My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Thomas J. Patton. Prominently identified with the interests of Benton County is the above named gentleman, who was born in Ohio County, Va., February 27, 1822, and is now insurance agent at Siloam Springs. He is the son of William and Anna (Redmond) Patton. The father was born in the north part of Ireland in 1767, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was partially brought up on a farm, and after he was old enough he entered a college at Belfast and educated himself for a minister. After graduating he preached for twelve years as a Wesleyan Methodist in Ireland, then immigrating to America he first settled in Kentucky, and afterward went to Ohio County, Va., which is now West Virginia. In 1828 he immigrated to Illinois, and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred about 1843. He was married in Kentucky to Miss Redmon, who was a native born Kentuckian. She was the daughter of George and Henrietta Redmon. Mrs. Patton died in Missouri in 1848, the mother of seven children: Mary (deceased), William D. (deceased), George Washington (deceased), James Christopher Columbus (deceased), Samuel Franklin (deceased), Henrietta (deceased) and Thomas J. The last named received his education in the common schools of Virginia and Illinois. He followed agricultural pursuits in these States, and was married in 1849 to Miss Lucy Ann Gee, in Missouri. Here they remained until after the war. Mrs. Patton’s father, Edmon W. Gee, was a soldier under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812, and helped subdue the Creek Indians. Mr. Patton enlisted in the Confederate army, and served about four years. He was a soldier in Slack’s brigade under command of Gen. Price. He was first elected captain of his company, then major, and finally colonel. He was in an engagement at Blue Mills, at which place he commanded, and in the battle of Pea Ridge, in the battle of Corinth and Iuka. He was in a number of minor engagements besides those mentioned. He was a recruiting officer during the latter part of the war, and remained as such until its close. Col. Patton emigrated from Northwest Missouri in 1865, and moved to Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Ark. Here he lived on a farm until 1881, excepting five years spent at Fayetteville, where he removed to educate his children at the State University. He came to Siloam Springs in 1881. Mrs. Patton was born in West Tennessee, near Nashville, in 1835. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of South Carolina, and her father was one of the earliest pioneers of Northwest Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Patton became the parents of five children: Eunice Amanda, wife of James E. Mock, of Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Ark.; Henrietta Frances, deceased; Lucy Alice, Martha Josephine, and Erasmus Manfred (deceased). Lucy Alice and Martha Josephine graduated with honors at the State University in 1880 and 1881. Col. Patton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Universalist Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and his first presidential vote was cast for James K. Polk. He was a member of the Legislature from Washington County, Ark., during the sessions of 1874 and 1875, and was instrumental in redeeming the credit of Arkansas and in passing laws beneficial to his particular section of the State and of the State at large. During his term of office in the Legislature he introduced a bill, and succeeded in having it passed, which refunded $16,000 to the county of Washington, the money having been erroneously collected before due as interest on bonds issued for building the university of Arkansas at Fayetteville.