John DeWitt Clinton Atkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 9th district |
|
| In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 |
|
| Preceded by | Emerson Etheridge |
| Succeeded by | Emerson Etheridge |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 7th district |
|
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert P. Caldwell |
| Succeeded by | Washington C. Whitthorne |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 8th district |
|
| In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1883 |
|
| Preceded by | David A. Nunn |
| Succeeded by | John M. Taylor |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate | |
| In office 1855–1857 |
|
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives | |
| In office 1849–1851 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 4, 1825 Manly's Chapel, Tennessee |
| Died | June 2, 1908 (aged 82) Paris, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Bacon Porter Atkins Flora Crawford Atkins |
| Children | John DeWitt Atkins |
| Alma mater | East Tennessee University |
| Profession | lawyer
farmer politician |
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins (born June 4, 1825 – died June 2, 1908) was an American politician. He served in both the United States House of Representatives and the Confederate Congress for Tennessee.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins was born in Manly's Chapel, Henry County, Tennessee. His parents were Johnathan and Sarah Atkins. He went to a private school in Paris, Tennessee.
Atkins later graduated from East Tennessee University in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1846. He studied law and was allowed to practice as a lawyer. However, he chose to work in farming instead.
Family Life
Atkins married Elizabeth Bacon Porter on November 23, 1847. After she passed away in 1887, he married Flora Crawford on June 24, 1890.
Political Career Highlights
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins had a long career in politics. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Serving Tennessee
Atkins first served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851. Later, he was a member of the Tennessee Senate from 1855 to 1857.
United States Congress
In 1857, Atkins was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Tennessee's 9th congressional district. His term lasted from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1859. He did not win re-election for his next term.
During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Atkins served in the Confederate States Army. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Fifth Tennessee Regiment in 1861. He also became a delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress in November 1861. He was then elected to the First Confederate Congress and again to the Second Confederate Congress in 1863.
After the War
After the Civil War, Atkins was again elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served for five terms, from March 4, 1873, to March 3, 1883. During this time, he represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district and later the Tennessee's 8th congressional district.
While in Congress, he became the chairman of the United States House Committee on Appropriations. This committee is very important because it decides how government money is spent. He did not seek re-election in 1882.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
In 1885, President Grover Cleveland appointed Atkins as the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He held this position until 1888. During his time as commissioner, he made a rule about language in schools for Native American children. He believed that teaching them English would help them fit into American society.
After this role, he tried to become a United States Senator in 1888 but was not successful.
Later Life and Passing
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins returned to farming near Paris, Tennessee. He retired from active work in 1898 and moved into Paris. He lived there until his death on June 2, 1908, at the age of 82. He was buried at City Cemetery in Paris, Tennessee. A friend named a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, called Atkins Park, in his honor.
