Biography - James W. Atkins

JAMES W. ATKINS, of the general mercantile firm of J. D. & J. W. Atkins, who are also planters at Knox Point, La., was born in Neshoba County, Miss., in 1860, and is a son of Judge Joseph W. and Eleanor J. (Savage) Atkins, natives of Tennessee and South Carolina, respectively. They were married in Mississippi, and in that State Mr. Atkins passed form life, a worthy member of the Methodist Church, and a successful planter. He was in public life for many years and held nearly all the county offices, including judge of the county court, and during the Rebellion was a colonel in the commissary department. His father, William Atkins, died in Tennessee when he was a small boy, and he was then taken to Virginia, and was reared in that State. Judge Atkins was a Royal Arch Mason, and is still survived by his widow who is a worthy m ember of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James W. Atkins was the ninth of their fourteen children, ten of whom are living, and his early education was received in the common schools, but graduated in 1880 from T. A. Ledden's Commercial College, of Memphis, Tenn., after which he at once came to Knox Point, and for three years clerked for his brother, J. D., who had been a merchant of that place for several years. In 1883 they became associated in business, and have since conducted affairs under the firm name of J. D. & J. W. Atkins. James W. came to this parish with no capital and no mercantile experience, and began business on a small scale, but from time to time they have increased their business until they now have the most extensive and complete establishment of the kind on Red River. In 1889 they handled about 3,300 bales of cotton, and did a business which amounted to $75,000. Besides this, J. W. and another brother, J. B., own a large plantation in Red River Parish, where they also operate and own a large store under the firm name of J. B. & J. W. Atkins. James W. Atkins was married in 1883 to Miss Lucy, daughter of James W. Elmore, a Virginian, but who is now living at Friar'' Point, Miss., a wealthy planter. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins have two little children-boy and a girl. They attend the Methodist Church, of which they have been members for some time.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, pages 124-125.