G. B. Atterbury, of the firm of Meek & Atterbury, general merchants, was born in Howard County, Mo., on September 10, 1839. His father, G. B. was born in South Carolina in 1799, and was the son of James Atterbury. About 1803 he removed with his parents to Kentucky, where he resided until 1817, when he immigrated to Missouri. For three years he lived in Cooper County. He then crossed the river into Howard County, which was his home until 1844, when he came to De Kalb County; he died in 1883. His wife, Elizabeth Butler, was born in Georgia in 1802, and was the daughter of William Butler, who immigrated to Kentucky, and thence to Missouri. He arrived in the latter State in 1822, and located in Howard County. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and received such an education as could be obtained in the frontier schools. He was engaged in farming in De Kalb County until the beginning of the Civil War. On March 2, 1862, he enlisted in the Federal army, joining Company H, of the First Regiment, Missouri State Militia (Cavalry), with the rank of orderly sergeant. Near the close of the war he became adjutant of the regiment with the rank of first lieutenant, and after his return home he reorganized the militia of De Kalb County. He followed farming until 1885, since which he has been engaged in merchandising. In 1859 he married Elizabeth Dalton, who was born in Illinois in 1841, and died in August 1863. She was the mother of two children, one of whom is living. Mr. Atterbury chose for his second wife, Catherine Deppen, a native of Ohio, to whom he was married in 1867. They have three children. Both he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 547.