ASPINWALL. ATKINSON. 1S3S. He studied law two years at Cam- bridge under Professors Joseph Story and Simon Greenleaf, and received the degree of LL.B. in 1840. He studied one year in the office of Franklin Dexter and George W. Phillips, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. From that time to the present he has been engaged in his profession. In January, 184S, Mr. Aspinwall married Arixene Southgate, third daughter of Richard King Porter of Portland, Maine, a nephew of Rufus King, United States senator from Massachusetts, afterwards from New York, and minister to the Court of St. James. He has three children
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WM. ASPINWALL. living: a daughter, now the wife of Dr. W. B. Trull, and two sons, Thomas and William Henry Aspinwall, both doing busi- ness in Boston. Since 1847 Mr. Aspinwall has been a legal resident of Brookline. He has always taken an active part in the affairs of the town, as well as in state and national pol- itics. Beginning his political life as a Whig, he became in 1852 a member of the Whig state central committee, and in 1S55 and 1S56 was its chairman. Mr. Aspinwall has been repeatedly called by his town to fill the various municipal offices. He was town clerk from 1850 to 1852. He represented the town in the House of Representatives 1851 and 1852. and in the Constitutional Convention of 1853. He was senator from Norfolk County in 1854, and trial justice for Brook- line from 1 85 7 to i860, when he resigned. He has held the offices of selectman, assessor, water commissioner, and trustee of the public library. Of the latter board he is now chairman. Mr. Aspinwall was an ardent supporter of the government during the civil war, and called the first meeting in Brookline to aid in its vigorous prosecution. He served two years on the military commit- tee of the town, and was at the same time secretary of the Massachusetts Rifle Club, at whose headquarters in Boylston Hall many officers were educated and several regiments were recruited and drilled. The Whig party having ceased to exist, Mr. Aspinwall from 186 1 to the present time has acted with the Democratic party, and has stood high in its councils. He has been many years a member of the state committee, and from 1872 to the election of Governor Gaston, was chairman. He re- signed his membership in 1SS8. He has received the nomination of his party for Congress, and was nominated for presi- dential elector by the Democrats of the 9th congressional district in 1888. Mr. Aspinwall has brought to all the positions which he has been called to fill, a highly disciplined and well furnished mind. In public debate few men are his equal in the clear, accurate and forcible presentation of a subject, nor can he be excelled in the adroitness and power with which he convinces, and frequently even compels active support from, his opponents. He is a genial host, and pre-eminently a gentleman of the old school, a man of genuine and distinguished ability. ATKINSON, EDWARD, son of Amos and Anna Greenleaf (Sawyer) Atkinson, was born in Brookline, Norfolk county, February 10, 1827. He received his education in private schools. August 8, 1842, he entered the commission house of Read & Chadwick, Boston, as a boy, remaining there five years, where he received an excellent old- time training, such as obtained before the day of porters and janitors, in every line of work, from that of building fires and sweeping lofts, and packing goods, to con- fidential clerk. In 1848 Mr. Atkinson became clerk and subsequently treasurer of various manufacturing companies, in which occupation he remained until 1877. He was subsequently made president of
