John W. Atwater, a representative citizen of Jackson county is a native of Ohio. He was born at Huron, Erie county, November 18, 1869, a son of John and Patience (Peck) Atwater, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Vermont. The father was a farmer and stockman, and in 1884, the family came to Kansas and settled on a farm near Netawaka, Jackson county. John W. Atwater was educated in the public schools. He was engaged in farming with his father until 1897, when he was elected county clerk and removed to Holton when he assumed the duties of that office. He was re-elected in 1899, and on account of a revision of the election laws held the office five years in all. At the expiration of his term in January, 1903, Mr. Atwater engaged in the land business at Holton, in which he was very successful and did an extensive business. He sold a great deal of Oklahoma land as well as doing a large local business. For the last three years he has also been engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of pure-bred Herefords. In 1912, he became interested in The State Bank of Holton, and is now secretary of the board of directors of that institution. He is a Republican and has taken an active part in local and State politics. He has served as a member of the Republican County Central Committee and has frequently been a delegate at judicial, congressional and State conventions. Mr. Atwater was united in marriage December 25, 1902, to Miss Bessie E. Dixon, daughter of William F. and Rebecca (Washburn) Dixon, natives of Ohio, where the father was engaged in farming and fruit growing. The Dixon family came to Kansas in 1872, and first settled in Brown county, and removed from there to Sedgwick county where they remained for a time when they removed to Netawaka where the parents now reside. Mrs. Atwater was born at Netawaka, Kans., January 20, 1882. She was educated in the Netawaka schools and taught school for a time prior to her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Atwater have been born two children: Francis, born September 21, 1905, and John W. Jr., born February 28, 1913. The great bereavement of Mr. Atawter's[sic] life came to him in the death of his faithful and loving wife, who departed this life March 4, 1913.