ATWOOD, Patten H.
Past and Present of the City of Rockford and Winnebago County, IL, C. A. Church.   Chicago:  Clarke Publishing Company, 1905, pp 159-60

Patten H. ATWOOD, at one time an enterprising and respected farmer of Winnebago County [IL], gave up his life when in the military service of his country in the last year of the Civil war, but he is yet remembered by many of the older citizens of this part of the state.  He belonged to a family long well known as prominent in Rockford and the county.  He was born in Canada 15 Apr 1842, and was a son of Joseph ATWOOD.  His mother died during the early boyhood of her son, and the father afterward married again.   Later he brought his family from Canada, his native country, to IL and purchased a farm in the Stillman Valley in Winnebago County, where he [p 160] gave his undivided attention to general agricultural pursuits until his death.

In the common schools Patten H. ATWOOD acquired his education, and in his youth he assisted his father in the operation of the farm, giving to him the benefit of his services until he reached the age of 21 years, when he was married and started out in life on his own account.  He wedded Miss Hannah H. McPHERSON, a native of Canada, born 21 Feb 1842, her parents being Charles B. and Fidelia E. McPHERSON, who also came to Winnebago County at an early period in its settlement and improvement.  Her father engaged in farming here for several years, and then removed to WI, where he died.   Mr. and Mrs. ATWOOD became the parents of three sons:  Ira A., who resides in Jewell County, KS, where he is engaged in farming; Cyrus Homer, who married Clara McALLISTER and resides in Sterling [Whiteside County], IL, where he is engaged in the grocery business; and Edward H., who married Lillian PIERCE, and is dealing in ice in Rockford, being one of the prominent and prosperous business men of this city.

After his marriage Mr. ATWOOD settled upon a farm in the Stillman Valley and energetically began the cultivation of the soil and the improvement of the place, which soon gave evidence of his careful supervision and diligence.  He had carried on farming but a few years, however, when the Civil war broke out.  His sympathies were with the Union cause, and in 1864 he enlisted, and with his regiment went to Buffalo, NY, where he was taken ill with measles and after an illness of several months his death there occurred 15 Apr 1865, his remains being interred in Buffalo [Erie County, NY].

Mrs. ATWOOD continued to reside upon the home farm in the Stillman Valley until 1886, and there reared her sons, but in the year mentioned she removed to Rockford, where she has since made her home, now residing at No. 1125 Ninth Street.  She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which her husband was also a member, and her religious faith has been a permeating influence in her life, developing traits of character that have won her many friends.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly.