Leander W. Patterson

Brother of Mrs. Allen Dies

Lee Patterson, for many years prominent in politics in Danville, Ill., died at his home in that city last Saturday. He was ex-constable of the county, and at the time of his death he was court bailiff. He had been ailing for more than a year with sciatic rheumatism and had been confined to the house for two weeks when death called him, He was a man that was well liked by all who knew him. He was a brother of Mrs. Catherine Allen, of this place, who will receive the sympathy of her many friends in her great bereavement. Mrs. Merrit Kelsey attended the funeral at Danville yesterday.

LEE PATTERSON DIED SATURDAY

Well Known Court Bailiff and Former Constable Succumbed to Sciatic Rheumatism.
PROMINENT FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS

MANY INSTANCES OF HIS KINDLY SPIRIT RELATED IN DEALINGS WHEN A CONSTABLE.

FAILING FOR TWO YEARS

Lost His Health in the Shrievalty Campaign of 1910 and Never Recovered.

"Lee" Patterson, 68 years old, for more than twenty-five years almost continuously constable and deputy sheriff, died at 5:30 o'clock Saturday morning at his home, 415 Sherman street, after an illness of one year. He had been confined to his home only two weeks, but had he given heed to advice of friends would have quit the sheriff's office long before he was forced by his enfeebled condition to remain away.

Mr. Patterson's health began to break two years ago, due, as relatives believe, to over-exertion incident to Sheriff Shepard's campaign. First a candidate himself for the office of sheriff, Mr. Patterson, for many years a warm personal friend of Mr. Shepard, withdrew from the contest in his favor. He then is asserted to have worked almost day and night in the interests of the man for whom he had quit the contest for nomination. This, combined with his duties as constable, is asserted to have undermined his health, not of the best prior to that time, At any rate, Mrs. Patterson and other relatives immediately after the campaign for sheriff, first noticed that his health had broken.

Sciatic rheumatism, which had confined Mr. Patterson to his home at intervals of a few weeks, became complicated with kidney trouble and finally also with heart disease, the latter being given as the direct cause of death.

One of the first men to be given a deputyship after the election of Sheriff Shepard, was Mr. Patterson. At first he worked out of the office with Deputy Sheriffs Tom Shepard and Faye Fielder, but disease so weakened him finally that the sheriff prevailed upon him to exchange palces with A.W. Parker, who had received the appointment of court bailiff.

Energetic and active all his life, used to traveling about over the county in performance of his official duty, an inside job was not to Lee's liking but he accepted it under protest and reluctantly, believing that improved health soon would come and with it his former place as one of Sheriff Shepard's active deputies. In this he was mistaken, but with indomitable spirit he made his regular daily trips to the court house until becoming too weak to ascend the stairs to the office. The last time Lee called to "chat with the boys," Mr. Patterson, from fatigue and illness, soon fell asleep in his chair. No man ever fought more persistently against the inevitavle than did Lee Patterson to stay the hand of death thet he knew must soon be laid upon him.

Lee Patterson was a peculiar compound of gruff manners, plain English and gentleness of heart. His belief always had been that it is best at all times to be perfectly frank with everybody--speak the mind openly and freely on all occasions. True or false ethics, Lee Patterson practiced it. While he at first offended persons as they come to understand him liked him. He had the reputation of being one of the best constables and deputy sheriffs Vermillion county has ever had. He was particularly liked by business men, who appreciated the promptness with which he served all their papers.

Mr. Patterson was deputy under former Sheriff Heimick, prior to his appointment as a deputy in the office of Sheriff Shepard. For many years he had been constable, never having been defeated for nomination of election. Ten years ago he resigned as constable and went to St. Mary's, Kas., where he and his son, Mahlon Patterson, were engeged for three years in buying and shipping cattle and in farming.

Returning to Illinois, Mr. Patterson established himself for one summer on the farm of Capt. L.L Parker, Mrs. Patterson's brother, in Douglas county. From there he returned to Danville, where he was again elected constable. He was a republican of the standpat type, who took it for granted that all nominees of his party were the best men who could have been selected for the places.

Lee Patterson's kindness of heart was known to almost everybody who was acquainted with him. He freely contributed to worthy causes, and without question assisted deserving persons. He had been known to pay off mortgages for widows rather than take property to satisfy the debt. One case is mentioned where a poor widow had borrowed $40 from a money-lender, for which she had given him a mortgage on her cow. Rather than deprive the widow of the cow Lee paid off the mortgage himself, incidentally giving the "shark" his opinion of him, which, as might be supposed, was not flattering.

Another case is cited when Lee rented another house for a poor woman who, with six young children, had been evicted into the street for non-payment of rent. He believed there was a "streak of good" in the worst person, and in a number of instances showed doubters that he had the correct estimation of the human race. Little more than one year ago, a boy from Sidell, son of a farmer, was indicted on the charge of breaking into a store in Danville. Others, implicated, also were indicted. The father and mother of the boy turned against him, but not so Lee Patterson.

"That boy is all right but needs a little encouragement," observed Lee. "Let me talk with him." Three minutes conference with the lad was sufficient to confirm Mr. Pattreson's belief that the boy was naturally good but had gone wrong through bad influences. Arrangements were made by which the boy was turned over to the farm with the warning to the father that if the lad was again mistreated there would be trouble for the parent. The plan worked well, and the result was a source of great satisfaction to the kind-hearted deputy sheriff. Other cases of the kind could be cited as tending to show the kind heart that was concealed by a rough, bluff exterior.

Leander W. Patterson was born in Paris March 22, 1844, and reared on his father's farm near Momence. He came to Danville first thirty-nine years ago, engaging in teaming. Later he was elected constable and after that received appointments as deputy sheriff. He served for a time in the Civil war as a member of the 42nd Ill. Vol. Inft., belonging to the "Douglas brigade."

Surviving are the widow; one son, T.L. Patterson; one daughter, Mrs. Fred Brandes, of Detroit, Mich.; granddaughter, Miss Marie Patterson; one sister, Mrs. Kate Allen, of Lowell, Ind. Mahlon, another son, who had lived in Kansas for many years, died two years ago.

Modern Woodmen of America is said to be the only secret order to which Mr. Patterson belonged.

The funeral will be held at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon, the Rev. S.S. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Springhill cemetery.