WILLIAM B. ATCHISON, was born near Belleville, St. Clair county, Ill., Aug. 22, 1830, and was a son of John and Eliza (Badgley) Atchison. William was reared to farm life, in which he always has continued. He was married, March 3, 1850, in Monroe County, to Sarah H. Jennings, born in 1830. She was a daughter of Samuel and Matilda (Bickers) Jennings, natives of Tennessee. William removed to Greene county in 1855, and settled on section 23, T. 12, R. 12. Here he resided until his death Feb. 25, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Atchison were the parents of three children - Edward L., married Elizabeth Shelton, now resides on his mother's farm; William E., married Anna Hoskins, also lives on his mother's farm; Eliza Viola, married Christopher Howard, and resides with her mother. Mr. Atchison was a member of the Baptist church, as is also his wife. His father died in the year 1841, and his mother is still living in Belleville, being now in her 73rd year. Mrs. Atchison has a nice farm of 160 acres, located on the northeast quarter of section 22, in what is now Patterson township. Her family is highly respected by the community in which they reside.