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William Riley Patton

Posted 2016-03-05 by Judy Wight Branson
Prescott Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory
May 4, 1911, page 8

Riley Patton Is Interred With Honors


The remains of the late Riley Patton, who was accidentally electrocuted in the United Verde Mine Monday afternoon, were brought to the city yesterday from Jerome and interment was made in the Knights of Pythias Cemetery.

The respect extended the deceased in the funeral cortege to the depot at Jerome was a beautiful tribute to his memory, fully 1,000 people following the body to the train. It was one of the largest funerals ever held in that city.

On the arrival of the train in this city, the body was taken to the cemetery for burial. The pallbearers, who came from Jerome, were L. M. Coleman, C. E. Hughes, John Opman, John Zivokovich, Chas. P. Jolly and Ed. Kovacovich.

The rites of the Knights of Pythias were extended over the grave, Chancellor Commander L. M. Coleman officiating, while the committal service was extended by the Rev. O. M. Andrews of the Methodist Church of Jerome.

Among the mourning relatives were his wife and three children, a brother Joseph Patton and his family and Mr. and Mrs. George Pruett, the latter a sister. C. T. Lynch and J. W. Hubbard, with many others, were also of the funeral party.

Mr. Patton met his death while walking along the 300 foot drift of the United Verde Mine, his wet clothing coming in contact with the trolley wire and the motor car at the same time. A current, estimated at 240 volts, passed through his shoulder and death was instantaneous. Efforts to resuscitate him proved hopeless, and he never showed the slightest symptoms of recovering.

Mr. Patton was formerly a resident of this city, and was well known to many as a splendid young man. In his home town he was admired and had not an enemy. His loss is deeply deplored and his bereaved relatives have the sympathy of all.

The death certificate gives the date of death as 1 May 1911 in Jerome, Yavapai Co., AZ.


See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project




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