Benjamin Franklin Atkinson (1837 - 1905)

Born 2 Sep 1837 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Husband of Nannie E. (Wharton) Atkinson — married 1870 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States

Died 22 Sep 1905 at age 68 in Denver, Colorado, United States

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Biography

Colonel Benjamin Atkinson served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Jun 21, 1861
Mustered out: 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 34th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry

Benjamin Atkinson was born in Missouri.

Benjamin Atkinson was an Arkansan.

Benjamin "Ben" Franklin Atkinson was born September 2, 1837 in St. Louis, Missouri.^[1] In June 1843, his father John Cape Atkinson moved his family to Fort Smith, Crawford County, Arkansas.^[2] Later, Fort Smith would become part of the newly formed Sebastian County, but at the time it was part of Crawford.^[3]

Ben grew up in Fort Smith at a time when it was known as the frontier of the west. During this time, many people traveled by wagon or train heading west during the Gold Rush and Antebellum period. He attended the John Carnel school.^[2] One of the first schools established in Fort Smith.^[4] He was later sent away from Fort Smith for more schooling, but returned in his teens and entered the hardware business with his father.^[2] In the 1860 census, he listed his occupation as a tinner (tinsmith).^[5]

With the out break of the Civil War, Ben enlisted in the Confederate army as a private on June 21, 1862. He was initially assigned to the 34th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and assigned to the Trans=Mississippi Theater.^[6] He was later promoted to lieutenant and assigned to Fort Washita in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, as acting adjutant and ordnance officer.^[7] His entire military record is a mystery, but he continued to rise in rank, receiving an appointment as colonel. He was given command of conscripts, but they deserted and left him without a command. He was in Fort Smith, Arkansas when it fell to Union Forces. Sophia Kannady, who was there at the time, told the story. In her recollection, she stated "I cannot help laughing at the plight in which I saw him at one time, and it should have been a time when everything should have been serious to us all." She along with others fleeing Fort Smith following the seizure by Union Forces. They fled to Waldron, Arkansas where she said Ben was seen riding in "ragged, shoeless and bareheaded". His uniform, shoes and horse were taken by the Union, and they left him only a donkey to escape.^[2]

After the war, he returned to Fort Smith where he worked in the hardware business with is father. In 1870, he married Nannie E. Wharton.^[8] He continued to live in Fort Smith and work as a merchant where he prospered. His personal estate was valued at $5,400 and his real estate at $3,000. He employed an African-American family, Dina Smith, at 40, James Smith age 12, and Eliza Smith age 10 as servants.^[9]

After the death of his father, he became partner in it with Henry and Concrad Treisch. He owned several hardware businesses located on Front Street and Avenue facing the Arkansas River, and a general hardware store on Second Street and Sixth Street. In addition to the hardware stores, he owned a tinware business that dominated the trade in the region.^[2] He lived at 180 Kuof Street.^[10]

In 1884, he incorporated as Atkinson Hardware Company, and in 1890 he located at 623 Garrison Avenue where the Stephens Building stands today. He helped organize and establish the American National Bank, serving as president for six years. He also was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Honor and a grand commander of the Knights Templar. The company name became Atkinson-Williams Hardware Company in 1890, and in 1900 his son Benjamin became president and Buck Williams vice president.^[2] Buck Williams and two other people (James York and Emmett Frizzell roomed with him at his home. He also employed three servants, Mary Schualte, Henry Basden, and Owens Miller, who lived in the home.^[8]

Ben died on September 22, 1905 in Denver, Colorado.^[11] He died of kidney trouble around 4 o'clock. His remains were returned to Fort Smith^[11], and he was buried at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[12]

TimeLine

Birth 1837

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson was born September 2, 1837 in St. Louis, Missouri.^[1]

Residence 1843

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson lived in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[2]

Residence 1850

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson lived in Fort Smith, Crawford County, Arkansas.^[3]

Residence 1860

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson lived in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[5]

Marriage 1870

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson married Nannie E. Wharton in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[8]

Residence 1870

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson lived in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[9]

Residence 1880

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson lived at 180 Kuof Street in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[10]

Residence 1900

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson lived at 309 North 7th Street in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[8]

Death 1905

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson died on September 22, 1905 in Denver, Colorado.^[11]

Burial

Benjamin Franklin Atkinson was buried at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 435; Volume #: Roll 435 - 16 Jan 1895-31 Jan 1895 Ancestry Record 1174 #1322374
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Fort Smith Historical Society Inc., "Benjamin Franklin Atkinson." Accessed 7 Oct 2022
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1850 United States Federal Census: Year: 1850; Census Place: Fort Smith, Crawford, Arkansas; Roll: 25; Page: 293a Ancestry Record 8054 #9278734
4. ↑ Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated 29 Jun 2022, "John Carnall." Accessed 7 Oct 2022
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1860 United States Federal Census: Year: 1860; Census Place: Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: M653_50; Page: 1136; Family History Library Film: 803050 Ancestry Record 7667 #17769702
6. ↑ U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas; Series Number: M317; Roll: 219 Ancestry Record 2322 #225178275
7. ↑ U.S., Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865: Ancestry.com. U.S., Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019. Original data: United States Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: FamilySearch, 2019. Ancestry Record 61982 #69891
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Fort Smith Ward 2, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: 77; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0125; FHL microfilm: 1240077 Ancestry Record 7602 #14875186
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} 1870 United States Federal Census: Year: 1870; Census Place: Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: M593_64; Page: 232A Ancestry Record 7163 #560616
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} 1880 United States Federal Census: Year: 1880; Census Place: Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: 56; Page: 524A; Enumeration District: 177 Ancestry Record 6742 #39733050
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Daily Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas, 23 Sep 1905, Page 2. "Co. Ben Atkinson Dead." Accessed 7 Oct 2022
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41686626/benjamin-franklin-atkinson: accessed 07 October 2022), memorial page for Benjamin Franklin -Ben- Atkinson (1837–22 Sep 1905), Find A Grave: Memorial #41686626, citing Forest Park Cemetery, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by L Bruns (contributor 46890146) .