Born in 1831 in the town of Hallowell, Maine and came as one of the oldest families of that part of New England. In the year 1856, Charles Atkins, then a young main of no more than twenty-five came to western Iowa and subsequently was numbered among the founders of the present town of Onawa. In 1861, President Lincoln commissioned Mr. Atkins as postmaster. He served the Onawa office through two consecutive terms. Before the last term of his postmastership expired he was elected by the republican party as state senator to the Iowa General Assembly. For several years of his life, Mr. Atkins was engaged in the mercantile business in Onawa. Afterwards he was appointed to a position in connection with the Union Pacific railroad in Omaha, which he held for about a year, when his ability and quick knowledge of railroad matters secured for him the office of General Agent of the Chicago & Northwestern railway at Council Bluffs, which important position he continued to hold for ten years. Later Mr. Atkins again became associated with the Union Pacific railway as city solicitor in the freight department. Mr. Atkins married Miss Mary Sears in 1860.

Born in 1831 in the town of Hallowell, Maine and came as one of the oldest families of that part of New England. In the year 1856, Charles Atkins, then a young main of no more than twenty-five came to western Iowa and subsequently was numbered among the founders of the present town of Onawa. In 1861, President Lincoln commissioned Mr. Atkins as postmaster. He served the Onawa office through two consecutive terms. Before the last term of his postmastership expired he was elected by the republican party as state senator to the Iowa General Assembly. For several years of his life, Mr. Atkins was engaged in the mercantile business in Onawa. Afterwards he was appointed to a position in connection with the Union Pacific railroad in Omaha, which he held for about a year, when his ability and quick knowledge of railroad matters secured for him the office of General Agent of the Chicago & Northwestern railway at Council Bluffs, which important position he continued to hold for ten years. Later Mr. Atkins again became associated with the Union Pacific railway as city solicitor in the freight department. Mr. Atkins married Miss Mary Sears in 1860.