My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH PATTON, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising in Randolph County, is the ninth in order of birth in a family of ten children, and was born September 8, 1815, in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. His grandfather, Joseph Patton, was a native of Ire land, and upon emigrating to America, settled in Fayette County, Pa. His son Thomas, the father of our subject, was born on the Emerald Isle in 1768, and at the age of three was brought to America. He witnessed many incidents of the Revolutionary War, and these made an indelible impression upon his mind. While in Steubenville, he served as Associate Judge, and was Clerk of the Common Pleas Court for seven years. In 1818, he removed to the vicinity of Cadez, Ohio, where he made his home for fourteen years, engaged in farming and teaching. In politics he was a Democrat, and was an Elder in the Associate Reformed Church. He died February 28, 1832, at the age of sixty-three, and the following obituary was written by Rev. John McCarthur, of Cadez, Ohio:

“The deceased was for many years a resident of Harrison and Jefferson Counties, and held a succession of civil offices, among which may be named those of Associate Judge and Clerk of the Courts of the latter county, and that of the eldership in the Associate Reformed Congregation in this place, and has left a widowed partner, several children and a numerous circle of friends. His mind was of large original capacity, vigorous, discriminating, comprehensive, amplified and adorned with a rich furniture of knowledge, both useful and entertaining. Piercing with more than common readiness through the thin veil of names to things, it refused to receive doctrines or to adopt customs supported by no other plea than that of prescription. But though independent, it was free from any air of romance, and practical rather than theoretical in its pursuits. His opinions were formed after a severe scrutiny of the evidences upon which they were based, and consequently retained with a firm grasp, though not with that obstinacy which will not stoop to doubt its own infallibility. A playful, lively, varied wit, an habitual cheerfulness, and affable and unassuming disposition, abundant controversial resources, rendered him a pleasing and instructive companion.

“As the head of a family he was a husband of ‘truth-tried love,’ and a father doubly dear, because he softened parental authority with the charms of friendship. Age secured him voluntary respect, but did not invest him with a moroseness which repels the approaches of youth and interdicts familiarity. Religion shed a mild but steady radiance over his character. It was unostentatious and humble, teaching its subject to say of himself, ‘I am an unprofitable servant,’ and of the Divine Redeemer, ‘He is all in all.’ He had not yet numbered his three-score and ten years of health, almost uninterrupted, until the short and painful illness which terminated in his dissolution, left his bodily powers strong and the force of his mind uninvaded until a few days before his expiration. He bore his illness with Christian fortitude, and from its commencement anticipated and looked forward with composure to his change. ‘Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.’ ”

The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Jane Parkhill, daughter of David and Martha (Morrow) Parkhill, and a sister of the wife of Governor Morrow, of Ohio. The Parkhill family is of Irish descent. Mrs. Patton moved to Randolph County, Ill., where she lived for nine years, and died in 1855, in her eighty-fourth year. By her marriage she had ten children: Joseph and David, both deceased; Elizabeth, deceased wife of James McCullough; James, a farmer; Sarah, Mrs. William Miller; John, a carpenter; Joshua D., an attorney; Maria, formerly the wife of Rev. H. Stevenson; Joseph, of this sketch; and Esther, who died in infancy. All are now deceased with the exception of our subject.

Mr. Patton, whose name heads this record, remained with his parents until after the death of his father. His educational privileges were limited, and early in life he became inured to hard labor. In 1841 he made a permanent location in Randolph County, Ill., and in 1845 purchased of Squire McCormick his present home, upon which he has since resided. In 1846 he married Margaret Kingston, who was born in Ohio in 1828, and came to Illinois in 1843. She is a daughter of Christopher and Mary (Stephenson) Kingston. For twenty-one years she has been an invalid, but has borne her sufferings with Christian fortitude.

To Mr. and Mrs. Patton were born eleven children: Sarah Jane, wife of W. M. K. Lyons, by whom she has four children; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, wife of Dr. J. T. Matthews, of Omaha, Neb., by whom she has four sons; Margaret, who married A. D. Fulton and has two children; James A., a minister of the Covenanter Church, residing in Evans, Colo.; Thomas, pastor of the old Covenanter Church in East Coldenham, N. Y.; Adeline, wife of J. H. Peters, a farmer of Perry County, by whom she has one child; William C., who manages the home farm, is married and has two children; Flora Maria, at home; Christopher and Eliza, both deceased.

At the early age of sixteen years Mr. Patton was thrown upon his own resources, and the care of his mother and three sisters also devolved upon him. His life has been a busy and useful one, and as the result of his untiring efforts he is now the owner of one hundred acres of valuable land. He is a Prohibitionist. Religiously he is a member of the Covenanter Church of Sparta, in which he has been Elder for forty-four years, and was Clerk of the session for forty-three years. He has lived in harmony with his professions and is ever found upon the side of right, doing what he can to elevate and benefit humanity.