John DeWitt Clinton Atkins

Johnathan Atkins was born at Manly's Chapel, Tennessee, in Henry County the son of Johnathan Atkins and Sarah (Manley) Atkins. He attended a private school in Paris, Tennessee, graduated from East Tennessee University at Knoxville in 1846. Johnny studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but Johnny did not practice, instead engaging in agricultural pursuits. Johnny married Elizabeth Bacon Porter on November 23, 1847. After her death in 1887, Johnny married Flora Crawford on June 24, 1890.

Johnathan Atkins was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851. Johnny served in the Tennessee Senate from 1855 to 1857. Johnny was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fifth Congress by Tennessee's 9th congressional district. Johnny served from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859,[1] but Johnny was not a successful candidate for re-election to the Thirty-sixth Congress.

During the Civil War, Johnathan Atkins served as lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Tennessee Regiment in the Confederate Army in 1861. Johnny was a delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress in November 1861. Johnny then was elected to the First Confederate Congress and was reelected in 1863 to the Second Confederate Congress.[2]

Following the war, Johnathan Atkins was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-third and the four succeeding Congresses by Tennessee's 7th congressional district, and then by the 8th congressional district after reapportionment. Johnny served from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1883.[3] During the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses, Johnny was the chairman of the United States House Committee on Appropriations. Johnny was not a candidate for renomination in 1882.

Johnathan Atkins again engaged in agricultural pursuits near Paris, Tennessee in Henry County. Johnny was appointed United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs by President Cleveland on March 21, 1885, and Johnny served until June 13, 1888 when Johnny resigned. During his tenure as commissioner, Johnathan Atkins forbade use of Native languages in reservation schools, stating in 1887 that "instruction of the Indians in the vernacular is not only of no use to them, but it is detrimental to the cause of their education and civilization".[4] He was an unsuccessful Democratic nomination for United States Senator in 1888. Johnny returned to agricultural pursuits; retired from active pursuits in 1898, and moved to Paris, Tennessee.

Johnathan Atkins lived there in retirement until his death on June 2, 1908 (age 82 years, 364 days). Johnny is interred at City Cemetery in Paris, Tennessee.[5] A family friend who developed Atlanta's Atkins Park neighborhood named it in honor of the colonel.[6]

• "John DeWitt Clinton Atkins". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2009-04-21.

• United States Congress. "John DeWitt Clinton Atkins (id: A000327)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.