My Genealogy Hound

OTIS D. PATRICK, a member of the Hilton & Patrick Co., general produce dealers of Truxton, N. Y., was born in Bonus, Boone County, Ill., December 5, 1855.

The first representatives of the family in this country, it is said, were three brothers who came to this country in the early colonial days. Robert Patrick, one of these brothers, and great-grandfather of the subject of this article, settled in Saratoga County, N. Y., and spent his remaining days, engaged in farming.

His son Henry, grandfather of our subject, was born in Saratoga County in 1790. When he reached his majority he left home and located in the town of Truxton, that part of which that is now included in the town of Cuyler, Cortland County, N. Y. He was a tanner by trade and followed his trade throughout life. Being an early settler, all of whose hopes and future expectations were wrapped up in his new home, he was always interested in the welfare of the county and state. He was a strong Whig; upon the organization of the Republican party, he joined the ranks of the new organization that was to become such a power in the land. He was called upon to serve as road commissioner and deputy sheriff for several years. He married Miss Clarissa Keeler, and a family of nine children was born to them: Henry, Julina, Halsey, Eliza, Cordelia, Charlotte, De Witt, Devillo and Joseph, all of whom have passed away except our subject’s father, De Witt.

De Witt Patrick was born in Truxton, August 28, 1828. He followed agricultural pursuits, owning and operating a farm of 500 acres, in what is now the town of Cuyler, then a part of Truxton. In 1877, he retired from his active business career, and moved to that part of the town originally called Truxton, where he still lives. He married, March 20, 1849, Sabra Risley, daughter of Waite Risley of Truxton. They had a family of two children, Alletta, who married Albert Stevens, proprietor of the “Willow Grove Mills” of Truxton; and Otis D.

Otis D. Patrick received his primary education in the district schools and was advanced at the Cortland State Normal School. At the age of eighteen, misfortune overtook him, and he had to leave school on account of an injury, but subsequently took a course in Eastman’s Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., graduating with the class of 1876.

The same year he began to clerk for W. S. Maycumber in Truxton. In 1878 he went on the farm with his father and remained until 1880; he then became associated with F. L. Hilton in the mercantile business under the firm name of Hilton & Patrick, the stock having been bought of W. P. Summer. The partnership continued until 1890, when Mr. Patrick assumed control of the entire business. After one year he sold out, and the Hilton & Patrick Co. was formed by the two old partners to carry on a general produce business. They bought the hotel property and converted the same into store buildings, where the business in now conducted. This firm also started the Truxton Last Co. in 1892. They also helped organize the Bryan Furniture Co. of Truxton, in which they have a one-fourth interest.

Mr. Patrick was married on February 11, 1880, to Louise F. Kenney, daughter of Oscar J. Kenney of Truxton. They are the happy parents of two children, Josephine L. and Donald D. Our subject is a prominent Republican and an active worker for his party, but has never cared to accept office.