Sacramento County
Biographies
F. L. ATKINSON, M.D.
A native of Illinois, Dr. F. L. Atkinson was born in
Galena, Jo Daviess county, June 28, 1860. He was
educated in the public schools of Galena, the Platteville Normal and Valparaiso
University, after which he entered the medical department of the University of
Michigan, and completed his medical course at Rush Medical College,
Chicago. Graduating in February, 1885, with the degree of M. D., he came
to San Francisco on May 1 of the same year, and after traveling over the coast
and through the northwest, he located permanently in Sacramento. Here he
has remained ever since, practicing his profession. On June 6, 1886, he
was elected health officer by the City Board of Health, being the first
physician chosen to that important place within the history of the city.
He afterwards became assistant county physician and dispensary physician.
Dr. Atkinson was elected a member of the Board of Education of Sacramento in
1897, and served in that position four years. During his service
here he took an active interest both in a sanitary and educational way in the
city schools and their improvement. He was the first member of the
Board of Education in Sacramento to raise his voice against the obnoxious
fraternities of the high schools, and the fact that the manner went to the
legislature and was enacted into a law restraining these improper and harmful
institutions, proved the wisdom of the Doctor’s judgment.
Dr. Atkinson believes in a thorough and a
practical preparation for the duties of any trade, calling or profession.
With this in view for his own training he has traveled widely over the United
States, Canada, Europe and Africa, studying in the hospitals of New York,
Chicago, London, Paris and Vienna. He is a member of the American Medical
Association, the State Medical Society of California, and the Sacramento
Society for Medical Improvement, having been secretary and president of the
last mentioned organization. He is surgeon to the Northern Electric
Railway Company for this city. Having been an owner of swamp and
overflowed lands he naturally takes much interest in the reclamation of such
tracts, and has devoted much time to the study of the Sacramento river, with reference to the reclamation of its overflowed
shores as well as its navigability. He is at present trustee for
Reclamation District 900, which comprises twelve thousand acres of swamp and
overflowed land in Yolo county directly opposite
Sacramento City. The territory is known as West Sacramento. It was
virtually through Dr. Atkinson's efforts that $2,500,000 was brought to
Sacramento to develop these lands. He believes in the great possibilities
of Sacramento and the Sacramento valley and is a powerful "booster"
for these localities. While his time is given to the practice of medicine
and surgery he finds time to look after his city real estate and landed
interests.
Dr, Atkinson was married in Sacramento in
August, 1888, to Mrs. Florence E. Hodgdon, a native
of Sacramento, the daughter of William P. Todhunter,
one of the pioneers of Sacramento. Fraternally Dr. Atkinson was made a
Mason in Sacramento Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M., and is also a member of all
the Scottish Rite bodies. He is also a charter
member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the
World, Red Men and National Union. Politically he has always been a
Republican and has taken a deep and active interest in the success of the party
and in securing for the county a clean and progressive administration of public
affairs.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 746-747. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.