Today in Wheeling History: September 19—James French Patton, future Confederate officer, lawyer, and West Virginia Supreme Court Justice who died in Wheeling and was the great-uncle of World War II General George S. Patton, was born in Richmond, Virginia (1843).
James French Patton was born on September 19, 1843, in Richmond, Virginia, to Congressman John M. Patton and Peggy French Williams. His lineage included Revolutionary War hero Gen. Hugh Mercer, and he was the great-uncle of WWII General George S. Patton. At age 14, James enrolled at Andover Academy, but left to join the Confederate Army during the Civil War, serving as a lieutenant in the 22nd Virginia Infantry, commanded by his brother George S. Patton Sr. He was wounded in battle and later studied law under his brother-in-law John Gilmer in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
In 1869, Patton married Malinda Caperton, daughter of U.S. Senator Allen T. Caperton, and moved to Union, Monroe County, West Virginia, where he practiced law and served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1876. On June 1, 1881, Governor Jacob B. Jackson appointed him to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, located in Wheeling, which then served as the state capital. Patton was the youngest judge on a state supreme bench at the time.
Patton died unexpectedly of heart disease on March 30, 1882, at the McLure House in Wheeling, at age 38. He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Union, Monroe County. His legacy lives on through his contributions to law and his distinguished family heritage.
To learn more: Wikipedia entry on James French Patton (https://tinyurl.com/bdefsarn), Find a Grave memorial (https://tinyurl.com/yvjxek5t), FamilySearch biography (https://tinyurl.com/5n7spf95)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
James French Patton was born on September 19, 1843, in Richmond, Virginia, to Congressman John M. Patton and Peggy French Williams. His lineage included Revolutionary War hero Gen. Hugh Mercer, and he was the great-uncle of WWII General George S. Patton. At age 14, James enrolled at Andover Academy, but left to join the Confederate Army during the Civil War, serving as a lieutenant in the 22nd Virginia Infantry, commanded by his brother George S. Patton Sr. He was wounded in battle and later studied law under his brother-in-law John Gilmer in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
In 1869, Patton married Malinda Caperton, daughter of U.S. Senator Allen T. Caperton, and moved to Union, Monroe County, West Virginia, where he practiced law and served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1876. On June 1, 1881, Governor Jacob B. Jackson appointed him to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, located in Wheeling, which then served as the state capital. Patton was the youngest judge on a state supreme bench at the time.
Patton died unexpectedly of heart disease on March 30, 1882, at the McLure House in Wheeling, at age 38. He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Union, Monroe County. His legacy lives on through his contributions to law and his distinguished family heritage.
To learn more: Wikipedia entry on James French Patton (https://tinyurl.com/bdefsarn), Find a Grave memorial (https://tinyurl.com/yvjxek5t), FamilySearch biography (https://tinyurl.com/5n7spf95)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
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