Daniel Clayton Adkinson was born on July 20, 1897, in Walton County. He was one of six children of Jason D. and Annie Infinger Adkinson. He was educated in the public schools of Walton and Santa Rosa counties and taught school in both counties until the United States entered World War I. He enlisted in the Army on June 6, 1917, and served until his honorable discharge on June 23, 1919.
After his discharge, Adkinson returned to teaching for a brief time, and he worked at the DeFuniak Springs Post Office from 1920 until 1929. He was elected Tax Collector in 1932 and Sheriff in 1936.
Sheriff Adkinson was shot in the back on April 7, 1938, as he was standing in front of prison camp guard Frank Hendrix’s home. Both men were killed, but the shooter, Constable James Neal, claimed he fired in self-defense. A grand jury later refused to indict Neal, so no one was charged with the murders.
Sheriff Adkinson’s wife, Celia Jernigan Adkinson, was appointed as Sheriff to replace him, and she held that office until 1939.
Burial: Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Pleasant Ridge
Note: His gravestone lists his surname as “Adkison” but his signature above clearly states “Adkinson.”