Personal
Harry Patton (Uncle Harry) Patton moved from Bell County, Texas to Dickens County 1907. He worked for the Spurs as a cowboy and then turned range cook for the SMS Ranch.Following his retirement several years ago, he had lived in Spur alone and did his own cooking and housekeeping. He was described as an authoirity on "sour dough biscuits".
After he retired from range work, Uncle Harry occassionally cooked at the Old Spur Inn, which was owned by the Swensons. He also worked as a butcher at the Old Harris Meat Market in Spur.
He had been honored in recent years as SMS Ranch reunions as one of the oldest employees of the one vast spread, which was once the famed Spur Ranch. He died July 19, 1966, at the age of 93 years.
Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971
Obituary
Longtime Resident "Uncle Harry" Dies In Vigo Park; Buried ThereHarry Nancy Patton, 93, was buried here Tuesday following services at 10 a.m. in the First Baptist Church, Rev. James Allison, Vigo Park Baptist Church officiating, assisted by Rev. Roland Moore, Vigo Park Methodist Church Pastor.
Mr. Patton, known over the area as "Uncle Harry," died in Vigo Park, July 10 following a lengthy illness. He was an old time cowboy for the Swenson Ranch. He told many stories of how the prairie dogs were poisoned in the country. He later became a cook with the SMS and was reported to be an expert on the sourdough biscuit.
Born in Ball Co. in 1873, he came to Dickens County in 1907 and had made his home here except for the past months when he lived in Vigo Park.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Interment was in the Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, July 14, 1966
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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