Hon. Thomas Atkinson

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Husband Hon. Thomas Atkinson ^{1 2}

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           Born: Abt 1782
     Christened: 
           Died: 1837 1
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 

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Wife

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Sallie Atkinson ²

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           Born: 
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         Spouse: Edward Stebbins (      -      ) 3

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General Notes: Husband - Hon. Thomas Atkinson

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He located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in the autumn of 1804, and January 2, 1805, issued the first number of the Crawford Weekly Messenger, the pioneer newspaper of western Pennsylvania. His office was in a log building on the later site of the Central Hotel barn, whence he removed to the east side of the Diamond. Mr. Atkinson published the Messenger until March, 1833, when he retired from the business. In 1810 he was elected County Commissioner and served until 1813. Was Treasurer of the County from 1820 to 1822, and served in the Legislature in 1826-27 and 1835-36.

He learned the trade of printer under the personal instruction of Benjamin Franklin. He removed from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Meadville, in 1804, and there established the Crawford Messenger, at that time the only paper published in the state of Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny mountains. He continued this publication for thirty years, then retired to his country place in Woodcock township. He was twice a member of the legislature, representing Crawford County, and filled many minor offices. His death occurred at the age of fifty-five years.

1 —, The History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner Beers & Co., 1885), Pg 376.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1598.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1597.