Adelbert S. Atherton

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Adelbert S. Atherton (October 13, 1850 - December 14, 1920) was an American politician from Chicopee, Massachusetts, who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives after being elected to the 125th Massachusetts General Court in 1903.[1] Prior to being a state legislator for the second district, he was initially a farmer, then an auctioneer; and finally a merchant, and owner of a general store.[2][3]

Adelbert S. Atherton in 1904

Early life and education[]

He was the son of Samuel Hall Atherton and Abigail S. Taft. His father was a farmer.

Atherton was educated in public schools in Franklin County, Massachusetts and attended the Powers Institute.[2]

Career[]

His civic roles prior to being a state representative were as a moderator at town meetings, and then as selectman.[2] Atherton was elected as a Democrat candidate at a state level. As an elected member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he was appointed to the committee on agriculture.[4][5]

Personal[]

Atherton married Milia H. Allen (1857-1936) on November 1, 1876 in Bernardston, Massachusetts.[6] They had 5 children. He became a farmer, in the tradition of his forefathers.[7] He was a trustee of the Powers Institute.

By 1919, he suffered economic troubles and filed for bankruptcy.[8]

He died at the age of 70, in 1920 following a procedure at Farren hospital.[9]

Ancestry[]

Atherton was a New England descendant of Puritan heritage,[10] whose ancestors had settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is a direct descendant of Major General Humphrey Atherton, via Hope Atherton and Sarah Hollister (1646-1691). His relatives include Samuel Atherton, Ray Atherton, Arlon S. Atherton, Percy Lee Atherton and Walter Atherton.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "A Manual for the Use of the General Court (1904)". Massachusetts General Court. 1904. p. 429.
  2. ^ a b c Bridgman, A. M.; Milnor, Arthur. "A Souvenir of Massachusetts legislators". pp. 29, 154, 190.
  3. ^ "Massachusetts State Representatives A.S. Atherton" (PDF). State Library of Massachusetts. 1904. p. 12.
  4. ^ "James B. Paige in Agricultural Committee group medallion portrait". library.umass.edu.
  5. ^ "James B. Paige in Agricultural Committee group medallion portrait". digitalcommonwealth.
  6. ^ "Entry for Adelbert S. Atherton". atherton.one-name.net.
  7. ^ Kellogg, Lucy Cutler (1902). "History of the Town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts: With Genealogies, Volume 1".
  8. ^ "Business troubles". Boston Daily Globe, April 15. 1919.
  9. ^ "Bernardston - Adelbert S. Atherton". Greenfield Gazette and Courier, December 18. 1920.
  10. ^ Farmer, J. (1829). A genealogical register of the first settlers of New England. Carter, Andrews & Co, Lancaster, Massachusetts (refers to Humphrey Atherton of Dorchester).
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