OBITUARY - CAROLINE (LEONARD) PATTON

Submitted by: Jan Redelsperger, jansperger at gmail dot com

Source: "Kelsonian," Kelso, Cowlitz Co., Washington, 1915

The honor roll of Cowlitz County pioneers was again broken in on Wednesday
morning by the death of Mrs. Caroline Patton at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Grant Watson, on the west side.  Mrs. Patton was a daughter of J. C. Leonard,
and came to Cowlitz County with her father at the age of 13 in the year 1852.
They family took up what has since been known as the Leonard Donation claim on
the west side and for the 64 years since that date Mrs. Patton has made her home
within a mile of Kelso, except for a period of nine months.  In this time she
had seen this country converted from a wild, rough, unsettled region, to a
Community of peaceful homes, and in this transformation she played a splendid
part.

Caroline Leonard was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, November 17, 1840 and was
75 years, 4 months and 12 days of age at the time of her death. She was married
to Ambrose Patton in 1858, and to this union six children were born, of whom
three daughters and one son survive.  Her husband passed away about 24 years
ago.

Despite her increasing age, Mrs. Patton retained exceptional strength and vigor
until about three years ago when the first of a series of accidents befell her,
and since the death of her son, J. D. Patton, last October her health has been
steadily falling.  She has made her home, with her daughter, Mrs. Albert Ayers,
for many years, but was visiting at the Watson home when the final sickness set
in only a few weeks ago.

Her passing is sincerely mourned by the surviving children.  Mrs. Anna
Bartholomew of Newberg, Oregon. L L Patton of Raymond; Mrs. Carries Ayers and
Mrs. Pearl Watson of this place.  She is also mourned by give grandchildren, Roy
and Rex Watson, Telle Ayers, Fay Patton of Kelso, and Mrs. Elfie Ball of
Newberg, and by many other relatives.

The Watson home was crowded by many acquaintances Thursday afternoon to give
their last living respects to their departed friend and neighbor.  The services
were conducted by Rev. T. M. Reese, the pioneer pastor of this community,
assisted by Rev. J. T. McQueen of the Methodist Church, of which deceased was a
member.  Interment was made in the Catlin Cemetery in the family lot where the
husband, father, and two sons of the deceased are peacefully resting.