Background
George Smith Patton was born George William Patton in Charleston, West Virginia (then Virginia), on September 30, 1856. He was the son of George S. Patton, Senior and Susan Thornton Glassell.
George Smith Patton was born George William Patton in Charleston, West Virginia (then Virginia), on September 30, 1856. He was the son of George S. Patton, Senior and Susan Thornton Glassell.
Virginia Military Institute.
He was the father of George South., the famed general who commanded the Third United States Army during World World War World War II By some accounts, he had been recommended for advancement to Brigadier General, but was killed at the Battle of Opequon (Third Battle of Winchester) before the promotion was acted on. George William later changed his name to George Smith to honor his father. The younger George Smith graduated from Virginia Military Institute, studied law in Lexington, Virginia, and became an attorney.
In 1877 the younger George Smith moved to Los Angeles County, California.
According to some sources, he was appointed the first City Attorney of Pasadena, though his name does not appear in Pasadena"s official listing as having held the position. In 1884 married Ruth Wilson, the daughter of Benjamin Davis Wilson, a wealthy landowner, businessman and political figure, and Margaret Hereford Wilson.
George South. and Ruth were the parents of two children, General George South., Junior. (1885–1945) and Anne Wilson (1887–1971).
The family lived at Lake Vineyard, a large landholding in San Gabriel, California, where they grew oranges, operated a winery, and raised other crops.
In 1894 was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States House of Representatives. Beginning in 1902 worked as an executive for Huntington"s real estate development company, which was responsible for construction and settlement in much of the San Gabriel Valley, and extended throughout southern California. In 1913 the city of San Marino was incorporated separately from San Gabriel, and was elected the first Mayor.
He served from April 1913 to April 1922, and again from October 1922 to August 1924. was the 1916 Democratic nominee for United States Senator.
Running as a conservative opposed to women"s suffrage and other reforms, he lost the general election to Hiram Johnson, a progressive Republican. died at his Lake Vineyard home in San Marino on June 10, 1927. He was buried at San Gabriel Cemetery.
A member of the Democratic Party, Patton served as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1886 to 1887.