Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor

Page 1514:

PATTERSON, FRANK U. - The Patterson family here described originated in Ireland and emigrated to the United States before the middle of the eighteenth century. The ancestors of Frank U. Patterson participated in the Revolutionary War and the members of the family have always been identified with the progress and improvement of every community where they have lived. Frank U. Patterson is known throughout the State of Illinois as State President of the Master Plumbers" Association. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the firm of Patterson & Stewart, of Springfield, Ill., and an able and energetic business man. Mr. Patterson was born in Springfield, October 14, 1862, son of Isaac D. and Sarah (Hall) Patterson and grandson of William and Marilda (Denman) Patterson. The family settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., before the Revolutionary War and William Patterson was born in that city. He emigrated to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he lived many years, then coming to Mason County, Ill., where he died about 1842. His children were: Ira, who became a wealthy resident of Portland, Ore.; Samuel, a farmer of Mason County, Ill., died there; Julietta, married Samuel Ryan and died at Danville, Ill.; and Isaac D.

Isaac D. Patterson was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1813, where he received a common school education, then spent seven years at the carpenter's trade in Columbus, Ohio, and later moved to Mason County, Ill., locating on a farm between Mason City and Athens, Menard County, where he arrived about 1832, being then about nineteen years of age. He worked for a time at the carpenter work on the old State House in Springfield, but later returned to his farm, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and 1858, when he located in Springfield and spent the remainder of his life there. While living on his farm he was often called upon by the neighbors to construct houses and barns, and for about eight years after coming to Springfield continued at his trade, when his health having failed, he retired from active life. He died in 1877 and was buried at Athens, Menard County.

Mr. Isaac D. Patterson was a radical republican, and during the Civil War, when Springfield was under martial law, served as police officer. He was also an active member of the Christian Church and for years served as its Deacon.

Sarah Hall, the wife of Isaac D. Patterson, was a daughter of Elisha Hall, and was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, March 17, 1822. Her father removed from Bedford County, Va., to Lawrence County, and later moved to Menard County, Ill., the daughter then being five years of age. The family made the trip to Ohio in a prairie schooner, and stopped on the edge of Springfield so they would not witness the hanging of the first murdered executed there. Mrs. Patterson was one of the following named children: Banks, William, Dabney, Tabitha, Lucinda, Keziah, Nancy, Nelson, Virginia, Tembrooke, Sarah, Susan Delia. Elisha Hall died in what is now Menard County and was buried at Athens. He married a daughter of John Overstreet, a native of Bedford County, Va., and a solider in the Revolution under General Washington. John Overstreet enlisted September 17, 1775, for one year; on January 1, 1777, for three years; and re-enlisted in 1781, but the time of enlistment is not stated. Among the battles in which he participated were Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, and Yorktown. When the War of 1812 broke out his son-in-law, Elisha Hall, was drafted for service, but on account of sickness was unfitted for duty. So Mr. Overstreet said, "I'll take your place, son," and served from March until October 1814. Both the Overstreet and Hall families were originally from England. At a barbeque given at Athens, Ill., John Overstreet found a Tory in the ranks and, during the parade, dragged him out offline and administered a sound thrashing to him, remarking: "No d-d traitor can march in parade with me."

Frank U. Patterson was educated in the common schools of Springfield, and when sixteen years of age began work in the grocery department of C. M. Smith, where he remained three years, when he began working at the plumbing trade with Hellweg & Snape, serving five years. He worked as journeyman until 1898, at which time he was appointed Plumbing Inspector for Springfield, which office he held six years. He organized the Patterson & Stewart Company, which became a stock company in 1907, with D. M. Stewart as President and Mr. Patterson as Secretary and Treasurer. He is President of the Master Plumber's Association of Springfield and also of the State organization, and represents the Master Plumbers on the State Examining Board. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are members of Central Christian Church and he is a lifelong Republican. He resides at his very pretty home in West Grand Place, in which he erected in 1906.

Mr. Patterson was married, in Springfield, , September 26, 1900, to Miss Virginia Ellis, daughter of A. Y. Ellis, who was for thirty-five years employed in the post-office at Springfield. They have no children. Both are well known in Springfield, where they have spent their entire lives and have many firm friends.