Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/236

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Portland in 1867, where he was engaged as a compositor on the " Oregon- ian." In November, 1868, he made his first venture in the field of journal- ism, and started the "Daily Evening Bulletin"— the first evening paper published in Portland. He labored late and early, filling the positions of editor, business manager, foreman and compositor, for seven months, but finding more labor than pay in it, he became discouraged and buried it amongst the things of the past, although there was a brilliant outlook ahead. In February, 1870, in partnership with Mr. H. L. Herman, he started the " Catholic Sentinel." For two years he was connected with that paper, and then disposed of his interest to his partner. For the next few years we find him " working at the case" on Ben HoUaday's " Bulletin," and also for his late partner, Mr. Herman. In 1874 he started a small job office, and in July of that year purchased the " Commercial Reporter," and continued the publication of that paper for the next seven years, and to his efforts are the business men indebted for a vast amount of val- uable statistics of this State. In March, 1875, he started the "Sunday Welcome," the first Sunday paper in Oregon, and under his guidance it gained the largest circulation and influence of any family publication in the State. On January 1, 1880, he took in a partner, one who had been employed by him on the "Reporter" for four years previous. On the 26th of June the new firm purchased the Daily and Weekly " Bee" and the "Northwestern Newspaper Union," and ran them in connection with their other publications. On the 23d of Aup-ust they changed the name of the "Bee" to the ill-fated one of " Bulletin." In September of the same year Mr. A. started a livery and hack stable on Front and Taylor streets, and had good promise of success. About two months later he became afflicted with his eyes, finally resulting in the loss of sight of one optic. During the period of his prostration his business ran on the down grade and the result was a dissolution of co-partnership, followed by a disposition of the enterprises and the discontinuance of the "Evening Bulletin." After a brief rest, he started the " Sunday Chronicle," February 13, 1881, and con- tinued the publication of it until December 10th of the same year, when he sold out in order to embark in another enterprise with R. C. W^hite, who was formerly employed by him. The disastrous result of this last enter- prise is familiar to all Portlanders, and as Mr. Atkinson at the time pub- lished, over his own signature, a statement in the public press which has never been controverted, it is generally believed that he was the sufferer. With all Mr. Atkinson's misfortunes, he is sanguine that the future has something brighter in store for him, and his numerous friends certainly de- sire that his expectations may be fulfilled. He was united in matrimony to Miss Mary I. Stephens, a highly-respected young lady, on the 9th of January, 1871. The ceremony was performed in the Catholic Cathedral of this city, solemn High Mass being sung on the occasion, this being the first time that that honor was extended to a newly-married couple in this dio- cese. Mrs. Atkinson came to this coast quite young, on the steamship Con- tinental, in company with her brother-in-law, Hon. A. S. Mercer, whose fame, achieved in his early efforts to people Washington Territory and Ore-