BIO: Theodore Blair PATTON, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 83-84. 
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  THEODORE BLAIR PATTON, superintendent of State Reformatory Huntingdon, 
Huntingdon county, Pa., was born at Blair Furnace, Blair county, Pa., May 6, 
1847, son of George W. and Mary (Burket) Patton.  George W. Patton was born 
in Woodcock valley, Huntingdon county, September 6, 1817; he was a son of 
John and Rebecca Patton, and resided in Huntingdon county until about 1846.  
From 1852 and 1876 he was a resident of Altoona, Blair county, Pa.  He was 
engaged in mercantile business.  In 1861 he was appointed postmaster of 
Altoona, and re-appointed in 1865, serving two terms.  He subsequently 
received the appointment of associate judge of Blair county, and served one 
term.  Mr. Patton took an active part in public affairs in Altoona, serving 
as chief burgess and as school director, and being a member of the board of 
managers of the Altoona Gas Company, and a director of the Altoona Iron 
Company.  In 1876 he removed to Philadelphia, where he was employed in the 
freight department, Pennsylvania Railroad, until the date of his death, 
March 7, 1882.  Mr. Patton was prominent in Masonic circles; was also active 
in politics as an adherent of the Republican party.  George W. Patton was 
first married in Sinking Valley, Blair county, June 10, 1845, to Mary, 
daughter of Peter and Barbara (Neff) Burkhart, who was also born in Sinking 
Valley, November 1, 1825.  The children of this marriage are:  Theodore 
Blair; William Augustus, of Philadelphia, born at Union Furnace, October 21, 
1849; and John Howard, of Greensburg, Pa., born at Union Furnace, July 29, 
1851.  Mrs. Mary (Burkhart) Patton died at Altoona, March 28, 1856.  Mr. 
Patton's second marriage took place at Altoona, December 19, 1861, to Emma 
J., daughter of John and Susan Hawksworth, of that town.  The children of 
this second union are:  Mary Virginia (Mrs. Harold a. Freeman), of 
Philadelphia, born at Altoona, November 3, 1865; Maggie Murray, born at 
Altoona, July 3, 1870, died in Philadelphia, December 15, 1889.
  Living throughout his earliest years with his parents in Altoona, Theodore 
Blair Patton received his education in the public schools of that borough.  
His first experience of business was as a news agent; the next, as mail 
carrier between the post-office and the railroad trains, after which he 
became clerk in the post-office, and, in 1865, postal clerk.  He next 
entered the banking house of W. M> Lloyd & Co., of Altoona, and was in 
banking business until 1873.  In that year he resigned, and was employed by 
the Keystone Hotel Company to act as clerk at Cresson, Pa., during the 
summer, and at Altoona in the winter season.  In 1876 he entered the office 
of the superintendent transportation, Pennsylvania Railroad, and remained 
there until March, 1877, when he was appointed postmaster at Altoona; he was 
appointed for four successive terms, serving continuously until May 1, 1891, 
when he resigned to assume his present position.  Mr. Patton was, previous 
to his appointment, a member of the board of management of the institution; 
the appointment was conferred soon after the Reformatory was opened.  For a 
number of terms he served as secretary of the council of Altoona.
  Theodore Blair Patton was married in Altoona, March 9, 1871, to Susan J., 
daughter of David Ramey, a native of Williamsport, Pa.  They have two sons:  
David Ramey, born in Altoona, November 10, 1872; and Frank Blair, born in 
Altoona July 31, 1879.  The family are members in good standing of the 
Lutheran church.