Kendall County, Illinois Genealogy

Alexander Patterson

  A few months after he was twenty years of age Mr. Patterson enlisted in the Union service. In August, 1862, his name was enrolled in Company H, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland,
McCook's Twenty-eight Corps. After the battle of Chickamauga the regiment was reorganized and assigned to the Fourth Army Corps, commanded by General O. O. Howard. He took part in the battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, and there was struck in the head by a minnie-ball, which destroyed the sight of his right eye. Among his other engagements were Missionary Ridge and the engagements enroute to Lovejoy, south of Atlanta, the one hundred and forty miles being a continuous battle ground. After the battles of Franklin and Nashville, he accompanied the troops against Hood. During the entire time of service he was away from his regiment but once, and that was at the time he was ill with smallpox. He was discharged as corporal, June 10, 1865 at Nashville.
     On returning from the army, Mr. Patterson worked with his father on the farm. In 1872 he married and started out for himself, purchasing a farm of ninety-two acres in the corner of sections 17, 18 and 19. This he cultivated as long as his health permitted, but owning to the effects of his army service, he was unable to do as much manual labor as he wished. In 1888 he retired from active work and settled in Bristol, renting his farm until 1900, when he disposed of it. As a Republican he has been prominent in local politics and has served as a delegate to conventions. For six years he has served as assessor and also the office of collector. Since the organization of Yorkville Post No. 522, G. A. R., he has been one of its most prominent members. He is not connected with any church, but attends and contributes to the Methodist Church, of which his wife is a member.
From Genealogical & Biographical Record Of Kendall & Will Counties, Illinois, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1901, pages 650-1.

From a letter written by Sergeant Isaac K. Young to the editor of the Kendall County Record in July 1864: A. Patterson has rejoined the company; he was left behind at Cleveland with small pox and is now fully recovered.

Alexander received a pension due to diseases and injuries incident to service in the Civil War. When he entered the army he was a healthy person. At the time of his discharge he was afflicted with rheumatism and heart disease. On
December 31, 1862, at Stone River, Tennessee, he received a gun shot wound on the right side of his head that caused the loss of his right eye. Source: Alexander Patterson's veteran's records.

Veteran Eighty-ninth Comrade Answers Roll Call Over Yonder -- "Alex" Patterson Is Dead. For many months the comrades of the Republic, and a host of old time friends have been listening for the news from Bristol Station of the condition of Alexander Patterson, a representative of one of the oldest families in the township. Well, "Alex" is dead; passed over Sunday morning, January 18, 1914, and is with the old boys on the other side where the most of them are now. It may seem a light matter to you, reader, to scan this article, but to the writer, on the verge himself, who has written so many death notices of his friends and comrades, it is with a burdened heart and suffused eyes the duty is done. "Alex" is dead! That is what the old boys say; another passed away, one who loved the county, who loved the Grand Army, who was in turn a favorite with us all. He was ill a long time with an incurable disease; he knew it, but he was patient, cheerful and was happy to greet those who called with as cheerful a smile as he could assume, and you
left him feeling that he was a brave man in sickness as he was on the battlefield. Alex Patterson was one of the Company H boys of the 89th "Railroad regiment," many of whom went from this section, and he was honored by his townsmen with official duties which he always performed well. He was the scion of a sterling Scottish family coming to this county in the early years, son of Matthew Patterson, who was an esteemed citizen of Bristol in his lifetime. He leaves a widow who was Nancy Stocksleger, a daughter of Fox river pioneers who ranked among the best people anywhere; she has the sympathy of a host of friends in her bereavement.

Alexander Patterson was born in Bristol Township, February 10, 1842; died January 18, 1914; he lived with his parents on the home farm north of Bristol until August 1863, when he enlisted in the 89th Illinois regiment at the age of 20 years; was an active soldier and was engaged in the great battles in which the 89th took so prominent a part. In 1872 he was married to Miss Nancy Stocksleger; two children were born to them: Mary Elizabeth who died in infancy, and John H., who died in 1885, aged nine years. Deceased is survived by his wife, two brothers, William of Elburn and John H. of Plano; three sisters, Mrs. (Simon) Dickson and Mrs. John Miller of Bristol, and Mrs. Casselman of California.

There was a large attendance at the funeral, Tuesday afternoon, the house being filled with old friends and neighbors from Aurora, Plano, Yorkville, and the Bristol neighborhood. Reverend J. E. Murphy had charge of the service and spoke encouragingly from that query of Job's, "If a man die, shall he live again?" The question was answered in the affirmative by Mr. Murphy and he proved his position by sound argument and good reason. Fred G. and Arthur P.
Hill sang several numbers appropriate to the occasion and assisted in the ritual service of the orders present with verses and song. The Yorkville Post was present in goodly number and the ritual ceremony was given in the house, as
was that of the Woman's Relief Corps. Five comrades of Plano Post were present as well. The pall-bearers were: S. S. Boomer; Joseph D. Kern; Wallace McCloud; and A. D. Curran, comrades of the old 89th, and O. W. Beebe; and B. F. Herrington of the Post. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery, where so many of the family have found a resting place.

Obituary was written by John R. Marshall, a friend, comrade in arms, and editor of the Kendall County Record.