THOMAS POWELL PATRICK

The following bio was taken from pages 339-340 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited by Rusk County Historical Commission

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria B. Mayfield, Rusk Co. CC

Thomas Powell Patrick (Tom), the third child of John Currence and Martha Heath Patrick, was born on a farm in the Patrick Community April 15, 1880. When Tom was eight his mother died of pneumonia, leaving five children. John’s relatives and Hanna, an old Negro slave who had lived in the Patrick family for years, were faithful in helping John raise his family. Tom grew up doing the usual chores on the farm—helping with the crops and tending to the farm animals. He went to church and school in the same building, Pleasant Springs Presbyterian Church, which was a one-room log building with a huge fireplace. Because of the untimely death of his mother, Tom sought a new home. He found a warm welcome with Frank and Gennie Evans in Panola County. He worked hard helping with all the chores on the Evans’ farm and also working at the Evans’ sawmill and cotton gin. He became known as a specialist at firing the old steam boilers at the gin and sawmill. In 1908 while attending the annual Fourth of July picnic at the Shiloh Church in Rusk County, Tom met Elizabeth May (Lizzie) Hudman. Lizzie, the fifth child of John Joseph and Mary Frances Garner Hudman, was born April 7, 1891 in Dallas County, Texas. In 1894 the John Hudman family moved to Jumbo in Panola County, where Lizzie spent her girlhood days. When Lizzie was three years old her mother died of pneumonia, leaving five children. The Hudman children lived with relatives until their father, John, married again in 1895. Lizzie went to school and church in the same building, the Jumbo Baptist Church. Tom Patrick and Lizzie Hudman were married at her home by Reverend Marion McCormack on December 20, 1908. The young couple moved to Rusk County, making their first home in the Patrick Community. In 1909 they moved to Longbranch, Texas where their first child, Noel Andrew, was born in 1910. Six months later their home was destroyed by fire. The Patrick's continued to live in Panola County, where the last two children were born, Connie Belle on August 16, 1914, and Billy Buck on August 1, 1924. In 1924 the family moved to West Texas. July 1, 1925 their oldest son Noel died of an injury received while riding a steer calf. Noel was buried at Lamesa in West Texas. After the death of Noel, the Patrick's moved back to East Texas. In 1941 Tom bought a farm in the Brachfield community. The happiest years of their married life were spent on this farm, improving the land and raising cattle. To add to this happiness, Tom was converted and became a devoted member of the Pleasant Springs Presbyterian Church. When the need arose for the construction of a new church, Tom took his pulpwood saw and came up with the first donation--$100.00. Lizzie moved her membership from the Jumbo Baptist Church to the Pleasant Springs Presbyterian Church and also became a devoted member. In his declining years, Tom renewed his activities as a Mason. He belonged to the Pine Hill Masonic Lodge No. 95. In 1959 Tom and Lizzie moved into their new home near the Pleasant Springs Presbyterian Church where Lizzie lives today. Tom passed away August 8, 1960 and is buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Rusk County, Texas. Submitted by Mrs. Connie Belle Patrick