R. C. Atkinson died at his residence in this city on Jan. 22, at 5:50 o'clock a. m., at the age of 62 years, 3 months and 9 days.

The funeral services were conducted at the M. E. Church by Rev. J. L. Waller after which the remains were interred in Odd Fellows' cemetery, conducted by the Masonic Order.

The deceased was born October 13, 1831 in McMinn county, Tennessee. He was the fourth of fifteen children of James and Winnie Atkinson. He emigrated, with his parents, to Jefferson county, Illinois in 1853.

In 1855 he married his bereaved wife and soon after engaged in the mercantile business at Spring Garden, (then Middleton) Belle Rive and McLeansboro, amassing considerable property by the legitimate profits accruing from the large amount of business that he was enabled to control by his honesty and fair dealings with his many customers.

Politically he was a Democrat and for many years a member of the Masonic Order, being a member of Polk Lodge No. 57. The deceased was a consistent worker of the M. E. Church, a good man and highly esteemed by all who knew him.

Date Unknown
Obituary found in Isaac T. Garrison family bible
Submitted by: Jane Garrison Ward
Relationship: He married my great grand aunt Lucinda Elizabeth Garrison