Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-05-22
OBITUARY.

William Patton, deceased, Was born
November, 1898, in Londonderry
County, Ireland. His father, Samuel
Patton, was an American citizen,
though Scotch Irishman, by birth;
he was owner in part of a merchant
vessel, which traded between New
York and Dublin; this vessel was
wrecked on the coast of ireland, in the
year 1883, (precise date not known1
the father o1 deceased saved this life by
swimming to shore; while ali that he
possessed OF wealth went down to the
uOttom of the great deep. He remain
| ell in Ireland about fourteen wears;
married Scotch-lrish girl, Jane triar;
embarked for America on the Sd day
of May, 1868; six months after birth OF
deceased, when the ship had been a
few weeks at sea, smallpox broke out
and many died; deceased was taken,
and for two consecutive weeks his pay
ents sat beside him night and day
holding his hands to prevent poek-
marks. The ship also encountered
great storms by which it was driven
about through the Atlantic for many
weeks; it landed at Philadelphia on
the 1st day OF August, 1903. From
Philadelphia the family removed to
Wheeling, West Va, and in the spring
of 1901, 10 their farm on Wheeling
Creek, Beluont County. The region
of their farm was then almost an un-
broken wilderness; Wolves howled
about the cabin doors at night, and
Philadelphia was the nearest place
salt and other necessaries could ue pro-
cured, and supplies could be brought
from that city only on the backs OF
horses, and by bride paths through
the woods. But the country around
was soon settled by Il thrifty and in
telligent people, and social advantages
and educational facilities became
abundant. Deceased was public
spirited man, and took a prominent
part in all the public enterprises of his
neighbOrhoOd. He was a firm friend
land supporter of Franklin College in
the days Of its infancy and in subse-
Iquent years. lie was for many years
a member of its board of directors, and
was one of the three individuals to
1 whom the College buildings and
grounds were decided in trust for edu-
cational purposes. He gave his aid in
\ the organization of the old Bank of
lSt. Cairsville, about forty years ago:
he gave his influence and support to an
enterprise that looked to the construc-
ti0r OF q Railroad from the Ohio river
westward, up Wheeling Creek Valley;
about twenty-five years ago he second
ed IN enterprise that originated with
4 d.Iames Mccartney, deceased, of Union
town to construct a MacadamiZed road
from UL-pntoWn 10 st. Clairsvii;e. In
sI1S54 he, with Prof. Beach, now chief
engineer on tie l.. e. d T. V. Il. H..
canvassed Wheeling Township for sub
scriptions to the capital stock of the
then proposed Wheeling and Meiin,
|, road; having himself first given the
fright of way and taken one hundred
shares of stock. In the winter of 1872
he gave the right OF Why to the w. 4
II. V. r. r., over lands one mile or
more in extent, subscribed largely to
the capital stock, and then accompany
ing Commissioner Alexander rode
through the intense cold amono his
neighbors, asking them to do likewise.
AS Il farmer he was thorough in all his
Operations. AS Il business man he was
scrupulously honest. In religion he
was earnest and SINCERE; he discharged
the duties of ruling elder of the u, p.
Congregation of Unity for nearly
forty years; he loved tho Chris
tian spirit wherever found of whatever
namo or denomination. His end was