The age-herald., 1901-10-06
MIR, JOHN PATTON
 DIES SUDDENLY Found by Bedside Where He
 Had Fallen
  MOST NOTABLE E YOUNG MAN Conspicuous in Ills Church, In 5usi- ness, In Society and In the Clubs. Was Virginia Gentleman
 of Rare Culture.
MOST NOTABLE YOUNG MAN

John Patton, leading young business man and one of the most prominent club and society men of Birmingham, was found dead in his bedroom in the Roden building at Second avenue and Twentieth street, shortly before o'clock yestcr- day.
 The cause of death was heart disease, from which he had long suffered and which had caused him great distress and anxiety,
 MT. Patton spent Friday evening visit ing society friends on the South High lands, and retired about Il o'clock that night. When last seen alive he appeared well and was In good spirits.
 Yesterday morning just before o'clock, Samuel McFadden, a colored porter, went to Mir. Patton's bedroom to wake him, as usual. Hearing no response to his rapping upon the door, McFadden entered the room and discovered MT. Patton lying on the floor by his bedside, with one hand upon his breast and his other arm out stretched.
 McFadden gave the alarm and amongst the first to arrive were Dr. Edward Drennen and Hubert Drennen, MT. Pat tons intimate personal friends. Dr. Dren- nen at once discovered that MT. Patton was dead, though the bouy was still warm, showing that death had occurred but few minutes before. Rev Father o'Reilly was hurriedly sent for and quckly arrived.
 The face of the dead was calm and 141, NPi ito habitual and familiar smile.
 It was evident that death came to MT. Patton as he was in the act of getting out of bed to make his toilet The news of MT. Patton's death spread with extraordinary rapidity all over the city and caused sorrow in hundreds of homes, for, as his friend Hubert Drennen said in his grief:
 John Patton had more friends than any other young man in Birmingham"
 MT. Pattons death. while it greatly shocked the community, was not altogeth- CT surprising to his intimate friends. He had been i'll of heart trouble for year or two and 1t was said that his phy- sician warned him of his danger six months ago.
 But all the while he continued most cheerful. attending constantly to his bus mess and enjoying, seemingly more than ever, the society of his friends
 MT, Patton's remains were conveyed to Mrs. Dryers residence. at Sixth avenue and Nineteenth street. and thither were sent last night many beautiful floral de- signs, tributes from clubs and friends.
 Last night Rev. Father O'Reilly said the sacred offices of the church for the dead; and through the silent hours faith full friends kept watch over their comrade in his last sleep.
 This morning the remains will be con veyed to the union passenger station and will be sent by the 6 o'clock Southern train to Norfolk, Va, for interment. The pall-bearers will be Dr. Edward Dren- nen, E. T. Wilcox, William Wisner, Wal ter Phillips, Fred Bowron and Hubert Drennen.
 The remains will be escorted to Norfolk by Secretary E. T. Wilcox of the South ern Club and Fred Bowron. Norfolk will be reached at o'clock tomorrow morn ing. and the funeral will take place to- morrow.
 A gentleman of rare culture, John Pat ton was born in Virginia about forty years ago. His boyhood was spent in Richmond, and most of his life was spent there and in Norfolk. He came to Birm- ingham ten or twelve years ago and en- gagged in the tea business having been for several years manager of Kenney 6 To e Stn f,, tatt ctr
 From the outset he took a prominent place in club life, society and the church; and no young man In Birmingham had a wider acquaintance or was more cor dially esteemed. He was a popular fig- ure in nearly all society gatherings from the time of his coming to Birmingham until his death.
 MT. Patton was member of the board of governors of the Southern Club was a member of the Jefferson Club and the Athletic Club. and belonged to the order of Elks.
 He was one of the leading young men of the congregation of St. Pauls Catholic Church, and had been for years one of the ushers. By the priests and the entire congregation of that great church he was held in the highest personal esteem.
 Of gentle birth and liberal education and of most gracious and graceful hear ing, John Patton was one of the most engaging and loveable of men. He had to a notable degree that quality which binds friends to a man. and the result was that he not only had a great num- Der of friends but most devoted ones. He was a good companion, cherished comrade, and the best of good fellows. By his tact and graciousness he made for himself a place in this community that the best and most accomplished of men might envy. and that place may not be filled by another. The sorrow ex- pressed all over Birmingham forms a striking tribute to one of the most ad- m ira hio ba ra artera thta cornmunSfv ba q