Biography - Robert A. Patton
ROBERT A. PATTON. Postmaster at Prairie Home, is a prominent citizen of
this village, who is closely associated with the leading interests of this
section of the county as a general merchant and as the proprietor of a
choice farm. He is a native of Mifflin County, Pa. born November 12, 1842,
the son of a prosperous farmer of that State, James Patton. His father was
born in Cecil County, Md., while his father, who bore the same name as
himself, was born in County Derry, Ireland, being a descendant of one of the
old Scotch families that had settled in that region many years ago. He came
to this country and first located in Maryland, whence he removed after
awhile to Pennsylvania where Ins died in 1840.
The father of our subject learned the trade of a brick and stone mason in
his youth, and engaged in that in connection with farming. In 1843 he bought
the farm where his widow now resides in Mifflin County. He died in August,
1891, aged seventy-five years. His good wife is living in a cozy home
surrounded with all the desirable comforts of life. They reared a family of
seven children to lives of usefullness. The maiden name of the mother was
Eiiza Lowrie, and she is a native of' Mifflin County, Pa., a daughter of
William and Polly Lowrie.
Robert Patton passed his boyhood in his native county and was given
excellent advantages to obtain a sound education. He gained his first
knowledge of books at home and in the local district school, and later in
life became a student at the Kishacoquillas Seminary, where he pursued a
thorough course of study which gave him a good equipment as a teacher. He
entered the ranks of that profession in 1861, and the ensuing twelve years
devoted the greater part of his time to that vocation, and when not thus
employed being engaged at the trade of a bricklayer.
In 1870 our subject made a new departure, leaving his native state to settle
in Illinois, and giving his attention to farming in Flat Branch Township,
where he bought forty acres of land. He did not wholly abandon his
profession, however, but was a part of the time employed in teaching as well
as in cultivating the soil. In 1873 he went to Moweaqua, where he carried on
the drug business until 1887, when he came to Prairie Home where he has
since conducted a general store. His establishment is fitted up in good
style and is amply stocked with a large supply of all sorts of merchandise
that are in demand in such a village, including drygoods, boots, shoes,
crockery, glassware and groceries, and the customers have as varied a
selection as can he found in the stores of many larger towns. Besides his
mercantile interests Mr. Patton has a well-managed farm, advantageously
located a quarter of a mile from his store, and upon it he and his family
have one of the pleasantest homes in this vicinity.
Mr. Patton was first married November 12, 1867, Miss Sadie J. Stine becoming
his wife. She was born in Mifflin County, Pa., and was a daughter of Samuel
and Elizabeth Stine. Their wedded life was brought to an end by the death of
Mrs. Patton in March, 1882. She left five children, May, Cora, Robert S.,
Lulu and Edith. The second marriage of our subject which took place in
November, 1882, was with Mrs. Minnie (Nims) Parker, a native of Lake County
and a daughter of Charles Nims. Three children have been born of this
marriage, Willie R., Grover Cleveland and Dada.
Mr. Patton is a man whose education, character and business equipment have
made him a decided acquisition to the citizenship of this county, and he
stands well in its financial and social circles. In him the Democratic party
of this section has one of its most sensible followers. In 1887 he was
appointed Postmaster at Prairie Home and no Postofflce in the county is
better managed than the one under his charge. Religiously Mr. Patton is of
the Presbyterian faith, and both he and his wife are consistent members of
the church of that denomination in this village.
Extracted 17 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 647-648.
