The citizens of Stilwell and community were shocked at the news of the death of Dr. Joseph A. PATTON, Friday, December 5, 1930. Dr. PATTON had been in very poor health for about twenty years and the fact that he had survived this long was due to the courageous battle which he had fought against the disease.
He was the son of Presbyterian minister, Franklin PATTON, and was born, March 10, 1868, at Oxford, Mississippi.
He was educated at the Southwestern Presbyterian University of Clarksville, Tennessee, and graduated in medicine from the Louisville Hospital of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, June 22, 1892. He began the practice of medicine at Evansville, Arkansas, and moved to Stilwell, April 16, 1896. On October 23, 1895, he married Ada LITTLEJOHN the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon LITTLEJOHN, a pioneer family of this section of the country.
Dr. PATTON had four brothers and three sisters, all of whom are deceased except one brother, John W. PATTON, a well known newspaper man, now of Konawa, Oklahoma.
Dr. PATTON leaves to mourn his passing, three sons, two daughters, three grandchildren, and his wife, all of whom are living.
The subject of this sketch had become so thoroughly identified with the work of this community, that he was almost a part of it. He served as County Health Officer since statehood. He was the local physician for the Kansas City South Railway since the railroad was built through Stilwell, and was a member of the State Medical Society and was Secretary of the Adair County Medical Society. He served on the local examining board during the World War. He was a very able man, not only in his chosen profession but also in other lines as well. He was a very careful and hard student, keeping abreast with all the news in the science of medicine. When not engaged in calls or consultation, he was nearly always found engrossed in the study of medical journals and literature along that line.
In his passing, another pioneer of this community is gone. The respect and affection was shown by the community in the large attendance at his funeral which was held Sunday, December 7th, 1930, at the Presbyterian church at Stilwell.
The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. OWEN pastor of the Presbyterian church, and the Masonic funeral service was held under the auspices of the Flint Lodge No. 11, Stilwell. Interment was at the New Hope Cemetery, Stilwell.
