ATHERTON, Thomas M., Sr.

ATHERTON, GILMORE, PATTERSON, LONG

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 2/3/2011 at 16:30:24

No history of Mitchell county would be complete without extended reference to Thomas M. Atherton, who was long engaged in the practice of law and in newspaper publication in Osage. In fact, he left the impress of his individuality and ability in large measure upon the public life of the community and did much to shape the annals of northern Iowa.

He was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1829, a son of Anson and Sarah Atherton, who were industrious farming people of Pennsylvania. Although reared upon a farm, the education of Thomas M. Atherton was not neglected, as he supplemented his common school course by three years' study in the Wyoming Seminary. At the age of nineteen he took up active business duties, engaging with the firm of Perkins & Steele in the capacity of bookkeeper. While so employed he began the study of law and for some time read law in the office of the Hon. L. D. Schumaker, who was the representative of the twelfth district of Pennsylvania in congress for many years.

In 1850, when twenty-one years of age, Thomas M. Atherton was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Gilmore, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, and they began their domestic life in the Keystone state, where they continued to reside for a decade. In 1857, when twenty-eight years of age, Mr. Atherton became an active factor in politics by accepting the candidacy for the position of registrar for Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He was elected by a large majority and contin­ued to occupy that position until 1860, when he resigned to come to the west. He first settled at West Union, in Fayette county, Iowa, but on the 9th of March, 1860, removed to Mitchell, where he continued in the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He was always a close student of his profession, was thoroughly well read on the principles of jurispru­dence and became one of the ablest attorneys of Mitchell county. He was a strong advocate before the jury and a wise counselor, and he continued in active practice until about 1870. He was attorney for the people until the time the court­house was removed to Osage and he was retained on most of the important cases heard in the courts of his district. In fact, it is said that he was interested in more important cases than any other attorney in the county.

On the 1st of March, 1865, Mr. Atherton began the publication of the Mitchell County Press at Mitchell, which he continued to publish until just prior to the relocation of the courthouse, when in 1869 he removed his paper to Osage and was instrumental in bringing about the change in the county seat. Perhaps in the editorial chair his ability was most manifest. When the war cloud hung dark over a divided nation and the north needed every available support Mr. Atherton as editor of the Mitchell County Press declared emphatically his purpose to support the administration in all of its efforts to maintain the Union and was a most stalwart advocate of the principles of federal right and of universal liberty. He was postmaster at West Mitchell and at Osage for about twelve years. In March, 1871, he was appointed postmaster of Osage and filled that position for eight months. On the 23d of March, 1875, he was again called to the office, once more was appointed in 1879 and again in 1883, holding the office until 1885, when he resigned in favor of his son, Frank G. He was also, in 1872, a member of the Osage city council and held other offices, the duties of which ever received his careful attention. He served as county superintendent of schools and was a factor in the civic life of city and county. In fact, he was a most public-spirited man and there was no effort put forth for the betterment and upbuilding of the com­munity that did not receive his hearty cooperation and assistance.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Atherton were born six children: Jennie, who became the wife of Isaac Patterson, of St. Ansgar; Frank G.; Lillian, the wife of Nathan Patterson of St. Ansgar; Mary, the wife of J. E. H. Long, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Thomas M., who is represented elsewhere in this work; and Charles, who died October 23, 1863.

Mr. Atherton was a devoted husband and father, a generous and kindly man and a man of marked benevolence and his many sterling traits of character made him beloved by all who knew him. He continued to publish his paper until his last illness and ever made it the organ of progress and improvement, upholding in every possible way the highest standards of civic virtue and of civic pride. To know Thomas Atherton was to esteem and honor him and the part which he played in the upbuilding of Mitchell county cannot be overestimated. Mr. Ather­ton departed this life on Friday, October 23, 1891.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1918, pages 382-384