Researching John Patton

Patton was one of the most in-demand organists during the golden era of the Hammond B-3 organs between 1963 and 1970. He recorded extensively for Blue Note and performed or collaborated with Lloyd Price, Grant Green, and Lou Donaldson. Patton had a lower profile in the 1970s but enjoyed a comeback in the 1980s and 1990s, often in collaboration with saxophonist John Zorn. His later music incorporated modal and free jazz.

Patton was born in Covington Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania and moved to Curwensville, Pennsylvania in 1828. He attended the public schools and engaged in mercantile pursuits and lumbering 1844-1860.

He organized the First National Bank of Curwensville in 1864 and was elected its president. He then organized the Curwensville Bank, and was elected its president.

He was a delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1852 and to the National Convention in 1860.

Patton was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1861 to March 3, 1863. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1862. He was again elected to the Fiftieth Congress, serving from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1888, after which he resumed banking.

Patton died in Philadelphia, aged 74, where he had gone for medical treatment, and was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery, in Curwensville, Pennsylvania.

Patton was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania and attended public school there. He worked in a tannery for several years and then engaged in mercantile pursuits in his hometown. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth Congress, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1884, after which he retired from public life. Patton died in Indiana, Pennsylvania and was interred in Oakland Cemetery there.

Patton was a major in Samuel Miles' Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment and distinguished himself in command of the unit's 2nd Battalion during the New York Campaign. George Washington authorized him to raise Patton's Additional Continental Regiment. John Parke and Peter Scull became the field officers while Patton was promoted to colonel. Seven companies were recruited from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. From May 1777, the regiment fought as part of the 4th Virginia Brigade in the Philadelphia Campaign. In July 1778 the unit was reassigned to the Highlands Department. In January 1779, Patton's Regiment was merged with other units to become the "new" 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. However, Captain Allen McLane's Delaware company was reassigned to the 1st Delaware Regiment.

Captains John Lesher, Michael Furrer, George Miller and Michael Wolfe all served under Patton's command.

After the war he partnered with Colonel Samuel Miles and was a co-founder of the Centre Furnace. In 1794 Patton Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania was formed and named for John Patton.

John Patton was originally buried near Shingletown, Pennsylvania. In 1938 his body was moved to Riverview Cemetery in Huntington County, Pennsylvania.