Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 468-472 [portrait with piece] [McCracken]

     THOMAS JEREMIAH ATKINS.  In point of residence, Thomas J. Atkins
is the oldest living male resident of Paducah, Kentucky, and he is also
prominent as one of the most successful business men of the city.  He
is the son of Edmund and Lavina (Baugh) Atkins, both of whom were
natives of the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia.  Edmund Atkins was a
cooper, and followed that occupation for many years of his life,
although his last years were spent on a farm.  He and his wife had
settled in McCracken county, Kentucky, near Florence, ten miles south
of Paducah, as early as 1836, and the farm there was Mr. Atkins' home
till his death in 1852.  His wife died in Paducah in 1875.  There were
eight children in their family, but three of whom are now living:
Thomas J., Mrs. Sarah F. Agnew, the widow of J. W. Agnew, and residing in
Paducah; and Mrs. Emily S. Williams, also in Paducah, the widow of B. R.
Williams.
     Thomas J. Atkins was born near Richmond, Virginia, March 12, 1829. 
His early education was obtained in the country schools of Kentucky,
and, of course, he had the experience of farmer boy until he was
fifteen years old.  He then came to Paducah and was employed as a clerk
until he was twenty-one, when he embarked in a mercantile venture on his
own responsibility, for three years dealing in steamboat supplies.   He
evidently acquired a thorough knowledge of the craft of riverboating, for
some years later, from 1860 to 1862, he was captain of a
boat, the Ashland, running between New Orleans and Camden, Arkansas. 
From 1864 to 1868 he was also engaged in dealing in boat supplies.  But
his special branch of commercial activity has been in the retail grocery
line, and after thirty-five years of successful operations in
that business he retired.  He has also had experience as a wholesale
grocer, and at present is carrying on a prosperous ice business, for
the past ten years having been treasurer of the Paducah Ice Company,
one of the leading firms in the city.  In addition to his extensive
activity in business circles, he is vice president of the American
German National Bank, and was formerly a director and stockholder in
the Globe Banking Company.
     When Mr. Atkins first began considering politics he was an
adherent of the Whig party and Henry Clay, but he is now a Democrat. 
During the fifties he was justice of the peace for eight years; was
town marshal for two years, and city treasurer of Paducah one year, and
since 1892 has been county treasurer.  He was one of the first
councilmen after Paducah was incorporated, and in many other ways not
here enumerated has assisted in the development and prosperity of the
city of his choice.
     In 1850 Mr. Atkins was married to Christiana Elizabeth Jones, a
native of Brunswick county, Virginia.  She died in 1895 at the age of
sixty-four, having been the mother of four children, only one of whom
is now living, Edward L., who was born in Ballard county, Kentucky,
during a temporary sojourn of his parents in that county, on June 1,
1862.  He is now the cashier of the American German National Bank at
Paducah.  He married Miss Grace Greer, a daughter of Judge W. D. Greer,
of Paducah.
     In 1896 Mr. Atkins married Miss Florence Lee, a native of Kentucky
and a most charming lady, but she died three years after her marriage,
aged fifty years.  Mr. Atkins is a member of the Broadway Methodist
church, of which he is one of the trustees and stewards.  He has been a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for fifty-one years, at
present with Ingleside Lodge No. 195, has occupied all the offices in
that body, and for the past six years was grand patriarch and grand
representative to the grand lodge of the United States.  He is also one
of the trustees of the Odd Fellows' Widows' and Orphans' Home at
Lexington, Kentucky.  Mr. Atkins is thus seen to be one of the
prosperous citizens whose services have in more ways than one added to
the wealth and upbuilding [sic] of Paducah, and the city honors him in
proportion to his deeds.  

Atkins Baugh Agnew Williams Clay Jones Greer Lee
=
Brunswick-VA Ballard-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mccracken/atkins.tj.txt