[Return to introduction]JOSEPH WILLIAM AKINThe worthy family which Judge Akin represents was founded in the Lone Star state in 1867 by the late Rev. S. D. Akin, his father, who came hither from Green county, Kentucky. That county and state was the birthplace of the venerable Methodist divine, for his physical life began there in the year of 1815. He was descended from the South Carolina Akins, originally English, and was a convert to Christian belief in early life. He engaged in the ministry as a young man and was identified with the work in his native state and in Texas until his superannuation. Upon his advent to Texas he located in the central part of the state and became a member of the Texas Conference. He afterward joined the Northwest Texas Conference and retired from active ministerial work while such. In 1877 he brought his family into Young county and established them in Graham, where he passed away in 1881. The Kincheloes, a prominent Kentucky family, are closely related to Judge Akin, his mother having been a daughter of Judge Jesse Kincheloe, so long District Judge of Breckinridge county, Kentucky. The Kincheloes were of French origin and Mary E., the mother of our subject, was born in Hardinsburg in the year 1826. The family of Rev. and Mrs. Mary Akin comprised the late Rev. John E., who died at Fort Worth in 1880, unmarried; Mrs. John F. Neal, of Lytle, Texas; Mary, wife of W. E. Kaye, of Fort Worth; Mrs. Jesse Dory, deceased; David R., a Young county farmer, and Jo. W., of this review. Judge Akin was born in Navarro county, Texas, on the 21st of May, 1869, and passed his boyhood and youth in Graham. After leaving the town schools he spent three years in the Georgetown University, and at the age of nineteen years took up the study of law in the office of Hon. R. F. Arnold, of Graham, and was admitted to the bar of the state in 1890, before Presiding Judge P. M. Stine, and tried his first case before justice George E. Miller of Young county. In 1891 he formed a partnership with Hon. C. W. Johnson, one of the leaders of the Young county bar, and was connected with much of the leading practice of the county until chosen to preside over the county court. January 1, 1900, Judge Akin was united in marriage, at Burnet, Texas, with Miss Maggie Rose, a daughter of J. H. B. Rose, a Presbyterian minister who came to Texas from Virginia. The issue of this issue was: Roberta, J. W., Henry David, Mary M. and John E. In his political belief Judge Akin is Democratic and in 1900 his party elected him county judge to succeed Judge Noble J. Timmons, a pioneer and a foremost citizen of the county. In 1902 Judge Akin was re-elected without opposition and in 1904 his constituency again returned him to the judicial chair, showing their appreciation of his sincere and efficient service in public office. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a Woodman and has passed the chairs of the local lodge of each. He is Deputy Grand Master of his Masonic district and has represented the Graham lodge of Pythias in the State Grand Lodge. He was brought up a Christian and the denomination of his father provides his church home. He is active in the church work and is superintendent of the Sabbath- school. B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, p. 219. |
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