Henry B. Atkins

Henry Burns Atkins (July 3, 1867 – September 28, 1941) was a politician, businessman, and farmer from Alberta, Canada.

Early life and immigration Atkins was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England in 1867. He graduated York College in 1885. He immigrated to Canada in 1888. Upon landing in Halifax, he travelled to Alberta where he settled in Cremona. Atkins' pioneer life was lonely and dangerous, and it was necessary for him to keep a gun near his door for survival. Only after several potentially dangerous encounters did he befriend the Indigenous people of the area. Henry Burns would often share meals with them. Ada Alberta was a teacher who had travelled West to visit a friend and stayed. Henry B. and Ada A. had five additional children: John, Eric and Rex (identical twins), Maxwell, and Dorothy.

During the Second World War, Eric, Rex, and Max were Commissioned Officers in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Eric was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "for completing numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty". Rex recovered nicely after a run-in with Malaria while serving in India.

Henry Burns Atkins died in Cremona on September 18, 1941. Ada Alberta Atkins died on April 28, 1945. They were both buried in the Carstairs Cemetery.