Text from The Meeker REA Pioneer, October 1975. James B. Atkinson was one of the first permanent inhabitants of Forest City. Mrs. James D. (Flossie) Atkinson, whose husband was a grandson of James B., told us some interesting things that had been passed down to her. James B. Atkinson was born in England. It is thought he was about 17 years old when he and his parents left England. They went to Canada first, and then settled in Pennsylvania. James decided to go west. He left his family and came to St. Anthony (Minneapolis) where he purchased some land. Upon hearing about the promising area to the west, he came to Forest City in 1855 and found it very favorable. He decided that the rural area held a better future for him than the city. He sold his land in Minneapolis, which later became the site of the Nicollet Hotel, and purchased three loads of merchandise and made his way back to Forest City where he opened up the first store in Meeker County. At the time he first came to Forest City there was only one dwelling house (made of logs) and one general office. Atkinson also operated a hotel which became the temporary home of many strangers as they passed through Forest City in search of a new home or sought refuge from the Indians. Mrs. Flossie Atkinson has in her possession books and ledgers showing the many transactions made at the store and hotel, such as “side of venison for flour.” James B. Atkinson was enlisted as 1st Lieutenant in the Home Guards and left on his own to secure more ammunition to be prepared for the imminent attack they were expecting from the Indians on their settlement. However, he did not get back until the day after the attack. There were said to have been only 35 rifles among the 240 people in the stockade that early morning of Sept. 4, 1862. Mrs. Atkinson also tells this story about her husband’s father, Charles Hess Atkinson, son of James B. Charles was 7 years old at the time of the attack on the stockade. He remembers the many teams of oxen and horses that came into Forest City carrying the early settlers and their possessions. He remembers the children were crying as they came to find refuge in his father’s hotel. He also remembered that in the evenings all the small children (and he was included in this group) were put upstairs with two women in charge, while the rest of the women helped the men preparing the ammunition. Charles never forgot the humiliation he felt because he was included with the group of SMALL children. During the attack on the stockade, the cattle were driven off by the Indians. A few days later they heard the tinkling of a bell coming from the thicket. Upon investigating, they found it was their bell cow, together with some of the other cows, who had found their way back to Forest City as they had not been milked for several days. Mrs. Flossie Atkinson has this home-made copper cow bell in her home. As she fondly handled it, she said, “It’s crude but beautiful.” Other antiques and prized possessions of the Atkinsons are a boot jack from the old hotel, a gunpowder pouch which also belonged to James B. Atkinson, and a sword which was given him by his company. She also has the list of names of the donors and the amount of money each gave toward the sword. Mrs. Atkinson also has a diary which [James B.] kept from June 2, 1864, through Sept. 26, 1864, when he served as a scout with Sibley who was supposedly to join Custer who was later annihilated. James B. also organized the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery which was composed of Forest City men. He served as Captain in the Civil War until it ended. The Forest City monument was erected on land where the stockade had stood, land that once was owned by James B. Atkinson. The dedication of this monument was held June 16, 1956. The monument was unveiled by James B. Atkinson’s great-great-grandchildren Jolynn Atkinson and James D. Atkinson III. James B. Atkinson was one of the recognized heroes of the Indian outbreak of 1862.
