Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries, Memorials, and Death Notices




The Galveston Daily News - Saturday, April 3, 1880 Page: 1

Voluntary Ending of a Long and Eventful Life

  Weatherford (Parker County) Times: Had an earthquake been experienced in Parker
county Monday morning last, it would not have surprised the people more than the
news of the death of Mr. E. L. R. Patton, one of the oldest citizens in our midst,
occasioned by his own hand. The deceased was one of the most extraordinary men of
this age, and therefore the terrible act becomes the more strange and unaccountable.
For a week or two previous the afflicted wife, with whom deceased had lived 
without an unkind word for forty-five years, was visiting at her son's residence,
near Oyster hill, in town, leaving with Mr. Patton his son George and family. On
Saturday county surveyor Patton, the youngest son, took his mother home, but she
returned again with him in the evening. The last sabbath was spent quietly and 
sacredly, without anything to indicate aberration of mind or any trouble of any
kind, in the deceased. He, however, was not very well, but did not complain. He 
retired as usual, and arose on Monday in his accustomed health, without creating
the slightest suspicion in reference to the tragedy so soon to happen. The 
breakfast meal was partaken by Mr. Patton and enjoyed by all the members of the 
household. Immediately after the son George went to the cornfield, about one 
block from the house, followed very soon after by Mrs. George Patton and the 
children. There was no one left in the house but the deceased. It seems that he
spread a pallet on the floor in front of the fireplace, upon which it is supposed
he lay down after removing his shoes. Then it is presumed the fatal act was 
perpetrated, and with his own razor. Three gashes were in the throat, and one on
the left side severed the jugular vein and produced death. Edward LeRoy Patton
was born in the Spartanburg district, S. C., December 11, 1803. His parents moved
to Indiana when he was quite young and settled in Davis county, where they both
died, leaving him an orphan at the age of 15 years. That year, 1813, he returned
to the Palmetto state and was educated at one of her colleges, mastering Greek
and Latin languages and acquiring a knowledge of mathematics which made him famous.
In 1821 he went to Alabama, taught school several months and then returned to 
Indiana, where he remained for one year. Then he took passage to New Orleans, 
where he joined the famous expedition under LeGrand, to locate colonies in Texas
for the Mexican government. After laboring in the field as a surveyor for upwards
of a year, LeGrand's mission failed and all his party were left without compensation
and destitute. They separated and young Patton went into the employ of the Rocky
Mountain Fur company under Sublett, and led a trapper's life for a period of five
years. He was engaged with Sublett in establishing a trading post on the 
Yellowstone river, where he assisted in building a fort near the Yellowstone falls.
Mr. Patton returned to South Carolina about 1830, and then made a tour through 
nearly all the states in the union, and spent considerable time in each of the 
principal cities. His last visiting place was Mobile. Tiring of this kind of life,
he again went to the Rocky Mountains and stayed there two years. He next located
in Dubois county, Indiana, in 1835, and associated with Gibson Brown in mercantile
pursuits. That year he married Miss Louise Scott. In 1837 he again moved to Alabama,
and in 1838 settled in Robertson county, Texas. Here he was appointed surveyor, 
in a district embracing all the territory between the Brazos and Trinity rivers.
Subsequently he was elected two terms to the same office, and later, resigned to 
accept the position of county judge. In 1847 he moved to Cotton Gin, Freestone
county, where he joined the Presbyterian church and soon after was made an elder.
Mr. Patton came to Parker county in 1860, and settled on the Clear fork, seven 
miles from town. When the ever memorable war broke out he was the first man who
offered to rally to the confederate cause in this county. He joined company K,
Fifth Texas mounted volunteers, Capt. C. L. Jordan; Col. Thomas Green, attached
to Sibley's brigade. He was in the first battle of Valverde. In the celebrated 
charge on the guns of Gen. Canby he was among the foremost, and after capturing
the four guns which made the distinguished Valverde battery, commande3d by Lieut.
Gov. Jos. D. Sayers, he was one of the first who offered to assist in the firing. 
On the return home from the New Mexico campaign, in July 1862, Mr. Patton was 
unable to continue further than a point near Socoro, on the Rio Grande, from
failing health. He received his discharge at that point, then 59 years of age.
Mr. Patton was as near a perfect man as we have in our midst. Through a long and
eventful life he lived with a family of children devoted to their parents, and a
wife who attachment has ever been a beautiful illustration of love. There was
nothing to mar a well-spent life, but everything to make existence attractive and
enjoyable. There were no crosses between the children nor lack of entire 
confidence between parents and children. It was a household of affection and a 
home of true love.