Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are the parents of nine children : Gertie, the wife of Fred Lakin, living in Kansas; Lee, of Colo, this county; Sidney, who lives in Indian Creek township; Guy, of McCallsburg, also of this county; Archie, George and Devere at home, George being a student in the high school; and Lois and Gerald. The family attend the services of the Christian church, of which the parents are members. Mr. Atkinson is a republican in his political views, feeling that party's policy of protection best subserves the interests of the agriculturist, and while he fulfills his duty as a citizen by casting a vote at each election, he has never sought any reward for party fealty in the way of political honors. His fraternal relations are confined to membership in Sylvan Camp, M. W. A. He is one of those unobtrusive, reliable and substantial citizens highly esteemed and respected throughout the community in which he lives because he can at all times be depended upon to fulfill his duty as he sees it to his country and fellowmen.
JOHN THOMPSON.
John Thompson, of Collins, who is well known in financial and business circles in Story and adjacent counties, has achieved a gratifying measure of success and is today numbered among the prosperous and progressive men whose work has redounded to his credit and to that of the community. Born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 14, 1841, he is a son of William and Margaret (Moorehead) Thompson, both natives of Venango county, Pennsylvania. They were reared in Venango county and subsequently came to Red Rock, Iowa, but later returned to Ohio and lived for various periods in Wayne, Stark and Hancock counties. In 1851 the father crossed the plains to the California gold fields and spent twenty-six years on the Pacific coast, at the end of which time he came to Des Moines, and finally settled in jasper county, Iowa, where he passed away at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother was called to her reward at the age of seventy-five years.
John Thompson continued at home until he arrived at manhood. In 1861 he came to jasper county, Iowa, and a year later went to Ohio, returning with his mother. The Civil war was then in progress and three of his brothers were at the front serving in the cause of the Union, but the subject of this review decided to remain at home to take care of his mother. His financial resources were extremely limited and he began farming as a renter, cultivating the land to such good advantage that after four years he purchased forty acres in Clear Creek township, which he improved and sold, buying another tract of forty acres in the same county. In about 1872 he purchased eighty acres on section 32, Collins township, Story county, later adding forty acres also on section 32, and making ad-