Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-01-08
The Hon. Henry Patch-His death and
Observation-Disclosures.

Died, January I'd, at bis home in
Patch Grove, Of fever, the Hon Hen
ry Patch, in the Gath year of his age.
He was born April 10, in the year
1903, at Danbury, Conn, where in
1925 he married Emily Cook Brunson
of the same place. They removed to
Columbus, O., in 1929, remaining
there TIL in 1856, the time of their re-
moval to Wisconsin. Mrs. Patch
died we think in the year 1856. Els
second marriage was in 1853, with
Mrs. Eliza n. Mcconnell, who sur
TiYes.
There are living two sons and s. TX
daughters, with nineteen grand child.
rem, nearly or quite all of them being
present at the funeral. Elder Alfred
Brunson preached the fqn er2l sern2 on,
closing with recall of incidents in
the life and times of deceased, very
interesting indeed to all. The buri-
al services were conducted according
to Masonic rites, the Prairie du Chien
lodge Of which he was an ancient
member officiating and the Lancaster
and Reetowp lodges joining in the
ceremonies. The shops and stores
were closed, and schools adjourned on
the day Of the funeral, the hotel only
keeping open to accommodate those
in attendance from a distance, but
without charge. 1t was 2 day ofsad
ness and mourning to all. Perhaps
no demise in the county ever caused
more gloom or feeling of bereave-
ment than that of Uncle Henry Patch.
Society feels the loss of the only one
that all can trust in business, in the
settlement of difficulties and in the
forma ton e right opinions. He was
man eminent for prudence and JUS
tice, and for wisdom and sincerity
none pretended to to criticise or ques
ton any act or motive Of bis. He
was remarkable for allowing no sell
fish interest TO turn him from the
right: About the time Of our first
acquaintenance with Mr.. Patch he
was one of five securities on for
feited official bond Tor a very heavy
sum. lie was told as were the other
signers that if they would ask re-
l9ase the county authorities would
grant it. Ia our hearing he said,
HneRer, j il takes my last doilar." The
bondsmen were nevertheless released.
it so happening however that the
lost property had but little if any
real value. The circumstance was
much talked over 1T the time by lead
ing men, and without dissent Mr..
Batch was Geckoned man of high
moral purity, especially for those
days when but few public men pos
sessed unblemished records.
There is one event in the life Of Mr..
Patch that should be emblazoned I'D
on the marbles to be erected to his
memory-his patriotic acquiescencc
in the war for the union. Up to the
time of rebel hostilities he was a con
Bervative and believer in compromise
for recQnciling the national Difficult
ties, Yhenceforth he was for war
and radical enterprise, and till the
end of his life supported positive
measures as tho only sure means Of
salvation to the union.
In the year 1886, Mr.. Batch and
family settled on the farm adjoining
the village Of Patch Grove, the place
go named in view Of making its loca
tion widely known. The country
vas then all unbrolen prairie south
TO McCartney's in Cassvlle and Bee
town, east to Parishes, now Wing
vile, and to the southeast in the d.
recti0n of Lancaster there was not a
house nearer than where Mr.. Boycc
lived, formerly the John N. Eayres
place Mr.. Patch's nearest and only
peighbors were Page Blake, John
Thompson and Moses Hiclllin-the
iatter named only surviving. His
was for many years the only stopping
place between Prairie du Chen and
Dubuque and Galcna.
The bereaved widow, Mrs. Patch.
and other members of the family wish
to express through the HERALD their
thanks to the neighbors and citizens
for the kindness and good will ex-
pressed all ways during the sickness
of deceased and at the funeral and
especially are tie masonic fraternity
thanked for having left their distant
homes on a cold winter day, in com
pIiance with their regulations, to pay
their last respects to deceased mem
Der.
Every year carries with t one or
two OF TIE hrst settlers Of Grant Co,
whose memory is but briefly told in
the columns Of the newspaper. al
ready age and disease are preparing
other pioneers to follow the way OF
all men to the tomb, and their story
Of a life will be briefly told in the
newspaper How important that the
virtue of all such may shine and the
truth be told as in the ease Of Uncle
Horny Patch.