Deposition V

31 July 1890
John L. Atlee, M.D.

I am 58 years of age, a practicing physician since 1853 and my post office address is Chattanooga, Tenn.

I practiced my profession at Athens, Tenn., from 1852 to 1884. During my practice there from 1853 to 1865 I was the family physician to Alexander Cleage. I recollect a colored household servant named Katie Cleage. I waited on her several times whilst she was a slave. I do not recollect what I attended her for. I do not know as to whether or not she was married or lived with any man as his wife. She was not married because they never married in those days. I do not recollect waiting on her in childbirth.

I do not remember, but I don’t have any recollection of ever attending her for any venereal disease. I don’t think I did, I would be likely to remember if I did. I have no recollection of her ever being locked up and my attending her for any disorder. If she had been locked up, I would remember it. She may have given birth to children but I don’t remember. I recollect Philip Cleage. I do not know whether he had Katie for a wife or not. It was in the early part of the war when I remember the claimant as a young girl, I should say in the neighborhood of eighteen years old. I have no interest whatever in this claim for a pension. I always thought she was a right good darky. I never knew anything to the contrary.

I have had no knowledge relating to her since the war. My answers have been correctly recorded.

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Death of Dr. J. L. Atlee

NOTED PHYSICIAN SUCCUMBS TO LONG ILLNESS

[Chattanooga Time]

 Yesterday morning at 10:30 o’clock, at his home, 219 Oak Street, Dr. John L. Atlee, one of the city’s best known and oldest physicians, died after an illness of several months. At the time of his death Dr. Atlee was in his eighty-first year, having been born in January, 1812 Though advanced in years, he was remarkably alert active and not until a few months ago was there any apparent break in his usual good health.

Dr. Atlee was born at Gettysburg Pa., the son of Edwin A. and Delilah Gilbert Atlee. His was a distinguished ancestry, being the grandson of William Pitt Atlee, colonel in the war of 1812, and the great grandson of Judge William Augustus Atlee, who was chief justice of the state of Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1784.

In his early childhood Dr. Atlee’s parents moved to Tennessee and settled in Athens, but much of his youth and early manhood was spent in Philadelphia in the home of Dr. Washington L. Atlee, where he pursued medical studies, graduating from University of Pennsylvania in 1853. To his early practice be was associated with his two uncles, Dr. Washington L. and Dr. John L Atlee, both men of eminent standing in the medical profession of that day.

In 1856 he was married to Miss Sarah Humphreys, of Athens, Tenn., in which place he settled to the practice of his profession until his removal to Chattanooga in 1884. In May, 1906, Dr. and Mrs. Atlee celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, an occasion gladened by the presence of all their children and grandchildren and many scores of friends. His home life was ideal. Proverbially hospitable, his relations with his friends were marked by a sincerity and cordiality that knew no waning throughout the years. In his practice of more than fifty years he necessarily became extensively known both as a successful physician and Christian gentleman as well. He was a lifelong Methodist, being a member and constant attendant of the Centenary church.

The passing of Dr. Atlee removes not only a noble representative of an eminent family, but the old-time general practitioner, as well. Many old families throughout the southeastern section of the state will recall his ever-genial personality as he came to them in hours of need, sometimes a distance of many weary miles on horseback, across swollen streams or over rough mountain roads.

Besides his aged wife, Dr. Atlee leaves behind three sons and one daughter of his immediate household. The sons are Dr. James H. and J. Light, Jr., of this city and Frank H. Atlee, of Atlanta, Ga. Miss Sara Atlee is the only daughter. The grandchildren are Frank Holmes Atlee, Miss Elizabeth Atlee, Frances, Marjorie -and Charlotte Atlee. He also leaves three sisters, Mrs. A. V. Cox, of Beeville, Tex.; Mrs. A. E McCampbell, of Corpus Christi, Texas and Mrs. S. C. Luter, of Johnson City, Reno. One brother, Dr. B. G. Atlee, resides in San Antonio, Texas.

The funeral services will be held from the residence this afternoon at 4 o’clock, Dr. William E. Thompson pastor of Centenary church conduct10g, assisted by Dr. J W. Bachman and Dr. J. J. Manker, of Athens. The interment will be private and will please omit flowers

New Decatur Advertiser New Decatur, Alabama · Thursday, July 25, 1912 page 2

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Information from Katie Cleage’s Pension file. I found the photograph at Orange Magazine. The newspaper clipping is from Newspapers.com

For links to the other posts in this series, click this link – Katie Cleage’s Pension Hearing