owning in his own name four hundred and forty acres. He controls four hundred and fifty acres all told, and devotes his special attention to cattle and hogs of which he disposes of about three carloads annually. Mr. Atkinson has always been a strong supporter of the Republican principles, and has shown his interest in local politics by serving as township treasurer. He officiates as one of the directors of the Farmers' National Bank at Plain City.
William Atkinson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in February of 1832, in Greene county, Ohio, and was a son of Cephas and Abigail (Oren) Atkinson. His wife was Lucinda (Nunemaker) Atkinson, to whom he was married in 1866, when he moved to the farm now owned by Charles F. and built the brick house which stands a quarter of a mile north of the Wilson pike, living there until his death, which took place in July, 1908. William Atkinson was a Republican, and took great interest in local politics, holding several of the township offices. He was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church, and belonged to Urania Lodge No. 311, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was a past master. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Bank at Plain City, of which he was president until it was re-organized the Farmers' National Bank, and was president of that bank up to the time of his death, which took place in July, 1907.
Mr. Atkinson was successful in all his undertakings, and was a natural __ maker. He took a leading part in the educational life of the county. He also served on the school board for many years and was prominent in the Grange. He was one of the first to introduce the use of tile in Madison county. He was interested in stock raising, and fed cattle, hogs and sheep in great numbers, selling carloads each year. William and Lucinda (Nunemaker) Atkinson were the parents of three children: Eva, the wife of Henry Francis, and the mother of two children: Charles F., of Plain City and Cephas, who is now the president of the Farmers' National Bank.
Cephas Atkinson, the paternal grandfather, was born near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio, locating in Greene county, but afterward moved to Champaign county, where he spent the remainder of his years, and where he became the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land, in Canaan township. His wife was Abigail (Oren) Atkinson.
Charles F. Atkinson's fine property, known as the "Oakland Farm," is situated on rural route No. 1, Plain City, where his personal worth places him in an enviable affection in the community.
Mrs. Lucinda (Nunemaker) Atkinson, mother of Charles F., was the daughter of John and Mary Ann (Ruhlen) Nunemaker, both born in Wittenburg, Germany, the former of whom came to this county when three years of age with his parents and the latter came with her brother at the age of sixteen. Mr. Nunemaker settled with his parents in Fairfield county, Ohio, and Mary Ruhlen settled there also and they were there married. They lived there for some years and then moved to Union county to a farm and they lived there until death. Their children were Martha, Lucinda, Catherine (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Jacob (deceased), Samuel, and Nancy Ann. Of these, Jacob and Samuel served in the Civil War, Jacob in the Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Samuel also in an Ohio regiment. Jacob died during his service. The father of these children was sixty-nine years of age at death and the mother eighty-nine. They belonged to the German Evangelical church, and later joined the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mrs. Lucinda Atkinson was previously married to Robert F. Fleming, at the beginning of the Civil War. This marriage was solemnized in Union county. During the battle of Chickamauga, Mr. Fleming was killed. He enlisted as a private and was promoted to lieutenant for gallant conduct on the field of battle and on the day of his death was acting captain. He was about twenty-three years of age at the time of his death.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]