HLRGazette Archives

Wood County History

By LOU MALLORY - Chairperson, Wood County Historical Commission

 By JAMES O. DEAR

 The Old Mill Pond played an important part in the history of Wood County because it was the only pond in this area. (Ed. Note: Old Mill Pond was just north of Mineola.) It was used for several purposes.

 There was no rural electricity in those days, so water power was put to use. Since it was fed by continuous flowing springs, this pond was very important in furnishing an abundance of fresh water. This flowing water was capable of operating a cotton gin and a grist mill.

 In early Wood County, the two main crops were cotton and corn. Cotton was the crop that could be sold for cash. Corn was used to feed the livestock and it was also ground into meal at the grist mill.

 Early citizens relied on this meal as a main item for human consumption. They made cornbread, cornmeal mush, etc. People came from miles around to have their cotton ginned and their corn ground.

 The Old Mill Pond was also important because it was a place for recreation for the people of the Mineola area. Mrs. W. J. Bray, a Mineola native, was born in 1908, and at age 80, she remembered how she used to go to the Old Mill Pond for Sunday school picnics, family gatherings and swimming parties.

 She also remembered that other churches and families used it for their picnics and parties.

 The pond was owned by several people over the years. One of the owners was Benjamin Long (known as Ben Long in deed records.) He was born in Smith County on February 17rh, 1855. His wife, Mary Elizabeth, was born in that same county on August 17th, 1855. They were married in Mineola on April 24th, 1884. Ben Long died on December 14th, 1893. Mary Elizabeth Long died September 2nd, 1944 in Walters, Oklahoma.

 From the marriage they had five children: Coke, Alfred, Ben Jr., Curtis and Minnie.

 Ben had a son, Audie, by a previous marriage, and Mary Elizabeth had a daughter, Ruth, by a previous marriage. Ben Long had an uncle that had a grist mill in Marshall. His name was Bone Long. This was told to me by John Long, a cousin to Ben Long.

 Dr. Adolphus Leander Patten and Dr. Alfred Patten, his son, purchased the mill pond and mill site from Ben Long in 1890. This began the use of the mill pond for recreation and pleasure.

 Dr. A. L. Patten was born May 29th, 1823, in Rutherford County, North Carolina. He received his liberal education in North Carolina and Tennessee. He took a medical course at the University of Georgia and completed his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania.

 Dr. Patten began his medical practice in Rome, Georgia, in Partnership with a Dr. Miller, a member of the university faculty. He was married to Emeline Trout in 1846. Three children were born to them in Georgia and four others later arrived when they came to Texas. Descendents of Dr. A.L. Patten have been civic leaders in medicine, education, music, religion and politics. Dr. A.L. Patten encouraged all his children to get an education and to live Christian lives.

 In 1854, the Patten family and some members of the Trout family set out for California. After a short rest in Arkansas, they moved on to Quitman, Texas. They built a beautiful southern-style frame home and remained there about 20 years. While in Quitman, he served as Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge from 1858 to 1860.

 After learning that the Texas and Pacific Railway was being built ten miles to the south, they decided to move to that area. The town of Mineola had been established where the Texas and Pacific from the east and the International and Great Northern would cross. The Pattens built another beautiful home in Mineola. It remained a landmark near the center of the city until 1962 when it was heavily damaged by a tornado.

 In 1861 Dr. A.L. Patten joined the Confederate States of America Army and served with distinction. His commanding officer was Col. R.B. Hubbard of Tyler, who later became governor of Texas.

 Col. Hubbard wrote a tribute to Dr. Patten, which was published as part of his obituary at the time of his death in 1900. Patten was the chief and first surgeon of the 22nd Texas Infantry Regiment.

 While in Mineola, Dr. Patten served at least one term (1885-1887) as a member of the Mineola City Council. Additionally, for many years he served as the city health officer. He was able to halt small pox epidemics by quarantining the city. Trains were not allowed to stop or even drop off the mail for the duration.

 In 1875, A.L. Patten served with three other men on a committee to buy land on which a Baptist church would be built. A frame church was erected the next year. It served the Baptists as well as other denominations. The building was also used for a pay school. Rev. W.D. Powell, the pastor, served as the principal. His assistant was Rosalie Patten, who was born on April 23rd, 1855 and was the first of Dr. Patten's children born in Texas.

 After 1882, she taught in the new public school which was erected and controlled by the Mineola City Council. Later she was appointed by the governor to be the first woman in the state to become a full professor at a Texas college. She taught English at the Sam Houston State Normal School in Huntsville.

 Minna Wesley, another daughter of Dr. A.L. Patten, was born on September 16th, 1860. She was an accomplished pianist. She taught piano lessons for many years and also taught an adult Sunday school class in the Baptist Church. She was so loved that her name "Patten" was given to a class which remains today in her honor. "Miss Minnie" died in 1935.

 Dr. A Patten, Dr. A.L. Patten's son, was born on April 18th, 1847 in Georgia. Though quite young, Alford Patten served in the Confederate Army and later became a physician.

 After his father's death, he served as city health officer for many years. He averted epidemics of small pox and yellow fever by using the quarantine technique as his father had done. He also owned several tracts of land including the mill site.

 Mineola was fortunate to have several members of the Patten family among its citizens. This family had great influence in many facets of the community.

 Later descendents of this family also became doctors and teachers in the Mineola area. Patten Street, one of the most traveled streets in Mineola, on which the elementary and high school are located today, was named after this famous family in Mineola history.