George W. Atkinson

George Wesley Atkinson ( born June 29, 1845 in Charleston, West Virginia; † July 4, 1925 ) was an American politician and from 1897 to 1901, the tenth Governor of the State of West Virginia.

Early years and political rise

George Atkinson attended after elementary school, the Ohio Wesleyan University and Howard University in Washington, where he studied law. He completed his education at three other renowned universities in Ohio and Tennessee. After he had held office 1870-1876 as head of the local post office, he moved to Wheeling. There he worked as a lawyer and as editor of the newspaper " Wheeling Evening Standard ." Between 1879 and 1881 he was employed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and then until 1885 he served as U.S. Marshal for the area of West Virginia. Between 1890 and 1891, Atkinson was as Member of the Republican Party Congressman in Washington. he refused a re-election to Congress in 1890 from and returned to Wheeling back to his law firm. by 1896, he published the newspaper "West Virginia Journal". In 1896 he was appointed by his party as a candidate for the gubernatorial elections.

Governor of West Virginia

After winning the election, Atkinson became the first Republican governor of West Virginia since 1871. Nevertheless, his policies differed little from that of his Democratic predecessor. He promoted the industrial growth and campaigned for the further improvement of the infrastructure. At that time, the first free public libraries were established. But the care for children and the improvement of working conditions in the country were on his list of priorities. Otherwise, his term was unspectacular and without exceptional incidents.

Another Journey

After his four-year term on March 4, 1901 Atkinson supported charitable organizations. He was president of the "Children 's Home Society of West Virginia ." Between 1901 and 1905 he was attorney general for the southern part of his state. Between 1905 and 1916 he was a judge on the Court of Claims, a federal court in Washington. He has also written several books. After 1916, he moved about his home state of West Virginia from the public life. he died in 1925 in Charleston. Atkinson George was married twice and had four children.