Stephen Eugene Atkinson

History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu

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S.E. Atkinson, president of the Cascade Bank of Great Falls 
Montana, dates his birth in Carrolton, Ohio 
November 17, 1848.

Mr. Atkinson is of English descent and traces his ancestry 
back to Stephen Atkinson, his great grandfather, who 
emigrated from England to this country at an early day, 
bringing with him a charter from the Crown Government to 
manufacture woolen goods in Maryland. His son Isaac, the 
grandfather of our subject moved to Western Pennsylvania 
and thence to Ohio, and became one of the pioneers of 
Carroll County where he was for a number of years engaged 
in operating woolen and flouring mills and also in 
merchandising.  He served in the Ohio Legislature and was 
prominently identified with the early history of the state.  
Robert J. Atkinson, his son and the father of S.E. 
was born in Western Pennsylvania and was married to 
Miss Matilda Jackson. He became a prominent lawyer and was 
Third Auditor of the United States Treasury under the 
administrations of Presidents Pierce, Buchanan and Lincoln.  
He died in the fifty-second year of his age.  His good 
wife still survives him, she having now (1894) reached her 
three score years and ten.  Their family of three sons 
and three daughters are all living, Stephen Eugene, the 
subject of this article, being the oldest.

Mr. Atkinson had excellent educational advantages in his 
youth.  He graduated in the Columbia College, Washington 
D.C. in June 1871 and that same year entered law school.  
The death of his father at this time, however, changed 
his plans, and instead of continuing his law course he 
returned with his mother and the rest of the family to 
their home in Ohio.  The following six years he was 
employed as assistant secretary of the Jefferson Fire Insurance 
Company at Steubenville, Ohio.

B.F. Potts, an uncle of Mr. Atkinson had served as a 
general in the Union Army and was a friend of General Grant.  
When Grant became President he appointed General Potts 
Governor of the Territory of Montana. Here be it stated that
Mr. Atkinson had had no communication with his uncle 
until 1878 when he received a telegram saying that a position 
in the First National Bank of Helena awaited him if he 
would come to Montana.  He immediately started for the West, 
making the journey by way of the Union Pacific to Ogden 
and thence by the overland stage to Montana.  He accepted 
the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank 
and served in that position five years, when the bank was 
organized.  He was offered the position of assistant 
cashier in it, which he accepted and in which position he 
served eight years, until 1889.  At that time he and 
his brother F.P. Atkinson, organized the Cascade Bank at 
Great Falls.  He was made president of the bank at its 
organization but continued to reside in Helena until 1891.  
Since that year he has made his home in Great Falls. 
He has been identified to some extent with the growth and 
development of Great Falls ever since it was incorporated, 
visiting it frequently and especially has he been 
interested in its prosperity since he located here 
permanently.

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