Born at the home of his grandmother in North Londonderry, Vermont, Atwood attended public schools in Boston. He studied architecture and engaged in that profession in Boston. Atwood was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897). Atwood defeated incumbent Democrat Michael J. McEttrick.[2] He was a member of the Republican State Committee.
Atwood was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress. He resumed his former profession in Boston. From 1888 to 1894 he was a member of and secretary to the Boston Republican City Committee. From 1889 to 1890 he was City Architect of Boston, designing the Bowditch School, the Congress Street Fire Station, and the Harvard Avenue Fire Station, all on the National Register of Historic Places. Atwood also designed several churches for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
He was again a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1915, 1917, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1927, and 1928.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1918 to the Sixty-sixth Congress, and then resumed his work as an architect in Boston. In April 1938, he moved to Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts.
^"FIGHTING 10TH. District Captured by the Republicans. Atwood Leads in the Exciting Race. Elected to Congress Beyond Doubt. McEttrick Second and 1029 Behind. But He Led McNary by No Less Than 1655 Votes. Fitzgerald in 9th Defeats Jesse M. Gove. Both Cronan and Coakley Left Out in the Cold. FITZGERALED'S FIGHT. How He Defeated Jesse Gove in the 9th Congressional District. FULLER THE VICTOR. He Defeats Both Cronan and Coakley for the Senate.", Boston Daily Globe, Boston, MA, p. 1, November 7, 1894
