Background
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins was born on June 4, 1825, in Henry Company, Tennessee, United States. He was the son of John and Sarah Manley Atkins.
411 E. Monroe St., Paris, Missouri, United States
Atkins was educated privately at Paris Male Academy.
1276 Gilbreath Dr, Johnson City, TN 37614, United States
Atkins was educated privately at East Tennessee University.
Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
Atkins graduated first in the class of 1846 at the University of Knoxville (now University of Tennessee).
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins was born on June 4, 1825, in Henry Company, Tennessee, United States. He was the son of John and Sarah Manley Atkins.
Educated privately at Paris Male Academy and at East Tennessee University, Atkins graduated first in the class of 1846 at the University of Knoxville (now University of Tennessee).
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins served in the Tennessee State Assembly and the Tennessee State Senate prior to being elected as a Democrat to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He served a single term from 1857 to 1859.
When the Civil War began he helped recruit what became the 5th Tennessee Infantry regiment in the Confederate Army and was commissioned its Lieutenant Colonel. Soon after though he was elected to the Confederate Congress and served two terms during the war before the Confederacy was defeated. He was then re-elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1872, this time representing first the 7th, then the 8th Congressional District. He served five terms from 1873 to 1883.
In 1885 he was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as appointed United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs, serving until 1888.
Atkins supported President Davis's legislation.
John Atkins married Elizabeth Bacon Porter on November 23, 1847. After her death in 1887, Johnny married Flora Crawford on June 24, 1890. Atkins had six children.