James M. Atkins, one of the prominent citizens and farmers of the Ninth District is the son of William and Mary (Hood) Atkins, and was born in Orange County, N.C., in 1818, and is one of four children, two now living: Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, of Obion County, and J. M. The father was of English ancestry, born in Wake County, N. C., in 1789. His grandfather, William Atkins, with six brothers, came from England, and served as soldiers in the Revolutionary war under Gen. Washington, and afterward settled in North Carolina. William Atkins was well educated, and when twenty five years old married Miss Mary Hood, who died in 1824, and in 1830 he married Mrs. Harriet Finch (nee Jackson), and same year moved to Weakley County, and then to Dyer County, and bought one-half location interest in the Polk survey, and lived there until he died in 1845. Mrs. Atkins was a native of North Carolina, and died in Gibson County in 1880. James M., our subject, received sufficient education to transact all ordinary business. January 12, 1842, he married Miss Mary E. daughter of Capt. William M. and Elizabeth (Bragg) Ballard, of Haywood County, and by their union had fourteen children, twelve still living: Harriet Ann (wife of Dr. T. G. Mason), James A., Asa A., Charles M., George W., Millard E. (of Texas), Elizabeth (wife of C. M. Hill, of Texas), Mary Alice, William J., Robert L., Lucy E. and Edward C. (of Obion County). Mr. Atkins then located on his father's original tract, where he still resides. It is a fine farm with splendid improvements one and a half miles southeast of Newbern. He at one time owned 800 acres. Mr. Atkins is a man of extraordinary will power and energy, strictly honest, genial and charitable in his disposition; was Deputy Sheriff, of Dyer County, in 1869, and is a Mason, having taken the highest degree in that order. With his wife he belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Atkins was born in North Carolina in 1823.