Obituary

Alexander E. Patton is Dead,
Clearfield, Pa., Sept. 5

State Senator Alexander E. Patton of Curwensville, died of heart disease at 4 o'clock this morning after an illness of twenty-four hours.

Alexander Ennis Patton was born in Curwensville, Clearfield County, October 20, 1852. He was educated in the common schools of his native town; also at Dickinson Seminary*, Chester Military Academy† and Phillips Academy‡, Andover, Mass.

Starting out for himself at nineteen years of age he went to Iowa and engaged in farming and the nursery business. He returned to his native town in 1877 and became connected with the Curwensville bank. He was a noted worker in the interests of the public schools. He was twice President of the Directors Convention of Clearfield County, and was Trustee of Dickinson college and a Director of Dickinson Seminary.

After serving as a Delegate to county, State and National Republican conventions, he was elected to the State Senate in November, 1900. He was heavily interested in coal lands in Clearfield and northern Cambria County, the thriving town of Patton§ being named for him.897
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The son of John Patton, following the tradition his father began, he was responsible for many of Curwensville’s improvements, including a good water system. He was a state Senator and once entertained Pres. Benjamin Harrison at his home. It is said that “as a citizen he displayed a public spirit worthy of all praise.”852
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October 31, 1879 a fire destroyed the buildings at the southeast corner of State and Thompson Streets which housed the Curwensville Bank, stores and the Public Library. The Patton Block and the bank building, later remodeled, were built coon after.866
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The first reference to telephone service found is in a letter dated August 4, 1881 written in reply to a request for service in Lumber City, Pa. It states in part, "We would suggest that you communicate with Mr. Alex Patton, Curwensville, who is now leading an enterprise to build a telephone line through that county. The enterprise was evidently successful.899
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A. E. Patton is listed as a Past Master of the Noble Lodge No. 480, F. & A.M [Free and Accepted Masons] of Curwensville in 1883.900
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Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States made a brief call to this place [Curwensville] September 20, 1890.866
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In September of 1890 Patton entertained President Benjamin Harrison and his wife at his home in Curwensville. The home was destroyed by fire in 1942.901
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A. E. Patton is identified as one of the officers and treasurer, at the organization of the Curwensville Cemetery Company (Oak Hill Cemetery), 28 November 1893.672
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Roaring Run Quarry^ was opened in 1888 by a Frederick Snyder two miles north of Curwensville. In 1889, Mr. Snyder and his nephews, George, James, Jake and David were the owners of the business. Later, A. E. Patton and the Snyder Brothers owned it.902
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Oct 14, 1895 - A.E. Patton asked [Curwensville City] Council’s permission to organize Fire Co. No. 2. Given permission with consent of R.H. & L. Co. No. 1.903
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The pipe organ in the [Curwensville Methodist] church was installed in the year 1905, a gift from the family of Alexander Ennis Patton in his memory.821
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Hon. Alexander E. Patton is listed among the three Presidents of the Curwensville Board of Education to die in service, so far as known.904
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Heritage Rare Books Auction Catalog

Archive of A.E. Patton, Esq. Including more than 300 items from the offices of attorney A.E. Patton of Curwensville, PA. A.E. Patton was the son of John Patton, Sr. of Philadelphia, who moved to Curwensville in 1828 and served as associate judge of the county for five years, later acting as justice of the peace for several years more. From all indications, A.E. Patton followed closely in his father’s footsteps, apparently taking over John Sr.’s legal practice upon the elder’s death in 1848.

This huge archive contains letters, documents, bank deposit slips, and legal instruments from Patton’s files covering the years 1850-1890. Because of the sheer number of items offered here, prospective buyers are advised to view the lot personally prior to bidding. Estimate $400-$800.905
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Alexander E. Patton’s place of burial is probably Oak Hill Cemetery, Curwensville, Clearfield, PA.3


*Dickinson Seminary was a preparatory school for Dickinson College which became Lycoming College located in Williamsport, PA. The two institutions were closely related during the nineteenth century when they were both affiliated with the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 906

†Chester Military Academy is a now defunct school that was located in Chester, Delaware County, PA907


‡Phillips Academy is the same school that Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush attended. The prep school is one of the oldest incorporated boarding schools in the United States.908


§Patton is a borough in Cambria County, PA 20 miles northwest of Altoona, in an agricultural region. Patton is perhaps best known for an important local manufacturer, the Patton Clay Works. The Clay Works were one of the largest clay and brick concerns in the world in the first half of the 1900s. The company manufactured terra cotta products (pipe and tiles), building bricks, and pavers (known as "Patton Pavers"). Bricks made there were used in the construction of the Panama Canal and the pavers were used around the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The products were made from clay excavated from the area.909

Note: While I have a lot of extended family with connections to Cambria and a few to the borough of Patton, not a single one of them is a Patton, other than the business connection mentioned above.3


^There were many uses for the stone quarried from this location in numerous construction projects, including immediately following the Johnstown Flood in 1889. Projects around the eastern U.S. included bridge projects (road as well as railroad), railroad terminals, reservoir towers and spillways and buildings including the Chapel at Princeton University, a Church Chapel in Detroit, Michigan, the New Castle, PA Post Office and Machinery Hall at the Chicago World's Fair.

Local uses in Curwensville included in 1890, brick plant; Methodist Church (1893): Post Office (1938); Chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery (1932); Charles E. Patton built his home (now [1949] J. R. Hoblitzell) Stone walls fronting the former residences of A. E. Patton and C. S. Russell (now [1949] J. Hamer Tate and Civic Center); Joseph F. Bartell home, and others.

Stone used for building or other purposes before the local quarries were operated, was not finished and has a rough appearance, as in the Presbyterian Church. The quarry industry brought in a large number of stone masons from Italy where they had learned the art of cutting and finishing. The men employed at the Roaring Run Quarry were: Northern Italian, American and Irish.902