Robert Jones Atkinson Explained

Robert Jones Atkinson
Office:President of the Ohio Senate
Term Start:January 2, 1854
Term End:January 6, 1856
Preceded:George Rex
Succeeded:Robert Walker Tayler
Party:Democratic
Birth Date:20 June 1820
Birth Place:Carrollton, Ohio
Death Place:Washington, D.C.
Restingplace:Grandview Cemetery, Carrollton, Ohio
Spouse:Matilda Jackson
Children:three sons, three daughters

Robert Jones Atkinson (1820-1871) was a Democratic politician from the state of Ohio, United States. He was President of the Ohio Senate in 1854, and was an appointed official in the United States Department of the Treasury 1854 to 1864.

Early life and education

Atkinson was born in Carrollton, Ohio in 1820 to Isaac and Hester (Jones) Atkinson.

Career

He began as a clerk in Carrollton. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate to serve a term starting in 1852. The legislature met for a session in 1852 and another in 1853. He was re-elected, and served in the 1854 session. On January 2, 1854, the Senate elected Atkinson as President pro tem over Wiliam Lawrence by vote of 22 to 7. The Senate adjourned May 1, 1854.

In 1854, Atkinson was appointed Third Auditor of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He assumed office August 28, 1854 and was not replaced until July 18, 1864. In 1866, Atkinson was appointed attorney and counselor to the United States Supreme Court. He died in Washington in 1871.

Personal life

Atkinson married Matilda Jackson of Carrollton, Ohio. They had three sons and three daughters. Two sons were bankers in Montana, and the other worked at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Robert and Matilda Atkinson are buried at Grandview Cemetery in Carrollton, Ohio. He was a Democrat, a Freemason and a Presbyterian.

References

. The political register and congressional directory: a statistical record of the Federal Officials...1776-1878. Benjamin Perley Poore. . 227. 1878 . Houghton, Osgood and Company . Boston .