Cpl. John Patchin (Patchen)

Cpl. John Patchin (Patchen)

 
       From the Ill. Adj't. Gen's. Report

B Co. 17th Ill. Cav.

   Mustered In Jan. 22, 1864 as a private.
   Aged 13 years.
   Home of record listed as Hampshire, Ill's.
   Mustered Out. Dec. 15, 1865 as a Cpl.

Post war;
   Moved to Elgin, Ill.
   Blacksmith at the Watch Factory.
   Elgin Constable under Marshal Powers.
   Drum Major in the 'Elgin Watch Factory Band'.
   Joined GAR Veteran's Post #49 Aug. 10, 1883.
   Transferred to another GAR Post, post not listed.

       From the Sept. 16, 1915 issue of The Elgin Daily Courier

VETERANS TO ATTEND ST. CHARLES REUNION

     D. B. Beebe and E. E. Taylor, two well known G.A.R. veterans are the only Elgin survivors of the 17 Illinois cavalry regiment who will attend the annual reunion at St. Charles Friday, September 17.
     Mr. Beebe also attended the reunion thirty years ago at the Sherman house, Chicago.   Policemen John Patchin, John Rippberger, George Baker, William Dalton, M. Nelson, all deceased accompanied Beege to this festival.
     About fifty members of the regiment remain and it is expected that the majority will attend.   A program prepared by Phil Phillips, secretary and treasurer of the organization, will afford enjoyment and at noon a dinner will be served by the women of the First M. W. church at St. Charles.
     The 17th regiment was feared by all bands of criminals.   It took an active part in Price's raid and chased Bill Anderson, Jesse James and Quantrill through Missouri, afterwards crossing the plains to protect the settlers from the Indians.

          Obit: June 30, 1900 issue The Elgin Advocate.
   John Patchin, formerly drum major of the old Elgin watch factory band in its palmiest days, died at seven minutes before 11 a.m. Tuesday after a long illness caused from a fall which injured the spine.  Death had been expected for several weeks.  He had been unconscious for the past nine days.
   John Patchin was born 51 years ago at Hampshire, Ill.  He came to Elgin many years ago and served five years on the police force under City marshal john Powers, and was also foreman of construction for the Elgin American Gas company for a number of years.  He was formerly a blacksmith at the watch factory and organized th famous drum corps which paraded Elgin and surrounding towns in the eighties.
   When the old Military band toured through the south under the direction of Directory J. Becker, Mr. Patchin was the drum major.  While living in Rockford he acted as drum major for the Rockford band.
   In 1871 he was married at Genoa, Ill., and the following children are the fruits of that marriage: Charles, Daisy, Susie, and May, all of Elgin, and John and Will of Rockford.  His wife also survives.
   He left Elgin in '94 to accept a position with teh Rockford Gas company.  While at work there he received a severe shock to the spine from a fall and had been ailing for over a year.  He did not give up his position until about six months ago, during which time his was confined to his bed at his home, 220 Highland avenue, this city.
   When Mr. Patchin was only 13 years of age he left the family home and came to Elgin to enlist for the civil war, but was refused on account of his age.  He went to St. Charles and there managed to persuade the recruiting officer to take him.  He enlisted in the Seventeenth Cavalry, Company B, and was a good soldier, as all his comrades, many of the members of the G.A.R., of which he was a member, will testify.
   The funeral was held at 2 p.m. from the house on Thursday, Rev. Farmiloe, pastor of Grace M.E. church officiated.
   Deceased as a member of the Methodist denomination .

   As recorded on the Elgin Sexton's ledger:  Occupation, Mechanic.  Died June 26, 1900 at 220 Highland Ave.  Aged 51/1/23.  Cause of death listed as Atasic Haimopligia 6 months.  Undertaker retained, Bunker & Chambers.  Physician, E. H. Abbott.  Permit #7864.

     Buried in the GAR section of the Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill.

Used with permission Dan Mallett

Many members of Post #49 sewed watch faces to their ribbons to show they were from Elgin.