The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1897-12-17
judge John S. Patton Dead.

Judge John S. Patton Dead.
~ have done the State some ser
vice; and they know il. No more
OF that. ! pray you In your letters,
when you shall these unlucky deeds
relate, speak ofme as am; moth
ing extenuate, nor set down aught
in malice"
On last Saturday morning, after
had perfected arrangements to
leave home for my appointment at
CARROTS Chapel, the sad intelli-
gence came over the wire to me
that Judge John 5. Patton was
dead. This message was fraught
with sadness but was not uneXpect-
ed. After almost three years q
slowly rolling time, OF constant SUI
fering, the wheels OF life stood still,
the tired heart ceased its throb-
bings and the soul OF one OF tn,
greatest jurists in the Big Sandy
valley stood before the King.
Judge Patton was born In Pike
county, KY, February It'll, 1874,
and died at his home in Eden, Mar
tin county Ky, Dec. IL, 1897,
Judge Patton's father moved
from Pike county to Lawrence Co.,
KY, in 1874 and settled near Loui-
sa,where he, John s., through many
difficulties, acquired good knowl-
edge of the ordinary branches of an
English education. John S. Patton
received a certificate to teach school
and for four years he served the
people Of Lawrence county, as an
instructor in the public schools.
In the year 1869 he was licensed TO
practice law at Greenup, under
Judge Stanton. He was elected Co.
Attorney Of Martin county, when
that county was laid of Of parts OF
Lawrence, johnson and Pike in
1870. The little county OF Martin
which had honored him with Its
trusts again thought him worthy
OF the position, and he was re-elect,
ed in 1874. Retiring from sue.
cessful administration in this office
he made the race for Circuit Judge
of the oath judicial District and
was elected by a majority OF al
most 300 in this Republican dis
trict. Judge Patton was deserv'
eddy popular man with the people
A man with broad sympathies and
wide charity. The poor, wherever
! he went, felt the kindness Of his
heart. He stopped at no expense
,, to help his fellows and many a man
can call his memory blessed fol
some substantial help given while
in Strengthened circumstances. He
was liberal contributor TO the
building Of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, South, at Eden and
: was always liberal in his support
; Of gospel provisions.
AS lawyer, he was among the
best in the Big Sandy Valley. His
counsel was especially esteemed by
his co-wOrkers at the bar and his
decisions generally carried the
weight due an intelligent, alert ju
, rist. The intricacies OF the Law
vanished before a mind Of erudi
ton and his broad common sense
and generous heart enabled hin
to take the sure and safe course in
everything that came before him
Within the last three years he was
victim to dropsy and was hardly
able to attend his pressing duties
He fought bravely and hard to sus'
tain himself, but he was brought
low by his dread foe, at last.
Judge Patton was not alarmed al
the approach OF death. In his clio.
sing moments he had faith in hi:
God, to whom he committed his
soul. His remarks to a friend just
before he died were: IL am await
ing the Lords will. had nothinV
to do with putting myself on this
, earth, and will have nothing 10 dc
with my going from 1t. When the
. Lord takes me away, l will thsr
, consider he has more use for ms
up yonder than he has down here.
a His funeral was preached by Rev
r. F. Rice and the writer at the NJ
r E. Church, South, in Eden, Dec. IL
: The Masonic Fraternity, OF which
he was a member, buried him. A
/ large congregation we're in attend.
ance to testify to the esteem in
which he was held. He has but
r few surviving relatives. May God
bless the aged father and disconso.
/ late widow.
II. B. HEWLETT.
Central Methodist please copy.