Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-17
James A. Patterson Ir

| James A. Patterson, Jr.
youth at the commencement of hostilities
reared by his parents who still reside in thu
lower South River Valley in competency ant
i of high responsibility, who was cleverly edu
| Gated, entered the army in the Virgins
cavalry in 1861. He was gallant and true ant
| at Sharpsburg in the heat Of the contest los
| his right arm. That was the record of thu
| modest youth OF gentlemanly bearing, who
| taking upon himself the responsibilities o
| manhood after the war, ply sically disabled a
he was. won a position and influence ane
| social and personal distinction inferior to NJ
| man in his section of the good old county o
Augusta. The home reader need not be tolt
that was James A. Patterson, the merchant
miller CT Waynesboro'.
When he commenced his business life, bill
| money resources were scanty. He married
Miss Mamie E. Smith, the daughter of thu
| late Jno. B. Smith, of Waynesboro'. Mr.
Smith and Mr.. Patterson became merchants
| and also jointly purchased the Waynesboro
| milling property. Mr. Smith did not live Ions
after this transaction. He gave to bis daughter
Mrs. Patterson, his interest in that property
Mr.. Patterson succeeding to the entire manage
| ment, soon commenced to fill that brigh
future in business that was pre-eminently his
He was popular. liberal and enterprising. HI
built a large elevator. added other properties
to the mill, and equipped 1t in style not In
ferior to any in the Valley. With his accumu'
lations OF property, he purchased and settled
his handsome residence on his wife,
In addition, Mr.. Patterson acquired landI
and other properties in and around Waynes
boro', and had surplus means and invested
moderately at Florence Alabama, and al
Richmond.
With his business success and personal pop
ularity, came to him the offerings of many
friends to support him for political honors.-
he polled q handsome vote in the nominating
convention in 1885 when Augusta was choosing
her member and representative Democrat fol
seat in the Senate OF Virginia. His aspira'
lions warmly encouraged and supported were
espoused at this time by a host of friends fol
the honor of seat in the Senate. He wal
Chairman of the County Democratic Commit.
tee and conducted the canvass successfully
and on the 18th was appointed a delegate to
the State Democratic Convention.
Troubled to deep degree. and of course
without mature reflection, on the 10th instant
he assigned all his property valued at about
seventy thousand dollars to A. G. Braxton
Esq, as trustee for his benefit. His liabilities
are only about $4,000. This transaction took
place on the 10th instant. He drew from
his fine deposit in bank not large sum in
currency and then on the night OF the same
day took his hasty departure West.
Here was an honored and useful citizen,
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church cutting
himselfloose from his wife. family, a fine bust
ness, and strong and growing popularity pre-
senting problem which meme could solve.
The deed which clothes Mr.. Braxton with
absolute authority to conduct his business and
sell any or all Of his property. was recorded on
the 18th, five days after it was entered into.
From the 10th to the 18th his strange alb.
sence could not be accounted for, and then
two more terrible days of torturing mystery
added to the other in efforts to account for
the deed OF trust. In all this excitement and
perplexity no man was heard TO assaIl the
Integrity or speak unkindly Of James A.
Patterson. On the contrary deep sorrow was
felt by all that state of things should exist
which, for want Of consultation and reflection,
caused him to pursue the course he did.
But light has broken on the gloom, and Mr..
Patterson is true to his honor and himself, and
has done no wrong. Smarting under an accus-
alton involving his;fdelity, which subsequent
tAofousu 1uVesbtSdtlOn proves 10 nave Deen
unjust. he was led to this hasty action. His
innocence has been established to the entire
of all concerned.
An honorable man, though he be saint,will
in some form or other resent false accusat lon.
govern,the methods of his de-
fence. No censure should be attached to Mr..
Patterson though his action was hasty. for
that II was not long previously determi ned on
must be conclusive.
We think we can say this:-He has not
friend, no. not even an acqnaintance-and he
has hundreds here and in Virginia-but de-
plores his absence and will gladly welcome his
return to his own people who honor and
esteem him. His life will be better spent with
them than among strangers. Let time heal
the wounds which have been inflicted, and
let the voice OF the whole community go to
that innocent and heartbroken man to soothe
him in his sorrow and to be the cheerful medi
UNI in returning him to happiness and the en-
joyment OF his well earned reputation, and his
elegant competency.