Atkisson, Benjamin 'Ben' Everett 18.feb.1878-11.jun.1919 Missouri, Sherrill - Arkansas, Hot Springs (murdered)
bandmaster, house painter/paper hanger by profession, his compositions became very popular and were widely performed but as bandmaster he remained unknown, 1880 as the youngest child residing with his parents and 8 siblings on a farm in Sherrill, 1897 residing in Licking Missouri, 1900 as house painter residing with wife Birdie and 1 year old daughter Bessie in Clay Missouri, 1903 as house painter residing at 244 Market Street in Hannibal Missouri, 1910 as paper hanger residing at 11 Crown Street in Hot Springs, c1913 probably musician or bandmaster of the First Regiment Band in Little Rock Arkansas (1913 the bandmaster was R. LeMont Parker and 1914 Atkisson composed his First Regiment Band march), 26.jul.1916 in Hot Springs Arkansas he advertized 'Wanted - Twenty more boys and girls to complete the high school band and orchestra of sixty musicians, experience not necessary. Ben E. Atkisson 18 Glen Street. Phone 1668', 1918-1919 as painter/paperhanger of Biggs Art Store residing at 18 Glen Street in Hot Springs, 11.jun.1919 he was murdered by gun shot at the age of 39 ; son of musician/farmer and carpenter William C Atkisson (Tennessee Williamson near Nashville 16.dec.1829-26.aug.1892 Licking) and Rebecca A Nichols (Tennessee, Bedford 12.sep.1835-29.nov.1902 Licking) ; brother of composer Stephen E Atkisson ; 20.jan.1897 in Houston Missouri he married Birdie Mary Piper (Missouri, Licking 1879-)