• History
• Map & hours
• Virtual tour
• Contact
This site is under |
History of The Craik-Patton House
The house, known as "Elm Grove" when constructed, is located on the Midland Trail (WV Rt. 60) in a scenic setting along the banks of the Kanawha River in the capital of Charleston. For a modest fee visitors can tour the house and grounds and hear the compelling stories of the house's early inhabitants. These include the builder of the house, Rev. James Craik, whose family's strong connection to George Washington is discussed; as well as Col. George Smith Patton, grandfather of the famed W.W. II general and casualty of the Civil War. Craik-Patton also plays host to special programming including Civil War encampments and exhibitions of frontier living. For those of a romantic inclination, the house and grounds are available for weddings and other special events. The House is located adjacent to Daniel Boone Park, which offers picnic facilities, boating, fishing and an attractive view of the Kanawha River.
With the westward expansion of the frontier in the early 1800's, residents of the Kanawha Valley began to build finer homes, replacing the rough-hewn log cabins that had been the norm. James Craik was one of the pioneers of this trend when he built the Greek revival Craik-Patton House in 1834 and, in the style of the day, named his new home "Elm Grove". The Craiks were a prominent family originally from the tidewater area of Virginia. The family had close ties to George Washington. Craik's grandfather, Dr. James Craik, was Washington's personal physician and first Surgeon General of the Continental Army. The elder Craik traveled extensively with Washington during the General's extensive surveying work, much of which was conducted in what is now West Virginia. Dr. Craik's son - George Washington Craik - continued the family's association with Washington by serving as President Washington's secretary during his second term in office. Clearly, Dr. Craik's admiration and affinity with Washington is reflected in the name given to his son. George Craik's son, named for his grandfather, was James Craik who built the Craik-Patton House. Having studied law at Transylvania College, James Craik initially worked as a lawyer when he moved to Charleston with his wife, the former Juliet Shrewsbury, in the early 1830's. Juliet was the youngest of ten children of Samuel Shrewsbury, who had established a salt business that was thriving in the area southeast of Charleston. After building "Elm Grove", which was one of the first clapboard frame houses in the valley, James Craik became involved in the Episcopal Church. He eventually abandoned his law practice to become rector of St. John's Episcopal, one of the earliest churches founded in Charleston. Craik moved his family from the area in 1844 when he was chosen to lead a new Episcopal church in Kentucky. The Craik-Patton House was sold at that time to Isaac Reed, who owned the house until it was purchased by George Patton in 1858.
The owner of the house following Mr. Issac Reed is the most well known of its long list of inhabitants. Colonel George Smith Patton purchased the home in 1848, although the deed was listed under the name of his wife Susan Glasell Patton. The purchase price as listed in records of the time was $2,900 and it was in this house that his son George Smith Patton II was born. George Patton Jr's son, General George Smith Patton III became the most renowned of the Pattons through his outstanding generalship during WW II. Colonel Patton graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1852 and following his marriage moved from Richmond to Kanawha Courthouse - the original name given to the town of Charleston - to practice law with Thomas Broun. Patton had been a member of the famous "Light Infantry Blues" militia organization in Richmond and was inspired to form a similar company in Charleston. The company - the Kanawha Riflemen - was referred to by many in town as the "Kid Glove Company" because it was comprised of the most prominent young men in the area. Patton used his VMI education to advantage in conducting drills and exercises with the Riflemen. Patton's former VMI instructor Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's influence may have been manifested during these training periods. Patton's career as an attorney was short-lived as the approaching clouds of Civil War broke with the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April 1861. With the succession of Virginia, the Kanawha Riflemen were mustered into Confederate service as Company H, 22nd Virginia Infantry. Only a short time later the unit faced its baptism of fire. On July 17, 1861 Patton, then a Captain, led his company in an engagement at Scary Creek, in what is now St. Albans, West Virginia. Although the Confederates were victorious in the fight, Captain Patton was wounded and out of action for some time. Due to the proximity of the fight to his home Patton enjoyed the ministrations of his wife Susan during his convalescence. By 1864, following several more years of combat and distinguished service, Patton had been promoted to Colonel. Colonel Patton's Civil War service and his life came to a close as a result of one of a battle at Winchester, Virginia in that year. Colonel Patton was mortally wounded and lingered some days before dying of his wounds. Following the death of her husband, Susan Patton sold the home to Andrew Hogue in 1865 and the family eventually settled in California. It was here the General George Patton III was born and eventually embarked upon his brilliant military career. General Patton indicated that his grandfather's service in the Civil War was one of the catalysts for his embarking upon a military career. |
