John S. Patton

John S. Patton
John S. Patton (D), c. 1904
Mayor
Electoral District	At-large (elected)
Term Start	September 1, 1894
Term End	August 31, 1896
Preceded by	L. T. Hanckel (D)
Succeeded by	J. Samuel McCue (D)
Superintendent of Public Schools of the City of Charlottesville
Term Start	1901
Member of the City School Board
Term Start	1889
Member of the City Council Fourth Ward
Term Start	September 1, 1904
Term End	August 31, 1906
Biographical Information
Date of birth	John Shelton Patton January 10, 1857 County of Augusta, Virginia
Date of death	October 1, 1932 Charlottesville, Virginia
Spouse	Beatrice Faber Patton (m. 1881, died 1931)
Children	Kenneth Stuart Patton (1882-1960) Leicester Patton (1883 – 1943) Evelyn Virginia Patton Brooks (1889–1950)
Residence	1018 West Main Patton Mansion
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Profession	Editor Public official Librarian Author
Religion	Presbyterian

John Shelton Patton (January 10, 1857 – October 1, 1932), Librarian University of Virginia. Served as councilman, alderman, one-term elected mayor and superintendent schools, City of Charlottesville; member School Board; member Board of Appointments, Miller Manual Labor School.

Background

John Shelton Patton was born on January 10, 1857 near Staunton, Virginia. The eldest son of Alfred Taylor and Virginia (Harris) Patton. His father, a soldier in the Civil War, dying in service of the Confederate States, he was cared for mainly by a devoted aunt, was educated in private and public schools and the University of Virginia. On June 10, 1881, he married Beatrice Faber (1861-1931). Children: Kenneth Stuart, Leicester, Evelyn Virginia (Mrs. John Callan Brooks).

John S. Patton, one of the city’s most prominent residents, died at 3:25 on the morning of October 1, 1932 at his home on West Main Street, after an extended illness, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. Burial at the University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium.

Patton Mansion (1018 West Main) The Patton Mansion was built in 1907 by John S. Patton, Librarian of UVA who lived in the house until his death in 1932. In the 1950s it was remodeled into a branch of the Citizens Bank. It is now known as the University Of Virginia Community, West Main Street-Patton Mansion Branch.

Education

Preparatory education at Private and public schools in Waynesboro and Charlottesville, Virginia. Student of University of Virginia, 1877-1880.

Career

From attending the University of Virginia as a student, he went to the editorship of the "Roanoke Times," at Salem. Virginia (1881), Returning to Charlottesville in 1883, he was associated with the late James Blakey, in the publication of the "Jeffersonian Republican" until 1894, when he was elected Mayor of Charlottesville. Upon the expiration of his term of office in 1896, he entered into a partnership with the Hon. James H. Lindsay, and this firm, under the name of Lindsay & Patton, published the "Charlottesville Daily Progress" until 1899, when Mr. Patton's connection with the University began.

In October, 1902, the Board of Visitors appointed him Assistant Librarian, with special duties which did not conflict with those of the trust already assigned him. In November, 1903, he retired from the office of Secretary of the Faculty when he was made Librarian of the University of Virginia. He is also incumbent of the office of Superintendent of Public Schools of the City of Charlottesville, to which he was appointed by the State Board of Education in 1901. He was a member of the City School Board continuously from 1880 — except during his incumbency of the office of Mayor, — until his appointment as Superintendent, and until that time was also a member of the City Council.

Membership

Served as councilman, alderman, mayor and elected Superintendent of Schools, Charlottesville. Secretary to the University of Virginia chairman, Librarian University of Virginia, 1903-1927. Chairman Charlottesville Library Board. Member Charlottesville School Board. Member Board of Appointment, Miller Manual Labor School. Trustee Home for the Aged.

Political Party

Democrat. Elected chairman of the City Democratic Committee (August 31, 1893).

Publications

• Patton was co-author of The McCue murder: complete story of the crime and the famous trial of the ex-mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia.
• Jefferson's university; glimpses of the past and present of the University of Virginia (1915)

Achievements

John Shelton Patton is listed as a noteworthy librarian by Marquis Who's Who.

Family members

• Son: Kenneth Stuart Patton (1882 – 1960), Career Foreign Service Officer. Born in Salem, Va., July 22, 1882. Democrat. Married 1908 to Alice Vincent Corson. Foreign Service officer; U.S. Vice Consul in Rome, 1909-12; Ceiba, 1912; Lisbon, 1912; U.S. Consul in Cognac, 1913-15; La Rochelle, 1915-16; Calais, 1916-19; Belgrade, 1919-26; Leipzig, as of 1929; U.S. Consul General in Batavia, as of 1932; Singapore, as of 1938; Calcutta, as of 1943; U.S. Minister to New Zealand, 1944-45. Methodist. Member, Freemasons. Died in 1960 (age about 77 years). Burial location unknown.