Lewis A. Lee
Lewis A. Lee
LEWIS ALTEMUS LEE was born on July 11, 1879 to Howard Lee and his wife Martha, who operated a stationary business called Lee & Company at 406 Federal Street, and a house furnishings store at 336 Federal Street in Camden. He was the youngest of three children, coming after brother Walter W. Lee and sister Emma Lee. As a young man he was well-known as a baseball player, covering first base for the Camden Wheelmen around the turn of the century. His father Howard Lee and uncle William C. Lee were both charter members of the Camden Fire Department, uncle Richard H. Lee had been a Colonel during the Civil War and served as Camden’s postmaster for sixteen years, and his uncle Joseph C. Lee had also been a Colonel in the Civil War and had worked as court clerk in Camden. The Thomas M.K. Lee Post No. 5 of the G.A.R. in Camden was named after another uncle, Thomas M.K. Lee.
When Lewis Lee was born the family lived at 406 Federal Street. By 1887 and into the early 1890s the family resided at 596 Carman Street. By 1900 they had moved to 447 Benson Street. The 1906 City Directory shows him living with his parents at 447 Benson Street. A veteran of the Spanish-American War, in 1909 he was offered a job in the Camden Board of Health office, sponsored by Dr. Henry H. Davis, for whom the Henry H. Davis Elementary School, and Dr. Marcus K. Mines. Lewis A. Lee was still living with his parents on Benson Street when the Census was taken in 1910.
Lewis A. Lee was married to Johanna Caroline “Lena” Ahrens on June 25, 1913 at First Methodist Episcopal Church at South 6th Street and Stevens Street by the Rev. Holmes Gravatt. The 1914 Camden City Directory shows him living in Parkside at 1125 Princess Avenue. His draft card, dated September 6, 1918, reveals that he was living at 1393 Baird Avenue. The 1920 Census shows he owned the home, and that he and his wife, brother-in-law and mother-in-law all lived at that address. During his time on Baird Avenue, his next door neighbor at 1391 Baird was Thomas Walton. Both men were active members of the Thirteenth Ward Republican Club.
Lewis A. Lee and his family remained on Baird Avenue through at least the spring of 1930. His wife passed away in 1941. By the following year he moved to the home of his sister Emma at 1155 Kenwood Avenue, where he would reside until his death in 1951.
In a career that spanned 40 years, Lewis Lee issued over 10,000 marriage licenses, before retiring on June 2, 1949. His last position with the city was that of Chief Clerk and Registrar in the Health Department.
Lewis A. Lee was a member of Camden Lodge 293 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and of the Thirteenth Ward Republican Club.
Lewis A. Lee passed away at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ on July 17, 1951. He is buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden. His pallbearers included former Judge Rudolph S. Ayres, Urquhart Ward, Dr. David D. Helm, Samuel Norcross, William Cotter, and William White.
Councilman Gordon Somewhat Improved
Camden Daily Telegram —
Very favorable is the report that came from Councilman Robert Gordon’s sick room this morning. It stated the popular official, who has been desperately ill with pneumonia, had taken a turn for the better and that those in attendance feel very hopeful of the future. For several days his condition had been such as to make the anxious members of his family feel apprehensive; and the fact that he has rallied now is a source of great gratification.
Councilman George Schneider, who was ill with typhoid fever, was reported to be in a favorable condition and his recovery is anticipated.
Another official on the sick list, Sidewalk Inspector Richard J. Richardson, is still very ill with neuralgia of the heart, and Record Clerk “Lou” Lee of the Board of Health, who has developed a very excellent case of chickenpox, is getting along very nicely.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card — Lewis Altemus Lee, 1393 Baird Ave., Camden, N.J.
June—But No Bride As License Clerk Has Lonesome Day
Camden Courier-Post —
The depression has dulled the barbs of Cupid in Camden. On June 1, 1931, three couples obtained licenses to wed, at city hall. Yesterday not one visited the marriage license clerk. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggs and bacon, may be cheap a la Cantor, but jobs cannot even be bought. The marriage license clerk believes Cupid must be Summering in the South Sea Isles.
