Education
In 1870, Atkinson graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with an Bachelor of Arts
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In 1870, Atkinson graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with an Bachelor of Arts
He also served in the United States. House of Representatives and was a judge on the Court of Claims. He received an Master of Arts there in 1873, and an Bachelor of Laws from Howard University in 1874. He served as toll collector on the Kanawha River Board from 1869 to 1871 and was appointed postmaster of Charleston in 1871.
He was defeated for election to the West Virginia Legislature in 1876.
He was an Internal Revenue agent from 1879 to 1881. His success at interfering with moonshiners lead to his appointment as a United States Marshall, serving until 1885.
In 1888, he ran for Congress as a Republican against John O. Pendleton. Atkinson defeated Democratic party candidate Cornelius Clarkson Watts in the 1896 election for Governor of West Virginia and served until 1901.
He was later appointed United States District Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.
He served from April 15, 1905, until his retirement on April 16, 1916. Atkinson was married twice and had four children. Atkinson died in Charleston, West Virginia on April 4, 1925 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery.