Husband Alexander E. Patton 1
Born: 20 Oct 1852 - Curwensville, Clearfield Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Hon. John Patton (1823- ) 3 4
Mother: Catharine M. Ennis ( -1855) 5 6
Marriage: 27 Dec 1875 7
Other Spouse: Mary B. Dill ( - ) 7 - 17 Oct 1888 7
Wife Mary T. Wright 7
Born:
Christened:
Died: 24 May 1884 7
Buried:
Father: H. J. Wright ( - ) 7
Mother:
Children
1 F Catherine M. Patton 7
Born: 28 Mar 1878 7
Christened:
Died: Abt 1881
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 M Henry J. Patton 7
Born: 30 Oct 1880 7
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Alexander E. Patton
He attended the public schools of Curwensville, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Dickinson Seminary, Chester Military Academy, and Andover, Massachusetts, but at the age of nineteen years failing health compelled him to abandon his studies before graduation. Later he began his business career as a clerk in a store, and in 1873 he went west and spent some time on a farm west of Lyons and Clinton, Iowa. He then purchased an interest in a nursery business conducted by John E. Ennis, forming the firm of Ennis & Patton, which continued until 1877. This was one of the largest enterprises of the kind in the west, 300 acres being kept under cultivation during the continuance of the firm. Having purchased his partner's interest and closed out the business, Mr. Patton returned to Curwensville and accepted the position of cashier in the Curwensville Bank. The bank was organized by his father, Hon. John Patton, as a private institution, with a capital of $50,000. The capital was later increased to $100,000 from surplus account, and then to $200,000. Among the financiers of that section he held an enviable reputation, and his counsel was sought in business enterprises of all kinds. He was president of the First National Bank of Patton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Patton was secretary and treasurer of the Chest Creek Land & Improvement Company, with a capital of $600,000; secretary and treasurer of the Patton Coal Company, with $40,000 capital; and treasurer of the Curwensville Building & Loan Association.
The town of Patton was named by him in honor of his father. In connection with Gen. Magee, the Hon. James Kerr, and others, it was organized July 4, 1892, and its growth has been phenomenal, the transformation within four years being from a wilderness to a busy community of 3,500 people. It was supported by mining, manufacturing and farming interests.
Through the influence of Mr. Patton, Hon. James Kerr, Gen. George J. McGee, and others, the Beech Creek railroad was extended to Cambria County, the value of this movement being promptly shown in the development of the territory thus reached.
For some time the opening of the new markets for the coal interests of that section received special attention from Mr. Patton. During the years 1892, 1893 and 1894, Mr. Patton was actively engaged in railroad developments in that section of Pennsylvania, particularly the building of the Clearfield and Mahoning railroad from DuBois to Clearfield, and was a member of the board of directors of that company, as well as a director in other railroad companies. This was one of the most important connecting railroads in the state, crossing the Alleghany Mountains at a grade, the maximum of which did not exceed one per cent, and was lower than any other point crossed in the state.
He was also a member of the firm of Peale, Peacock & Kerr, in New York City, and this firm had a coal yard at Regia, opposite the city of Havana, in Cuba, which they supplied with coal from the mines in Cambria county, and others in which they were interested.
Educational movements found in him an ardent and intelligent champion, and for seven years he worked effectively for the improvement of the Curwensville school, as the president of the board of education. He was the first president of the School Directors Association of Clearfield county, and presided over the conventions which elected to the office of county superintendent of schools, B. C. Youngman, and G. W. Weaver. It would be impossible to name all the projects for local improvement which were materially aided by him, but the part which he took in securing, for Curwensville, a good water system, demands special notice, as no town in Pennsylvania had a better system, and particularly for fire protection.
Mr. Patton frequently declined to be a candidate for public office, but he was a stanch Republican, and at times took an influential part in State and County Conventions as a delegate, and was twice made a member of the Republican State Central Committee. In the campaign of 1896 he was one of the four Electors at Large from the State of Pennsylvania. In 1888 he was an alternate to the National Convention at Chicago, which nominated President Harrison. He was a member of the board of trustees, appointed by Governor Hastings, of the State Institution for Feeble Minded, situated at Polk, Venango County.
He was a generous contributor to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the F. & A. M. He was a member of Friendly Sons of the Patriotic Order of Philadelphia, and of the Transportation or Business Men's Club of New York.