Bio of ATKINSON, Elmer E. (b.1867 d.1923), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

ELMER E. ATKINSON - Vol III, pg 326-330
Elmer E. Atkinson, the founder and president of the firm of E. E. 
Atkinson & Company, which has maintained a continuous existence through 
the past quarter of a century and conducts a women's and children's 
apparel establishment that is accorded first place among similar 
establishments in Minneapolis, is an outstanding figure in mercantile 
circles of the city. His birth occurred in Waterloo, Blackhawk county, 
Iowa, on the 28th of March, 1867, his parents being Dr. Thomas and Anna 
M. (Holloway) Atkinson, both of whom were natives of Belmont county, 
Ohio, and representatives of sterling pioneer families of that section of 
the Buckeye state. Isaac Holloway, the maternal grandfather of E. E. 
Atkinson, became an extensive landholder and influential citizen of 
Belmont county, which he represented in the Ohio legislature. That 
Atkinson family was also prominent in Belmont county, where Dr. Thomas 
Atkinson engaged in the practice of medicine for a number of years prior 
to his removal to Iowa. He became one of the pioneer physicians and 
surgeons of Waterloo and gained distinction as one of the influential and 
honored citizens of that part of the Hawkeye state. Both he and his wife 
remained residents of Iowa until called to their final rest. Two sons and 
two daughters of the family are living.

In the acquirement of an education Elmer E. Atkinson attended the public 
schools of Dewitt, Clinton county, Iowa, and after putting aside his 
textbooks identified himself with mercantile activities, in connection 
with which he was eventually employed in leading department stores in the 
city of Chicago. In the establishment of the Parisian Suit Company of 
that city he gained intimate and valuable experience in the special line 
of enterprise to which he afterward turned his attention in an 
inde­pendent way. In 1887, when but twenty years of age, he embarked in 
the retail dry goods business at Anthony, Harper county, Kansas, 
developing a prosperous trade by reason of his good judgment and 
excellent executive ability. Two years later he disposed of this business 
and went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he assumed the management of the 
women's apparel department of one of the largest mercantile 
establishments in the city. In this capacity he further familiarized 
himself with general business methods and policies.

Mr. Atkinson came to Minneapolis in 1897 and later spent a year in 
California but returned to this city with the idea of making it his 
permanent place of abode.

Here he founded a mercantile concern which under his capable control has 
steadily expanded until it is now one of the largest in the city and is 
recognized as the Marshall Field of Minneapolis in quality and class of 
patronage. His store, a complete women's and children's outfitting 
establishment, is situated at the corner of Seventh street and Nicollet 
avenue. There is a large annex in the rear of the main store, a building 
which Mr. Atkinson personally erected on the Seventh street property 
purchased in 1908, which has a frontage of fifty feet. The business, 
which has increased fivefold within the past decade, is a splendid 
tribute to the keen sagacity and commercial acumen of its founder. In 
September, 1909, Mr. Atkinson opened a similar establishment in St. Paul, 
at the corner of Sixth and Cedar streets. This is known as the E. E. 
Atkinson & Company's Sixth Street Store, and is one of the most 
at­tractively appointed mercantile places in the capital city, with a 
trade that fully justifies the wisdom of Mr. Atkinson in thus extending 
his operations. His two sons, Harold E. and Alfred M., are actively 
associated with him in his business activi­ties in the Twin cities and 
are numbered among the alert and popular young business men of Minnesota.

On the 26th of September, 1888, Mr. Atkinson was united in marriage to 
Miss Minnie F. Morey of Clinton, Iowa, and their children are four in 
number: Harold E., vice president and general manager of the firm of E. 
E. Atkinson & Company, was married on the 29th of June, 1912, to Margaret 
Grace Moyer and they have four children: Harold E., Jr., who is nine 
years of age; Elmer Ellsworth (II), a little lad of five; Margaret Ann, 
two years of age; and Francis, who is in her first year. Alfred M. 
Atkinson, secretary and treasurer, was married on the 16th of August, 
1915, to Dorothy Thompson, daughter of Frank B. Thompson, a prominent 
business man of St. Paul. They have two children, Frank B., Jr., and Mary 
Merle, who are five and three years of age, respectively. Anita Atkinson 
completed the work of the junior year at Stanley Hall, a leading 
educational institution of Minneapolis, and in 1915 was graduated from 
the Elizabeth Somers famous finishing school for young women at 
Washington, D. C. On the 21st of June, 1916, she became the wife of 
William Yale Smiley of Minneapolis, a graduate of the University of 
Minnesota and prominent in athletics. He was captain of the track team, 
also pursued a post-­graduate course at Yale University and is now a 
prominent young attorney. William Yale and Anita (Atkinson) Smiley have a 
son, William Yale, Jr., who is two years of age. Donald Atkinson attended 
the Blake School for Boys and subsequently en­tered the Shattuck Military 
Academy at Faribault, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1922. 
Because of the fact that his uncle was dean of Marquette Univer­sity in 
Milwaukee he has been a student there during the past year but expects to 
go either to Yale or Dartmouth in the coming fall (1923). In 1914 Mr. 
Atkinson com­pleted the erection of his fine modern residence at the 
corner of Lincoln and Logan avenues, and this attractive home, the 
architectural design and appointments of which largely represent the 
personal ideas of the owner, commands a fine view of Lake of the Isles. 
The residence was completed and occupied in the autumn of 1914 and is 
known for its generous and gracious hospitality, and as a center of 
rep­resentative social activities, as the family has a wide circle of 
friends in the city of Minneapolis, as well as in St. Paul.

Though never manifesting any desire to enter the arena of practical 
politics, Mr. Atkinson takes a loyal interest in governmental affairs and 
in public matters of a local order, his allegiance being given to the 
republican party. He is emphatically progressive and liberal as a citizen 
as well as a man of affairs. He became an active member of the 
Minneapolis Commercial Club and later identified himself zealously with 
the Civic & Commerce Association of the city, which absorbed the original 
Commercial Club and which has done much to further the civic and material 
ad­vancement of Minneapolis. Mr. Atkinson was the last to hold the office 
of chairman of the public affairs committee of the Commercial Club, and 
he has since been an influential factor in the activities of the Civic & 
Commerce Association. He has made judicious investments in Minneapolis 
real estate. In the Masonic fraternity he has attained the thirty-second 
degree of the Scottish Rite and has also crossed the sands of the desert 
with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. As a golf enthusiast he is 
identified with the Minikahda Club and he also holds membership in the 
Minneapolis Club, the Lafayette Club and the Minneapolis Automobile Club. 
His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Sixth Church of 
Christ, Scientist. In whatsoever relation of life we find him, he is 
always the same honorable and honored gentleman, whose worth well merits 
the high regard which is uniformly given him.

His life record may well serve as a source of inspiration and 
encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished by industry, 
determination and wisely directed energy.