Lauderdale-Madison County AlArchives Biographies.....Patton, Robert Miller 1809 - 1885 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 21, 2011, 7:01 pm Source: See below Author: Smith & De Land, publishers ROBERT MILLER PATTON. R. M. Patton was born in the State of Virginia July 10, 1809. His father was a native of the north of Ireland: his mother of Virginia. In the year 1812, with three small children, the Pattons came to the Territory of Alabama (then Mississippi), then occupied by native Indians and a few pioneer settlers. This family settled at Huntsville, where the father, William Patton. subsequently did a large and successful mercantile business. William Patton was one of the founders of perhaps the first cotton-mill in the Gulf States. It was known as the "Bell Factory," on Flint River, ten miles from Huntsville, established more than half century ago. This cotton-mill continued in successful operation during the lifetime of the elder Patton, and at his death the ownership vested in Dr. Charles Patton, brother of Robert Miller Patton, who operated it with more than ordinary success during his lifetime, and since his death it has been operated and owned by his children. Robert M. Patton, in one of his letters, writes: "This mill has enriched three generations of the Pattons, and I am inclined to think that my worthy and enterprising brother-in-law, Col. Ed. Richardson, was encouraged from his knowledge of the success of this factory to take hold of the Wesson Mills, which have proved in all respects so valuable to him, and, for that matter, to the whole South." In the year 1829 R. M. Patton moved to Florence. Here he began a long and prosperous career as a merchant, in connection with large planting interests. In 1859 he was succeeded in business by his two sons. In 1832 he married Jane Locke Brahan, daughter of General John Brahan, of Huntsville. He and his accomplished wife, for more than half a century, made Sweet Water, near Florence, the typical home of Southern hospitality. This excellent couple were blessed with gallant sons and charming daughters. Two sons, J. B. and W. A. Patton, were merchants at Florence until the breaking out of the late civil war. John Brahan Patton, the eldest son, enlisted in the ranks of the gallant "Florence Guards;" survived the dangers of the field and is now quietly domiciled at the pleasant country home presided over by the venerated widowed mother. William Anderson Patton was educated at the Military college, LaGrange, Ala. When the tocsin of war sounded he hastened to obey the call to defend his native State. He was elected first lieutenant of his company, and was killed at Shiloh 6th of April, 1862. Robert Weakley Patton, then a student at the University of Alabama, with the "Cadet Corps" bravely assisted in the defence of Alabama. He was wonnded at Selma, April 3, 1805, and died in hospital April 6. John Simpson Patton died at an early age. Charles Hays Patton resides at Florence and is at present engaged in the banking business. Mary Jane Patton married J. J. McDavid, attorney-at-law, Huntsville. Mattie Hays Patton, married Col. John Weeden, a prominent lawyer of Huntsville. The friends of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Patton were called upon to sincerely sympathize with them in the terrible affliction that fell upon the happy household at "Sweet Water." The war over, peace restored, time on its healing wings had brought resignation and a chastened sorrow for the loss of the gallant sons; the daughters were happily married: loved and loving grandchildren made the halls of the old homestead ring with mirth: two sons were at home, but misfortune was to overtake the youngest. Andrew Bierne Patton returned home from his studies at Green Spring, to become a confirmed invalid, and was confined to his bed or room for nearly seven years before death released him from his terrible suffering. From this outline sketch of the family of Robert M. Patton we return to the subject of himself, with a brief record of his public life. In 1836, although a Whig in polities, he was, at the early age of twenty-five, elected to the Legislature from Lauderdale County, which had several hundred Democratic majority. A writer says of him: "He was chosen by the people for his energy, prudence and financial capacity, as a member of the Special Legislature, called by Governor Bagby, in 1837, to relieve the people of the unprecedented financial panic of that year." He was for several terms elected President of the Alabama Senate, and always occupied a prominent position with the committees which required financial ability and business experience. When quite a young man he was one of the leading directors of the State Bank at Decatur, and also a Trustee of the State University. He was a member of the National convention which met at Charleston. S. C., in 1860. A biographer says of him: "He opposed the passage of the Alabama Ordinance of Secession, believing that such measures would produce war and its attendant horrors. But when the ordinance was passed, he bowed to the inevitable, and, uniting with the will of the people, threw his whole soul into the work of aiding the Southern cause." His time and fortune were generously given for the support of the rights of his loved Southland. Three sons were given to the Confederacy, two of whom gallantly fell in battle. As commissioner under the Confederate Government, he raised millions of dollars in cotton and money for the support of Alabama soldiers in the field. He was a prominent member of the Constitutional convention which met in 1865 for the purpose of revising the Constitution of Alabama, to meet the changed condition of affairs. In 1865 Robert M. Patton was elected Governor of the State. His inaugural address was an embodiment of plain practical ideas. He had never been an ardent disseverer of the loved Federal Union. His heart still lingered amidst the dear and well-remembered scenes of his early life and associations. Standing before the vast assemblage gathered in the hall of the House of Representatives, with his "blushing honors thick upon him," his memory reverted to the days of Alabama's prosperity. "The land so fair: its people so happy." Alas! how changed! desolation and ruin — the wrecks that marked the foeman's paths. Standing with the changes all around him. he says: "At the beginning of the year 1861, Alabama contained nearly one