‘June Bride’ Season Opens as 5 Couples Seek Licenses Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Dan Cupid Gets Flying Start With Bow And Arrow
Dan Cupid scored five “hits” in Camden yesterday as the month of June brides and roses began, Lewis A. Lee, chief clerk in the city health bureau, received applications from:
Robert Alberts, 31, of Billingsport avenue, Paulsboro, and Helen Graczyk, 23, of 1581 South Tenth street;
Warren A. Spruill, 22, of 3522 Farragut Avenue, and Alice V. Slemmer, 20, of 1189 North Thirty-sixth street;
Otto Buschmann, 46, and Bertha Schafer, 26, both of 814 Locust Street, Germantown, Pa.; John Anderson, 40, and Jessie Evans, 44, both of 322 Division Street;
Samuel G. Clark, 28, of 906 Grant avenue, West Collingswood, and Virginia R. Watson, 22, of 3129 Atlanta road.
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Registration Card — Lewis Altemus Lee, 1155 Kenwood Ave., Camden, N.J.
Lewis Lee Dies Of Heart Ailment; Retired City Aide
Camden Courier-Post —
Had Issued 10,000 Marriage Licenses In 40-Year Career
Lewis A. Lee, retired chief clerk in the Camden Health department, died Sunday morning at Cooper hospital. He was 72.
Mr. Lee, who lived at 1155 Kenwood avenue, was admitted to the hospital Friday after he was stricken with a heart ailment.
On June 2, 1949, he retired after 40 years’ service in the city health department and old board of health office. At that time he held the office of chief clerk and registrar. His original appointment was sponsored by Dr. Henry B. Davis, for many years president of the board of health.
When Mr. Lee was offered the appointment by Dr. Marcus K. Mines, his political sponsor, the Lee family and his friends urged him not to take it because “political jobs don’t last long.” Mr. Lee used to say jokingly when discussing his career in city government.
He started as messenger at $75 a month and successively became record clerk, assistant secretary and then chief clerk and registrar.
Issued Own License
One of the aspects of his work which always interested him was issuing marriage licenses. On one occasion he estimated he had issued 10,000 licenses in a 20-year period. The subject intrigued him because he was known among his friends as a model married man. Mrs. Lee, the former J. Caroline Ahrens, died in July, 1941. On June 25, 1938, they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. On that occasion Mr. Lee paid a gracious tribute to his mother-in-law and called her “one of the most lovable women I ever knew.”
Although he was destined to issue marriage licenses to thousands of other couples, Lee and his fiancée wished to avoid any publicity when they obtained their license. Their secret leaked out, however, and when the couple appeared word was passed around and the clerk’s office was crowded with city hall employes. They were married in the parsonage of the First Methodist Episcopal Church by the late Rev. Holmes F. Gravatt.
After the death of his wife, Mr. Lee continued to reside at the Kenwood avenue address with his sister, Miss Emma R. Lee, who survives him.
Recalled Epidemic
Reviewing his career with the health department, Mr. Lee said the worst disaster that ever struck Camden was the influenza epidemic of October, 1918. From Oct. 3 to Nov. 15, people were dying at the rate of 23 a day—a total of 1094.
In a folder which he always kept convenient, Mr. Lee preserved a statistical record of the tragedy.
He was a veteran of the Spanish American war, a member of Camden Lodge 293, Elks, and the Thirteenth Ward Republican club. The son of Howard and Martha Lee, he was formerly connected with a stationery store the family conducted at Fourth and Federal streets.
Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the Frank J. Leonard funeral home.
Rites Conducted For Lewis A. Lee, Former City Aide
Camden Courier-Post —
Services were held this morning for Lewis A. Lee, 72, of 1155 Kenwood avenue, retired chief clerk in the Camden health department, in the funeral home of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway. Burial was in Harleigh cemetery.
Pallbearers included former Judge Rudolph S. Ayres, past exalted ruler of Camden Lodge 293, Elks; Dr. David D. Helm, city health director; Samuel Norcross, oil company executive; William White, owner of a Camden electric supply store; William Cotter, former freeholder, and Urquhart Ward, city plumbing inspector.
More than 400 friends, neighbors and associates paid their final respects to Mr. Lee Thursday night. There were more than 40 floral tributes. Rites were conducted by the Camden Elks lodge. Members of the Thirteenth Ward Republican club attended the viewing in a group.
Mr. Lee died Sunday morning in Cooper hospital, where he had been admitted Friday after he was stricken with a heart attack. He retired June 2, 1949, after 40 years of service in the health department.
He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He was the son of Howard and Martha Lee and was formerly connected with a stationery store the family conducted at Fourth and Federal streets.
Surviving is a sister, Miss Emma R. Lee, with whom Mr. Lee lived.