Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

ATKINS This is an English family first represented in New England about the time of the war for independence, and judging from the character of its descendants, the family came from a sturdy lineage, as the business sagacity and enterprise of those with whose history the present is familiar indicates that they were of the most frugal and industrious class. (I) Joseph Clark Atkins, who was the first to settle in this country, died when his children were young, and no family history was handed down. (II) Joseph Clark (2), son of the American progenitor of the family, was born and died in Gardiner, Maine, and was a farmer and lumberman all his life. He, in company with John Judkins, invented the first machine for cutting ice, it being used on the Kennebec river. He was a supporter of the Democratic party, and in church faith a Universalist. During the last few years of his life he retired on his farm near Gardiner. He married Lucinda Newell, of what is now West Gardiner. Children: Lucinda (married William Newall), Joseph C., George, Robert, Drusilla (married John B. Arnold), Hubbard, Katherine, Mamie, John and Frank. (III) Joseph Clark (3) son of Joseph Clark (2) and Lucinda (Newell) Atkins, was born in South Gardiner, Maine, July 19, 1825. He obtained his education at the public schools of Gardiner and Litcheifled, Maine, after which he settled won on the farm with his father, where he remained until eighteen years of age, when he went on the Kennebec river, being employed as a collector of logs. He continued at this work until he reached his majority, when he entered into the business for himself, following it for two years. Subsequently, in company with Enoch Miller, he purchased a livery business in Gardiner, which they conducted for twenty months, when Mr. Atkins sold his interest and went to San Francisco, California, going by the way of the Isthmus. He remained about two years, and returning to Gardiner again engaged in the collection of logs, which line of operation he followed for thirty-five years. He bought a half interest in a sawmill, having for his partner R. T. Hayes. Mr. Atkins was a director of the Kennebec Log Driving Company, and was also active in the harvesting and sale of ice from the Kennebec river, which business he carried on for more than a third of a century, in connection with his logging business. He had landed interests with the Bradstreets and Shaws of Gardiner. He is president and director of the Gardiner National Bank, has held the directorship for thirty-five years to this date (1908), and has been president of the institution for five years. He is also a trustee of the Gardiner Savings Institution, with which he has been connected for twenty-five years. He supports the Democratic party, and has served as selectman of the town of Farmingdale two years. In his religous belief and profession he is a Universalist. He married Esther A. Atkinson, who died in Gardiner, April, 1898. Children: 1. Louis, died young. 2. Robert, died at thirteen years of age. 3. Carry, married Dr. F. M. Putnam, of Gardiner, and had one child, Ellinor, who married William Ginn, and they have one son, Joseph Clark Ginn; Mrs. Putnam died in Lakewood, New Jersey. 4. Fred, died in childhood.