Obituary of William Tristram Patton, 1919 - Monroe Co. WV IN REALMS OF REST WILLIAM TRISTRAM PATTON OBITURARY FROM THE WATCHMAN PAPER MARCH 26, 1919 The death of Mr. William T. Patton one of Monroe county’s best and most prominent citizens, which took place at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Nickell, near Herndon, Fairfax Co., Va., at 5 o’clock on Wednesday morning, March 26, 1919, was briefly announced in these columns last Thursday. He was in Fairfax county when he was stricken with neuritis complicated with kidney and heart trouble about the first of March, Human skill was exhausted in the vain effort to conquer these maladies. He met death with the courage he had shown on many a hard-fought battlefield. On March 22, four days before his death, Mr. Patton completed the 78th year of his age. He was a son of the late Tristram Patton and sprung from one of the pioneer families of Monroe county whose members, for more than a hundred years, have borne a conspicuous and honorable part among its citizenship. In 1861, at the outbreak of the War Between the States, at the age of 20, Mr. Patton enlisted in the “Monroe Guards,” 27th Va. Infantry, Stonewall Brigade, and was one of that famous body of troops who turned the tide at First Manassas and made the first battle of the war a Confederate victory. In that struggle he was shot through the hand. Another shot struck him above the stomach but his life was saved by his cartridge-box which he had pulled around to the front of his belt and which deflected the bullet. His time expiring, the next spring Mr. Patton enlisted in Chapman’s Battery, was made a Sergeant and served with dauntless valor and constancy until the end of the war. On the fatal field of Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864, his lone gun out of the Confederates left was the last piece of artillery left to hold back the on-rushing enemy, and he stood to it until but two men remained with him, firing it to the last with his own hands. This is only one of many incidents his comrades relate which illustrate his heart-of-oak courage. As a citizen Mr. Patton was of the same type. He was a positive character, a well read and intelligent man and amply equipped with reasons to defend his convictions. He loved truth and honor and hated iniquity. He never sought public office but took an unfailing interest in public affairs. He was a large and successful farmer and sincerely attached to his native county. He was a Christian man and for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church. The influences of his kind and considerate heart and his loyal friendship-how we shall miss them! Mr. Patton was twice married. His first wife, who was Miss Mollie J. Beamer, not long after their union was taken by death. Some years later he was united in marriage to Miss Virginia M. Nickell, daughter of the late John A. Nickell. She survives him, together with five children- Mrs. W. G. Campbell (Ethel) of Oklahoma City, Okla,; Mrs. R. B. Nickell (Ada) of Herndon, Va. ; Mrs. C. N. Gray (Bessie) of Rushville, Indiana.; and Messrs. John N. Patton of Monitor, this county, and Clyde T. Patton of Herndon, Va. The body of Mr. Patton was brought back to his home in Second Creek district near Monitor last Friday, accompanied by his wife and all his children except Mrs. Campbell, detained by sickness. The funeral took place from Mt. Pleasant Church, Sinks Grove, at 1 0’clock last Saturday afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. Robt. B. Hudson, assisted by Rev. T. B. Stewart, in the presence of a large congregation. A Confederate guard of honor consisting of Messrs. J. B. Leach, J.T. Black and J. Alex’r Lemons and Jas. L. Lemons escorted the body of their comrade to the grave. Many other veterans would have attended but for the inclemency of the day. The active pallbearers were soldiers, in full uniform recently discharged from the Army-Lieut. Percy Pharr, Patton Nickell, John A. Peters, Marshall Peters, James Humphreys and Harry Egner. It was a graceful thought-these splendid young soldiers of the victorious American Army bearing to his last resting place the body of one of the heroes of that other immortal army- the Army of Northern Virginia. Above the grave and the lovely flowers the white-haired veterans placed the Confederate flag-the flag which their dead comrade loved and followed for four glorious years. “Soldier, rest - thy warfare o’er!” Written by A. S. Johnston, editor of the Monroe Watchman (Archivist's note: To see a picture of Mr. Patton published with this article, hit the back button on your browser & scroll down to the category "Pictures & Scanned Documents". It will be listed there.) Submitted by Fran O'Brien" **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************