Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3165burg. Sent home to recover, he rejoined his regiment one month later, andat the awful battle of the Wilderness was shot through both legs. He wasthen placed in the hospital with a severe fever, but this did not keep thebrave young soldier from, duty, for he is found participating in the battleof Mine Run and in every engagement in which his regiment took part upto Appomattox Courthouse.When p#ace was declared, Mr. Patterson returned to his' home andbegan the study of law, and four years later, April 9, 1869, was admittedto the bar. He began practice at Cummings, and gradually took a more andmore important part in public life, until in 1884 he was elected to the StateLegislature, serving in that body for two years. From 1892 until 1900 heserved as state superintendent of public instruction for Forsyth County, andin 1911 was elected judge of the Superior Court of Blue Ridge Circuit,comprising"the counties of Forsyth, Cobb, Cherokee, Milton, Pickens, Fanninand Gilmer. In his judicial capacity, Judge Patterson has made a recordthat places him in the front rank among Georgia jurists. Upon only oneoccasion ha«i a decision of his been reversed, when his instructions to the juryformed the cause of the granting of a new trial by a higher court. Sincethe beginning of his public career, Judge Patterson has never asked to beexcused from' his public duties, regardless of weather or other conditions,save on one occasion when a severe illness incapacitated him. A gentlemanof the old school of the South, gentle, courteous, kindly and big-hearted, heis a great lover of and is greatly beloved by children. Also, he is possessedof a keen, but kindly, sense of Jiumor, and his presence may be noted bythe frequent bursts of laughter coming from those who quickly surroundhim on every occasion of his appearance. In the defense of right, as in theassistance of the oppressed, his immediate sympathy and support can everbe counted on. In politics a democrat, from the time of his first vote hissympathies and co-operation have been with the democratic party. Hebelieves, "however, at least in his own case, in a measure of political independence, and his party allegiance neither has, nor will, lead him to supportpartisan candidates or platforms as such, without his confidence in the fitnessof the one or his convictions as to the justice of the other. Prior to movingto Cummings, Judge Patterson and his family were Presbyterians, butfinding no church of that denomination here at the time of their arrival,joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they now belong.Judge Patterson was married at Cummings, Georgia, to Miss Ruth Ellis,a native of Forsyth County, Georgia, and the daughter of Rev. Albertand Jane (Bailey) Ellis. Doctor Ellis was both a practicing physician anda minister of the Baptist denomination. Seven children have been born toJudge and Mrs. Patterson, as follows: James A., who is following in hisfather's footsteps and has gained a position of marked prestige at theAtlanta bar; Miss Mary, who resides with her parents at Cummings; Clara,who is the wife of Thomas Pirkle, of Cummings; Joseph, a well-known newspaper man and editor and publisher of the Forsyth County News, of Cumniings;George, who is successfully engaged in the practice of law at Valdosta,Georgia; Henry, who is connected with the United States postal service atAtlanta; and Minnie, who is the wife of Dr. Joseph D. Merritt, of Rockwell,Georgia.EUGENE EDMUND MURPHY, M. D. Among those notably in the forefrontof Georgia's ranks of scientific men is Dr. Eugene E. Murphy, a physiciannow in his most efficient prime. A native Augustan is he, and the son of aGeorgian who was himself born in Richmond County in 1832. The father,whose name was Edmund T. Murphy, married Miss Sarah Dobey, a native ofthe same locality. He became a planter and merchant; in the latter capacitywas able to render great service to the Confederate army during the war.Vol. VI—25