The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-09-18
PROF. It. G.. A'TKESON,
Dean of the College of Agriculture and
Professor of Agriculture.

Thomas Clark Atkeson was born
at Buffalo, Putnam county, Va, now
West Va, FEBRUARY, 18th, 1852, is the
son OF Thomas Atkcson, who was one
of the most prosperous and progressive
farmers in the Kanawha Valley. He
grew up on the farm where he was
taught the strictest industry and
frugality. Attended Buffalo Acade-
my, at that time the leading Educa-
tional institution in the Southern end
OF the state during the winter season,
when he could be spared from the
farm work.
He entered the University at Nor
gantown In II, intending to take an
agricultural course, but finding no
such course provided, he remained but
one year. He founded the West Vir-
ginia Agriculturist at Charleston, in
January '73, aud published it until
Sep ember of the same year, when he
sold the paper to T. w. Palmer and
entered the Kentucky Agricultural
and Mechanical College at Lexington
butcontinued to edit the Agriculturist.
Never having been of robust constitu-
ton his health failed during his
Junior year and he was compelled 10
leave school. Later he entered the
Law College of Kentucky University
at Lexington and graduated with the
degree of l.. L. b.
Immediately on leaving the Law
College he edited the Ashland fKy)
Journal for a short time, and then
located at Catlettsburg, Kentucks.
where he was admitted to the bar ans
took Editorial control OF the Zig
Sandy Herald. Soon after, his health
failed entirely and he returned home
to lie on bed Of sickness for many
months. AS soon as sufficiently re-
covered he made Il tour of the upper
Mississippi Valley and the north west
and became deeply interested in the
agricultural development of that
magnificent section of this great
country
Returning home, with health only
partially restored, he determined to
abandon the practice of law. and de-
vote his life and energies to the adj
vancernent and development OF the
agricultural resources and possibilities
of his native state.
On July sth, 1878, he was happily
married to Miss Cordelia, eldest
daughter of Rev. z. Meek, d. ID. Edi-
tor OF the Central Methodist at Cat
lettsburg, Kentucky.
lie at once settled on 400 acre
Kanawha Valley farm, which he now
owns and c1ltivates, and upon which
he has made some money every year
during all the recent years OF agr-
cultural depression, and while he has
devoted much Of his time to the pro-
motion of many movements in this
state, for the advancement OF our
agricultural interests during the last
twenty years, to the evident surprise
of his neighbors he has made his farm
a financial success.
He joined the Grange, strong,
conservative farmer fraternity in '82,
was made Assistant Steward of the
State Grange in 'S3, Secretary in 'Si. !
Lecturer in 'e6, Overseer in 'sS, which
Office he held continuously until
elected Master Of the State Grange al
the meeting in Charleston last Janu- /
airy As a member OF the State |
Grange Legislative Committee he
prepared the bill creating the State
Board nf Agri ulture, was appointed !
a member of the Board by Governor
Fleming, and has been continuously !
At the arst organiza- I
ton of the Board he was elected