[p. 718] In the death of Robert Patton, which took place August 31, 1900, Mahoning Township lost one of its most useful citizens and esteemed residents. He was born near Pittsburg, on Turtle Creek, a small stream in Western Pennsylvania, November 6, 1842, and was a son of John and Anna (McDowell) Patton.
The parents of Mr. Patton were natives of County Antrim, Ireland, and after coming to America they settled on what is now known as the Patton estate near Harbor Bridge, Lawrence County, after a short residence in the vicinity of Pittsburg. On the estate mentioned both John Patton and wife died many years ago and there is but one survivor of their family, Mary J., who is the wife of Elliott Douglass, residing near Edenburg, in Mahoning Township. She has two children.
Robert Patton was a youth when he accompanied
his parents to Lawrence County
and with the exception of about three
years, during which he lived in Texas, his
whole subsequent life was spent here. He
was married March 20, 1878, to Margaret
J. Barnes, who was born October 12, 1853,
at Pittsburg, Pa., a daughter of William
and Martha (Stewart) Barnes, both natives
of County Antrim, Ireland. The
mother of Mrs. Patton is deceased, but the
father lives in Hickory Township, Lawrence
County, one of its venerable men.
To Robert Patton and wife six children
were born, namely: John, residing at New
Castle, married Maud J. Miller and has
one child, Ruth Margaret; William B., residing
at Palestine, Ohio, married Edith
Thompson and has one child, Robert
Thompson; Robert L., residing in Mahoning
Township; James, living at Palestine;
Stewart S., residing at New Castle, and
Thomas, deceased. Mrs. Patton has three
sisters and one brother, namely: Annie,
who is the wife of Thomas Matthews of
Union Township, Lawrence County; Mollie
O., who is the wife of Presley Bell, residing
near Greenville, Texas; Martha,
who is the widow of Hosea Porter, of Hickory
Township, Lawrence County, and Rev.
William T., who is a minister in the Christian
Church and is now a resident of Hickory
Township.
In politics the late Robert Patton took a good citizen's interest, but was never willing to hold office. He was identified with the Republican party. In his church relations he was a member of the Harbor Presbyterian Church, of which he was a liberal supporter. He was an excellent business man and left a large estate comprising 190 acres of fine land, and with improvements scarcely equaled in any other part of the township. His widow resides in this beautiful home. She is a member of the First Christian Church at New Castle.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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