Louis Evans Atkinson (Mifflintown, PA)

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Hon. Louis Evans Atkinson (1841-1910), U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, doctor, lawyer and banker.
Hon. Louis Evans Atkinson (1841-1910), U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, doctor, lawyer and banker.

Louis Evans Atkinson (April 16, 1841 – February 5, 1910)

Biography

  • Name: Hon. Louis Evans Atkinson
  • Birth: April 16, 1841 Delaware Township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania
  • Death: February 5, 1910 Mifflintown, Pennsylvania (buried Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery)
  • Republican Congressman, 48th-52d Congresses (1883-1893)
  • President Judge, 41st District, Pennsylvania (1900-1901)
  • Medical College of the City of NY 1861;
  • Civil War Surgeon for the Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry and 188th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Early life and family

Louis was born near Thompsontown, Pennsylvania. He attended the local schools and Airy View and Milnwood Academies. He studied medicine graduating from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1858. He entered the medical department of the College of the City of New York and graduated March 4, 1861. After graduation, the Civil War broke out and he entered the medical department of the United States Army on September 5, 1861. He served as assistant surgeon in the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry and as surgeon of the 188th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, until mustered out in December 1865. He was disabled while in the Army and, being unable to practice medicine due to rheumatism, studied law and was admitted to the Juniata County Bar in September 1870. He commenced practice of law in Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pennsylvania and was associated with F.M.M. Pennell as Atkinson & Pennell with their office in the Main Street residence of Louis E. Atkinson, Esq.

He married Margaret Ellen Mathers, daughter of the Hon. James Mathers, of Mifflintown sometime before 1880.

Banking career

Louis became a stockholder and a director of the Juniata Valley Bank of Mifflintown in 1877. The long-serving president, Joseph Rothrock resigned in 1898 due to ill-health and succumbed that same year. Atkinson was elected the first president of the newly chartered Juniata Valley National Bank of Mifflintown. The new national bank received authorization from Comptroller of the Currency to begin business in October of 1898; the bank began with a sizeable capital investment of $60,000. Similarly, banking associate William C. Pomeroy also became a director of the Juniata Valley Bank in 1877 and their association carried over into the political center of Perry County and The First National Bank of New Bloomfield.

In New Bloomfield, the county seat of Perry County, the First National Bank of New Bloomfield had opened for business in 1898 with William Culbertson Pomeroy as its first President 1898-1906 and Louis E. Atkinson, Vice President.

In December 1899, the charter was granted for the Perry County National Bank of Newport with a capital of $50,000. The promoters were Hon. W.C. Pomeroy, Hon. L.E. Atkinson, William Swartz, J.W. Stimmel, Juniata County; Chas. A. Rippman, Millerstown; and T.H. Butturf, Newport. The stockholders met at the Graham House on Wednesday, December 13, 1899 to organize and arrange for a location for conducting business. Officers and directors were elected and those gentlemen were C.A. Rippman, Millerstown, president; Hon. L.E. Atkinson, Mifflintown, vice president; S.S. Willard, New Bloomfield; John Fleisher, Newport; W.C. Pomeroy, J.W. Stimmel, and William Swartz, Juniata county, directors.

Political career

Atkinson was elected as a Republican to the 48th and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1893). He was Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (51st Congress) and became a candidate for re-nomination in 1892, but ultimately withdrew. He resumed the practice of law in Mifflintown, and was appointed President Judge of the 41st Pennsylvania district by Governor William Stone to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Jeremiah Lyons (1892-1900) and served one year until expiration of the ten-year term in 1902. He was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was known throughout the state.

Later life and death

The Hon. Louis Evans Atkinson died in Mifflintown, February 5, 1910 with interment in Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery of the same town.

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, Louis E. Atkinson was involved with the following banks:

Series of 1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with a pen signature of J. Lloyd Hartman, Cashier and a stamped signature of Louis E. Atkinson, President.
Series of 1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with a pen signature of J. Lloyd Hartman, Cashier and a stamped signature of Louis E. Atkinson, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com


Sources

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