million inhabitants, and all branches of industry and trade were prosperous. Villages, towns and cities were nourishing. and internal improvements were rapidly and satisfactorily progressing. "On the 11th day of January, 1861, a convention of the State passed an ordinance declaring, in effect, that the people of Alabama were thenceforth absolved from all allegiance to the government of the United States. Those who took this step maintained the theory that a State had the constitutional right to dissolve its connection with the Federal Union, and decided that the time had come when it was expedient and proper to sever the relations which bound us to the General Government. I trust that it will not be inconsistent with the proprieties of the occasion to state that I did not concur in this reasoning. My judgment did not approve of either the doctrine or act of secession. I thought that the position assumed by Alabama and the other Southern States would precipitate the Northern and Southern States into an unnatural and protracted war. But while firmly entertaining this opinion, I deemed it a duty, as a citizen of Alabama, to yield a peaceful obedience to what had been done. Painfully apprehending that the step which had been taken would bring ruin upon us, I nevertheless held myself bound to the authoritative decree which was deliberately pronounced by the people, through a convention of their own choice. I can point to this action, on my part, as at least attesting my devotion to all the regular forms of authority in the State and as some proof of my readiness to share the fate of my fellow citizens under any and all circumstances, whatever the fate may be. In this brief reference to the events of the last four years I do not wish to be understood as seeking to vindicate the correctness of opinions which I entertained and expressed at the incipiency of our late troubles. It is true that disaster and ruin were predicted; but Heaven knows I take no pleasure in pointing to the fulfillment. Those events are now historic, and we should only recur to them in that calm and philosophic spirit with which we may appeal to any other history for profitable lessons to guide us in our actions while dealing with the momentous present, and preparing for the dubious and even threatening future. For this purpose I think we may all profit much by contrasting the prosperity and happiness which our country enjoyed at the beginning of the recent war, with its crippled and almost ruined condition. In doing this, we should forget the contention, bickerings, passions, excitements and dissensions through which we have passed; or, if we cannot forget, let us at least rise above them; let us be as one man; and if we are unable to recover that which has been lost, it becomes ns to bend our united energies in saving and improving that which remains to us.' These extracts from his inaugural address conclude the sketch of his political career. When his term of Governor expired he organized an association of Eastern capitalists to connect Chattanooga, Mobile and New Orleans by rail. He was made President of the road from Chattanooga to Meridian, a distance of three hundred miles, and subsequently succeeded John Whitney as President of the South & North Alabama Railroad Co., extending from Decatur to Montgomery. These two offices he held at the same time and successfully consolidated the several incorporations of these two roads. He was active in building the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. In 1876 he received an appointment as a member of the honorable Board of finance for the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. He was also appointed Vice-President of the National Cotton Planters' Association, and a member of the board of management of the World's Industrial and Cotton Exposition at New Orleans. The educational interest of his State always found in him an earnest advocate. Robert M. Patton attended school at Greene Academy, Huntsville, Ala. When quite young he was placed in a commercial house to learn the routine of business. His education was somewhat limited, and this fact may have been the inspiration of his untiring zeal to promote the advantages of proper educational training. For many years, and up to the time of his death, he was President of the Board of Trustees of the Florence Synodical Female College and also of the Board of Directors of the State Normal College at Florence. At an early age he joined the Presbyterian Church, and always took an active interest in the affairs of the church and Sabbath-school, For one year prior to his death he was the senior elder of the church, and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, at Florence. The Cotton Exposition of New Orleans aroused all the waning powers of the venerable ex-Governor. (Col. Ed. Richardson, his esteemed brother-in-law, was its projector.) The cotton interests of the South were to be crowned with a national outpouring of honor and success at the beautiful Southern city of New Orleans. It was to him a subject of exhaustless merit, and the realization of a life-long cherished hope and ambition was within his grasp. Alas! for human expectation, Governor Patton "had crossed over the river"' ere the long wished for event transpired, and. not very long after, Col. Ed. Richardson was borne to his last resting place (to that dreamless sleep) amidst the proud achievements of his success. On the 31st of January, 1882, the halls of the hospitable mansion at Sweet Water resounded with mirth and good cheer; children and grandchildren, with many friends, gathered to celebrate the "Golden Wedding" of this esteemed couple. Three years after, in the month of February, 1885, friends and relatives were again gathered at Sweet Water, but not to the sounds of mirth: the darkened chamber and saddened faces revealed the loss of a loved father and friend. Mrs. Mattie Weeden (one of the daughters) said to the writer, "history will tell of his public acts, of which we too are proud, but we love best to remember him as the dear, good Christian father." "We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." Additional Comments: Extracted from: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land 1888 PART IV. MONOGRAPHS OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/lauderdale/bios/patton154nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/alfiles/ File size: 13.4 Kb