Patton, Samuel

Patton, Samuel D.D., a distinguished minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was born in Lancaster District, S. C., Jan. 27, 1797, of Presbyterian parents. His childhood was serious. He was converted in 1816 in a Methodist revival which he happened to attend. He was soon persuaded of his duty to preach the Gospel, but for a time strove much against these impressions. He emigrated with his parents to Georgia, and from thence to Tennessee, in 1819. Soon after he was licensed to preach, and joined the Tennessee Conference, and was stationed at Sequachy Valley, Tenn.; he was next successively preacher in charge at Glinch, West Va.; Tuscaloosa Circuit, Ala.; and the so-called Alabama Circuit. His health failing him, he located, and finally removed to Holston Conference, East Tennessee, in 1825, and was presiding elder on Abingdon District the same year; was on stations and districts till 1838-9, when he was made agent for Holston College; then on districts and stations till 1847, when he was made editor of the Holston Christian Advocate, in which work he died, August, 1854, in holy peace, trusting in the merits of Christ, and declaring "all is well." Dr. Patton was a studious and earnest man and preacher. He stood in the first ranks of the ministry of his Church. See Deems, Annals of Southern Methodism for 1855, p. 341.