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 Was 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 Louis 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 Benevolet 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

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..

'June Bride' Season' Opens as 5 Couples Seek Licenses Here
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.