The John F. Patton Family

By Mrs. Cecil J. Terry

John F. Patton was appointed postmaster of old Jacksonville on October 21, 1871. When the town moved in 1872 to the site of the I. & G. N. Railroad, John F. Patton continued to occupy this position. Thus, his descendants mark this centennial celebration with more than a passing interest.

Born in 1829 in Tennessee, he is said to have come to Jacksonville over the Old Ghisholm Trail, through Nacogdoches. He made an early survey, known as the John F. Patton Survey, on the Headright of A. K. Kellar near Dialville. He also recorded his cattle brand mark, which was a split in each ear. He was a farmer, and served as a Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He ran twice for county commissioner, precinct # 3, narrowly losing to G. P. Linder. He was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. During the Civil War he served as a 1st lieutenant in the Texas Cavalry.

In Jacksonville, the Patton home was located on what is the present site of Bearden Furniture. The family later lived south of town, before moving to the Union Grove Community where the old "Seymour place" was located.

John F. was first married to Mary Ann Reynolds, a sister of Jasper Reynolds. Children born to this union were Susan (Musick), Thomas B. (wife, Nancy E.), Samuel H., Mary Texas (Mrs. Frank Harris), Martha (Mrs. George W. Edmiston), Francis (Lovelady), Lydia (Mrs. Bill Duggan).

Mary Ann had an incurable illness, and knowing this, one evening as she went for the cows, found the place she wanted to be buried. She told her husband. At her death, an old hollow tree was cut down, the ends boarded up, and this was used for her casket. Her grave is the oldest marked in what is now Union Grove Cemetery.

John F. Patton then married Mary Ann's Sister, Arabelle, widow of John L. Gresham, who had been killed in the Civil War. Her children were Malissa C, Jimmie and Robert Gresham. To this couple were born twins, Lee and Grant, who died in infancy, Luca (Mrs. John Casey), Julia (Mrs. Marvin Thompson), Callie John (Mrs. Lee An-der Terry), Ednia (Mrs. George Sides) and George, who was married twice, the second time to Leona Peters.

The story is told that when John was just past twenty, and his hair almost white, some Jacksonville men jokingly told him that when his hair turned black they would buy him the finest horse and saddle in town. Going home, he took axle grease from a wagon hub, dyed his hair and returned to town. It seems the men really laughed, but never fulfilled their promise. And from then on, John was never again white haired.

Mrs. Arabelle Patton was ill for several years before her death, and a big dinner bell was hung in the yard so that when she needed them, the children could be summoned by a ringing of the bell. John F. loved to attend "protracted" meetings, and after a meeting one night in 1900, he and his daughter, Callie John, returned home late, with him singing at the "top of his voice." He drew a bucket of water from the well, drank some and went to bed. With much company expected the next day, Callie John got up early and prepared breakfast then went to see why her father had not appeared. He apparently had been dead all night, so with the ringing of the bell, she summoned the people to tell them of the death of John F. Patton.

Union Grove Cemetery land was deeded by John F. Patton to the Union Grove School and church house trustees on July 1, 1871. On November 16, 1971, an historical marker was placed at the entrance to the cemetery in honor of John F. Patton.

John F. Patton, right, with his son, Thomas B. Patton. The latter was the father of Chester, Wesley and James Patton.