Atchison, Stewart

ATCHISON, FIELD, GUTHRIE, MARTIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/11/2009 at 08:08:30

~ Stewart Atchison ~

Fairview Township, Jasper County, is a rich agricultural center, and the men who conduct its farming interests are enterprising, self-reliant and shrewd businessmen. Among these the subject of this sketch occupies no unimportant place. He is a native of County Fermanagh, Ireland, his birth occurring February 2, 1827. He is a son of David and May R. Atchison, who lived and died in Ireland, both at the age of fifty-six years. They were farmers by occupation and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their union five children were born, of whom our subject is the youngest. They bear the names of Ann, Doretha, Barbara, David and Stewart.

Immigrating to this country in 1843, when but a lad of sixteen years, our subject worked as a teamster in Pennsylvania for six years. At this period he thought farming to be more profitable and decided to come to Fairview Township, which he did, purchasing a small farm of forty acres. In 1855 he was stricken with the gold fever, and laying aside his farming implements started for California. The journey consumed three months in crossing the prairie. Not finding it what he had expected, five years later he returned to his farming and has since been content with it.

In 1860, Mr. Atchison was united in marriage with Frances Field, a daughter of Henry Field, who was of English descent. This union was blessed by the birth of three children, George, now deceased, Henry, and Anna, now Mrs. Leonard Guthrie. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in 1867. Our subject was a second time married, taking as his companion Sarah Martin. The ceremony took place December 8, 1869. Mrs. Atchison is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Martin) Martin, who were both natives of Ireland. The wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1831, and was one of family of thirteen children. She came to Iowa with her parents in 1864 and resided on a farm with them until her marriage. She became the mother of one child, who was taken from her in infancy.

On his return from California, Mr. Atchison moved to his present place of residence, which was then small, but by additions made from time to time he soon became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of as finely cultivated and productive land as is to be found in the state. He is classed among the pre-eminently successful agriculturists of Jasper County, and has lost no opportunity for improving his estate or contributing to the general welfare of the community. He is living in retirement from his hard labors and enjoys the pleasures and comforts of domestic life. Mr. and Mrs. Atchison are valued members of the Presbyterian Church, to which they give liberally of their means. He is a great reader and is well posted on what is going on about him. Politically he a supporter of the candidates of the Democracy.
Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA; Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1894. Page 237.