| JonathanPatteson |
JONATHAN PATTESON was born in State of Virginia,June 1, 1797. His father was Charles Patteson, also a native of Virginia,who removed from that State to Green county, Kentucky about the year 1800,and was thus one of the pioneers of that locality. He bought a tract oftimber land, and erected thereon a log cabin, in which were domiciled thefamily. They were in a wilderness and were compelled to live off the productsof their little place and the game that was found in abundance in the woods.Mr. Patteson was an owner of slaves, and they cultivated flax and cotton,and used to card, spin and weave all the cloth for the entire family. Theywere compelled to be self-supporting, and knew little of the outside worldbecause railroads were unheard of, newspapers rarely seen, and even steamboatshad but just been heard of. He continued to reside in Green county untilhis death. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Regina DeGraphenreidt,a native of North Carolina, who died when our subject was but four yearsof age.
Our subject, Jonathan Patteson, is the onlysurvivor of a family of six children. He was reared on the farm in Kentuckyand was there married. At quite an early age he went to live with a merchantin Columbia, Adair county, and there he remained, clerking in a store,until he was married. He then went to that part of Adair county now includedin Russell county, and took charge of a paper mill. Soon after his locationthere, Russell county was organized, and the first court was held in hishouse. He lived there until 1837, at which time he came to Illinois. Whilein Kentucky he lived on a small stream, six miles from the Cumberland river.This little stream was known as Greasy creek. He built a flat boat, andhimself and family, accompanied by Thomas J. Garrett, floated down to theCumberland river and there took a steamer and continued on down to theOhio, thence down to the Mississippi, thence up the Mississippi and Illinoisrivers, stopping at Erie (now Frederick), Schuyler county. This countrywas then an utter wilderness, filled with wild animals, and with a fewscattering pioneers, almost as wild as the animals. He bought a tract of160 acres, two miles east of town, covered with heavy timber, upon whichtwo log cabins had been erected and a few acres cleared by the former owner.He paid $2,000 for the entire tract, which was then considered a very highprice. Here he lived and labored until 1871, when be came to Rushvilleand has since lived there retired from active business. He is the oldestman now living in Schuyler county. Generally his health has been good,but of late years he has suffered with rheumatism, though his mind andmemory are yet well preserved. During his long life he has witnessed theintroduction of railroads and steamboats, telegraph lines, and when hecame to Illinois, as he passed through Louisville, he traded for two stoves,the first ever brought to Schuyler county. They were rough, primitive affairs,which would now sell for about three dollars, but for which he paid thesum of seventy dollars. In 1822 he was married to Miss Matilda Caldwell;a native of Columbia, Kentucky, and a daughter of William and Eliza (Pyles)Caldwell. To himself and wife have been born seven children: Eliza M.,Charles R., William C., Harriet J., Laura, Matilda and Louisa Caroline.Of these children all are living except the daughter, Laura, who died in1872.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 138-139.
Copyright1999-2006 Judi Gilker; all rights reserved. For personal use only.Commercial use of the information contained in these pages is strictlyprohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appearwith the information.