LAFAYETTE F. PATCHIN, a history of whose life is herewith presented, is living retired in the city of Centralia. He is a son of Jabez and Sally (Garfield) Patchin, and was born in Warren County, N. Y., May 4, 1826.
His paternal grandfather was Samuel Patchin, who probably came to the United States from Canada. He located in New York in a very early day, and was captain of a company during the Revolutionary War. During that conflict he was seriously wounded and taken prisoner by the English. He met an accidental death when in his eighty-sixth year.
The father of our subject was the fourth in order of birth in a family of the following named sons and daughters:
Jabez Patchin acquired a good education for that early day, and was a man very prominent in public affairs. His early occupation was that of a farmer in Warren County, N. Y., but he later became interested in a sawmill, which he operated for some time.
The mother of our subject was likewise born in the Empire State, and was the daughter of Nathaniel Garfield. By her union with Jabez Patchin she had born to her thirteen children, namely:
The two latter, together with our subject, are the only members of the family living.
After the death of his first wife, the father of our subject was married to Miss Louisa Miller, and by that union there were born two children, Fannie E. B., and Francis M., who is deceased.
Jabez Patchin died while residing in New York, when in his sixty-sixth year. He was a very active member of the Baptist Church and ever took a prominent part in all good works.
In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat. He was a selfmade man in the truest sense of the term, and at his death left an estate of three hundred acres. He held many local positions of trust, and enjoyed the esteem of many friends.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native place, and later in life, when in St. Louis, Mo., attended a commercial school. He remained at home until reaching his twenty-second year, when he began working out on a farm by the month in Warren County.
In 1851 he went to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the lumber district until coming west to Missouri. He stopped in Platte County, that state, and for some time was employed at farm work. Then making his way to St. Louis, he was given a position in the wholesale commission store of his brother, with whom he remained for four years. During that time he saved a sufficient sum of money to enable him to start in business on his own account, and coming to Marion County, opened up a general store in Sandoval, which he conducted for three years. Then disposing of his stock, he purchased a qwarter-section of land in Clinton County, where he farmed for many years and accumulated an estate comprising three hundred acres, which he has since divided among his children.
In 1864, Mr. Patchin and Miss Elizabeth Hughson were united in marriage, and by their union were born five children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are,
Mr. Patchin is an official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he lias been connected for many years. In politics he is a trueblue Republican, and has held many positions of trust in his township.
Mrs. La Fayette Patchin died about nineteen years ago, September 30, 1874. She was the daughter of Abraham and Sarah Hughson, and was born in Clinton County, this state, September 12, 1845. Her parents were of German descent, and her maternal grandmother could not speak the English language. The parents of Mrs. Patchin located in the above county in a very early day, when the court house was a log cabin. Her father was a very successful stock-raiser, and at his death, when in his seventy-seventh year, was worth $50,000.
Our subject has been a great sufferer from rheumatism for many years, and claims that the disease was occasioned by exposure. He occupies a very high position among the old residents of this section, and is a member of the Old Settlers' Union of Clinton County.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 312 & 313
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer