Joseph Warren Atkins, MD

Surnames: ATKINS, BOWMAN, POWELL, YELDELL, FERGUSON, PERKINS, SMITH, PIERSON, PRIEST, STILLWELL, TARVER, GREER

Joseph Warren Atkins, M.D. born May 24, 1822 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, died April 8, 1900 in Falls County, Texas and buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery -- was a son of James Atkins, born June 6, 1797 in Edgefield District, South Carolina, died April 28, 1833 in South Carolina, and his wife, Rosa (Bowman ) Atkins b South Carolina, d. Butler County, Alabama. Dr. Atkins received his medical deploma on March 23, 1843 from the Charleston Medical College in South Carolina, after which he moved with his widowed mother and siblings to Butler County, Alabama.

On January 13, 1838 in Alabama, Dr. Atkins was married to Margary Powell born December 8, 1829 in Alabama, died October 20, 1850 about six months after the birth of a daughter, Mary Emily Atkins----a daughter of William Powell b 1804 in Georgia and his wife, Mary Ann (Yeldell) Powell, b. 1805 in South Carolina, who were among the earliest settlers in Alabama. Willliam and Mary Ann Powell had been married on June 10, 1824 in Butler County, Alabama.

On September 1, 1853 in Alabama Dr. Atkins was married second to Lydia Elizabeth Ferguson, b September 5, 1832 in Alabama, d March 17, 1916 in Lott, Falls County, Texas and buried in Clover Hill Cemetery at Lott----a daughter of Jacob Ferguson, b 1783 in South Carolina, and his wife, Elizabeth, b 1795 in South Carolina.

Dr. Atkins had a lovely two story in Monterey, Alabama----named after the U.S. -- Mexican War and formerly called ""Goblersville"", because of the many turkeys in the area. The Powells and Yedells were very prominent and wealthy citizens of Butler County, Alabama.

On February 24, 1874, the Dr. Atkins family were already settled in west Falls County, Texas, for on that date he registered as a physician. Along with his wife and children, Lydia's brother, Darius J. Ferguson and family, his former brother in law, Robert Yedell Powell and some Atkins nephews, had left Alabama together.

Dr. Atkins and his first wife, Margary (Powell) had one child:

Mary Emily Atkins, b April 8, 1850 in Alabama, d May 15, 1929 and buried in Powers Chapel cemetery in Falls County, Texas -married in Falls County to Esau Perkins, b July 1, 1847-who was a veteran of the Confederate States Army during the civil war.

By the second marriage of Dr. Atkins to Lydia Elizabeth (Ferguson) there were five children:

Napoleon Bonaparte Atkins, b June 13, 1854 in Alabama, d April 27, 1884 and buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery -married ca 1882 in Falls County, Texas to Mary Ann Pierson, b August 2, 1858, d February 12, 1942 at Lott - a daughter of William Montgomery and Matilda (Smith) Pierson. They had Susan Atkins, b October 1883, who married John F. Priest.

William Yancy Atkins, b August 7, 1856, in Alabama, d January 25, 1922 and buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery - married first ca 1877 to Lillie Kate Stillwell, b May 20, 1858 in Texas, d December 13, 1904 and buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery. They had five children. William Yancy Atkins married second to Betty Tarver, and they had several children.

John D. Arkins, b ca 1858 - no information.

Frieda Idell Atkins, b ca 1861 in Alabama -married Crawford Greer. No further information.

Joseph Warren Atkins, Jr., b May 1863 in Alabama, d after 1900 - married December 28, 1884 to Margaret Powell, b April 1862 in Alabama-a daughter of Robert Yeldell Powell, b November 16, 1831, d December 3, 1889 and buried in Beulah Cemetery in Falls County, Texas, and his wife, Margaret, b January 6, 1838 in Alabama, d October 16, 1915 and buried in Beulah Cemetery.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.