Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Hon. Thomas J. Patton

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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.