BIO: James R. PATTON, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark 
<myclarkhistory@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 37-38  
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  JAMES R. PATTON, justice of the peace, Huntingdon, Pa., was born in Amity, 
Washington county, Pa., May 30, 1835, son of Joseph and Mary (Cunningham) 
Patton, the former a native of Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pa., the latter of 
Washington county, Pa., and both of Scotch-Irish extraction.  Joseph Patton 
spent his early life in Chambersburg, but removed to Pittsburg, Pa., about 1801.  
He afterwards resided for some years in Washington county, Pa., but finally 
returned to Pittsburg, where he died in 1851.  He was twice married; by his 
first union he had seven children, of whom the only survivor is Mrs. Esther 
Graham, a widow, residing at Carnegie, Pa.  The only surviving issue of Mr. 
Patton's later marriage is James R., of Huntingdon. 
  James R. Patton's elementary education was received in the common schools of 
Washington county, where his boyhood was spent; but removing as a youth with his 
parents to Pittsburg, he attended the public schools there also.  A few years 
later, he returned to Washington county, where he became a student of pharmacy; 
at the same time, he attended the borough high school, completing his curriculum 
and graduating from that institution.  After this, he continued in the drug 
business, and took up in addition the study of medicine.  At the breaking out of 
the Rebellion, just as Mr. Patton had begun the practice of medicine, he 
suddenly abandoned it, and in 1861 enlisted in Company D, Tenth Pennsylvania 
Reserves, as a private.  Shortly after, he was appointed hospital steward of the 
regiment, and served in this capacity until April, 1863.  He was then assigned 
as assistant surgeon to the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers.  In this position he served until he was discharged with the 
regiment at Pittsburg, Pa., near the end of June, 1865, after four years of 
constant devotion to his country's cause.  From the close of the war until 1870, 
Dr. Patton practiced medicine in Clarksville, Green county, Pa.  He at last 
relinquished practice, on account of disabilities resulting from his service in 
the army.  In the fall of 1870, he removed to Huntingdon, where he has ever 
since resided.  Mr. Patton has been since 1878 secretary of the borough council, 
and since 1885, justice of the peace.  He has served the borough efficiently on 
the school board.  He is a Past Master and an active member of Mount Moriah 
Lodge, No. 300, F.A.M., of Huntingdon, and belongs also to Washington Chapter, 
No. 150, Washington, Pa., and to Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, K. T., 
Huntingdon.  He is a Past Commander of George Simpson Post, No. 44, G.A.R., 
Huntingdon, Pa.  His political opinions are Democratic. 
  James R. Patton was married at Cannonsburg, Washington county, Pa., in 1864, 
to Mary B., daughter of Robert Donaldson.  They have two daughters: May; and 
Minnie A.  Mr. Patton and his family attend the Presbyterian church.