Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-31
DEATH OF DIR. PATTON.
His Earnest ard Useful Life Suddenly
Closes While I'm New Jersey.

kilograms received in this city this morning
announce the death Of the venerable DIR. VIM
W. Patton, who was until quite recently the
president OF Howard university here. He died
at O'Clock this morning at the home of his
son, Rev. Cornelius II. Patton, in westfeld. n.
j., and his death was entirely unexpected here,
as all the recent news from him showed him to
be in his usual state of health. The immediate
cause of his death was a congestive chill and
his end was very sudden. He was here on duty
in the university until the close OF the au;umnaI
term, December 20, instant, and left for his fu-
ture home with his daughter, Mrs. Martin
Welles of Westfeld, Nj, on the 2ist
Last May he resigned the presidency OF
Howard led to this decision by purely per-
sonal reasons-his desire TO relieve himself
in advancing age, OF the heavy responsibility
of his position, and by the change in his do
mestc life caused by the death of Mrs. Patton
and the growth to adult years and settlement
for literary work and for travel
After vain endeavors by the trustees TO in
duce the withdrawal of his resignation, or its
postponement for year, his resignation was
accepted in resolutions expressing the highest
esteem for DR.. Patton and the warmest appre-
citation of his services.
Rev. Mr.. Newman will go to westfield to-
morrow to arrange for the funeral
The funeral services will be held at West
field on Thursday. The remains will be taken
TO Hartford. Conn. for interment
DIR. Patton was born in New York October 10
1921, the son of Robert b. Patton. who was at
that time professor of Greek in the university
OF New York. Robert Patton, the grandfather
of DR.. Patton, was born in Ireland and coming
to this country in his boyhood served through
the revolution under Lafayette. lie was the
first postmaster of Philadelphia under the
United States and held the Office twenty years
President Madison offered him the Postmaster
Generalship. but he declined il on the
ground that he could not live in slave
community. DIR. Patton was educated at the
University of New York, graduating in 1899. He
was pastor of churches in Boston. Hartford and
Chicago. In the latter city, with his friends.
he established the AdUdnoe and for five years
he was Its editor. Since 1877 he has been pres
iden' OF Howard university, filling the chair of
natural theology and evidences of christianity.
He was a strong anti-sayery man and headed
the committee that presented the Chicago
memorial asking President Lincoln TO
issue proclamation of emancipation.
During the war he was vice pres
ident Of the northwestern sanitary commission
and many times visited the eastern and western
armies. In 1866, on behalf of the freedmen. he
went to Europe and the Orient, his mission oc-
cupying the entire year. He was the author of
several books on slavery, morals and theology
Asbury university conferred on him in 1864 the
degree of ID. and New York university in
1882 that of LID.
A brother, Ludlow Patton of New York and
three sisters, Mrs. Comstock of Hartford Conn
now IN Washington; Mrs. Kate r. Howard of
Hartford, and Mrs. Emily T. Perkins of Lon
don England, survive him. Seven children
OF DR.. Patton are living w. L. Patton. a banker
and broker in New York; Normand S. Patton. a
Chicago architect; Robt. W. Patton of Chicago
Mrs. Hutchinson of Rockland, Me- Prof Hor-
ace Patton of Rutgers college, Brunswick "
j.; Rev. Cornelius Patton Of Westfeld. Nj,
and Mrs Mary T. Wells also of Westfield