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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Joel B. PATTERSON 

Pages 842-843, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

[Surnames: HERRELL, PATTERSON, WEEKS, ZOLLERMAN] 

    
JOEL B. PATTERSON. For many years Mr. Patterson has enjoyed a reputation not only as a substantial and progressive farmer, but also as an intelligent and thoroughly posted man in all public affairs. He has had a vast amount of experience, and his most trivial business transactions are characterized by good judgment and strict integrity. He is a prominent citizen and one who has been of much benefit to the community in which he resides. A son of James and Dolly (Herrell) Patterson, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky respectively, he was born in Spencer County, Ky., July 24, 1827, and was ten years of age when his father came to Fulton County. He received a good education in the district school, and attained to a stalwart manhood. When twenty years old he commenced a business career for himself without any financial assistance whatever, working on a farm and receiving the small sum of $10 per month in compensation for his services. 
    
Mr. Patterson was married in 1848 to Celia M. Weeks, the daughter of George M. Weeks, of Farmers Township, and formerly from the Blue Grass State. After his marriage our subject rented a farm for one season and then went to Texas, settling on a farm in Colon County, and in the midst of a wild and thinly settled locality. He remained there four years, and on the journey back to Illinois the beloved companion of his life, died of cholera in April, 1852. To them had been born one child, but it died in early infancy. After settling his Texas farm Mr. Patterson went to California, crossing the plains with an ox-team, a trip which required six months time before reaching San Francisco. He worked in the gold mines for three years very successfully, and after farming in that State for a brief period returned home in 1856, and purchased the farm upon which he now lives. At that time it was wild unbroken land, and both energy and skill have been required to bring it to its present state of cultivation. 
    
Our subject volunteered in the late war, August 14, 1862, and was Sergeant in Company I, One Hundred and Third Illinois Regiment. This regiment was organized at Peoria, and marched to Jackson, Tenn., with La Grange for headquarters. They took part in a number of scouting expeditions, and in 1863 went to Vicksburg, remaining there through the siege conducted by Gen. Grant. After the fall of Vicksburg, they were in the battle of Mission Ridge, under Gen. John A. Logan, then close to Knoxville, Tenn. They wintered near Waterford about twenty miles south of Huntsville, Ala., and in the spring of 1864 were in the battles of Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Stone River, and then on to Atlanta. At the latter named place Mr. Patterson was wounded by a minie ball passing through his left thigh between the bone and main artery. At Mission Ridge he received a wound in the back part of his head from a piece of shell, which disabled him for further service; he was sent to a hospital near Marietta, for two months, thence home on furlough, and finally discharged April 5, 1865. Owing to his wounds he was compelled to use crutches for nearly a year. He now receives a pension, as a partial compensation for injuries sustained in the service. 
    
Mr. Patterson, on December 21, 1865, married Miss Lodema Zollerman, daughter of Peter and Lucinda Zollerman, both of whom are now deceased and whose family comprised eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. To Mr. And Mrs. Patterson no children were born. After their marriage they settled on the Patterson farm, then removed to Abingdon, Knox County. After sojourning there until 1884, they returned to Fulton County, which has since been their home. Our subject and wife are members of the new Light Christian Church, and he is an active Republican. He has been School Director for a number of years, also served as Road Commissioner and Assessor. He was also Trustee of the Smithfield Village Board, and at the present writing (1890) is Treasurer of same. Socially he is a member of the Grand Army Post, and belongs to the Masonic Order.