Moses L. Patton

Biographical Sketch of Captain Moses L. Patton.
(To The News.)
NACOGDOCHES, Texas, August 20.-Captain Moses L. Patton, who died at his residence in Nacogdoches county, Texas, on Saturday, the 12th of August, 1883, was one of those who, in the years long past, helped in no small degree to make the history of the State in which he early cast his lot, and which to the day of his death had his best wishes for its prosperity and progress. He was born in Twiggs county, Ga., on January 23, 1806, was left an orphan at an early age, his father dying when he was a mere boy. In his early youth he was engaded (engaged) in trading in the gold mines of his native State, and in navigating the Ocmulgee river. He came to Texas in the early part of 1835, making Nacogdoches his home, volunteered and served in the war between Texas and Mexico in the army of Texas, before the battle of San Jacinto, was an intimate acquaintance and friend of Generals Houston and Rusk, and at the time of the battle of San Jacinto was on detached service in the eastern portion of the State, acting under orders by General Thomas J. Rusk. He was in the Indian wars of 1838 and 1839 and was present at the battle with the Cherokees, in which they were defeated and their chief, Bowles, killed. He married Miss Susan H. Buford, daughter of Miles Buford, of Claiborne parish, Louisiana, in 1840 and residing in Nacogdoches county for a number of years navigated the Angelina river, both with flatboats and steamboats - living at Pattonia. Some years since the Confederate war he carried on a mercantile business at the town of Nacogdoches, and during the last years of his life living on his farm about seven miles east of town. He was ever a bold, courageous, but prudent man; temperate, upright and of sterling integrity; was universally respected, and passing away at a ripe old age leaves behind to mourn his death, the wife of his youth, children, grandchildren and a host of friends. Thus passes away another of those whose names are Texas, and whom the beneficiaries of the fair heritage they won by their great privations and arduous struggles delight to honor, and whose list time in its restless march slowly and ruthlessly thins, but whose memory will remain fresh and green in the hearts of the brave sons and fair daughters of Texas when its history fades away into the dim twilight of tradition.

Source: The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Texas, Wednesday, August 22, 1883; Pg. 2, Column 5