Squire Johnson PATE

PATE, PATTERSON, SEARS, VICTOR, SEARS, MCCLOREY, MCFARLANE, SHAUNCE, NICHOLS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/11/2011 at 13:11:00

October 15, 1845 --- January 8, 1927

Squire Johnson Pate was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, near Danville, on Oct 15, 1845, and passed away to the life beyond on Jan. 8, 1927, being 81 years, 2 months and 23 days old.

He enlisted in the army on May 22, 1862, at Indianapolis, Ind., and served in the 16th Indiana Light Artillery. He was with the Union army in various battles including Bull Run and Mission Ridge, but fortunately he came through the ordeals with credit although on various occasions he and his comrades marvelously escaped either being killed or captured by the enemy. He was discharged from the army May 22, 1865, at Washington, D.C. There was no other service after except in the state militia in Kansas. But here Squire Pate was very busy for some time fighting the Indians in 1868. He served the rest of his time at Fort Washington on the Potomac and it was during his stay here while being engaged at the fort that he saw the French fleet sail up the Wabash river.

It was in the year 1899 that Squire Pate came to live at Woolstock, [Iowa] where he made his home until his passing. At various times he would leave for other parts and stay a while, but he always looked to Woolstock as his home.

He was united in marriage to Mary C. Patterson on Oct. 15, 1866, at Crawfordsville, Ind. To this union seven children were born, Elvy, Willis, Ada Victor, Laura Sears of Cleo Springs, Okla., and Sam Scott of Woolstock. Two children died in infancy. Elvy, Willis and Ada Victor are deceased. In April, 1884, he was united in marriage to Sarabell Sears, and to this union three children were born, Ralph Amos, of Elgin, Ill., Agnes McClorey of Chicago, and Betsy McFarlane of San Francisco; also one step-daughter, Mrs. Ada Shaunce of Eagle Grove.

In the passing of Squire Pate we are losing the last of the Civil war veterans of the community. He was a kind, affectionate, thoughtful and loving father and friend. It was he who organized the G. A. R. post at Appleton City, Mo. He was deeply interested in the Legion work of Woolstock and Humboldt, where he made his home at different times. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows for fifty years. His life was a very active one. He was always busy doing something if at all possible or able to do it. He was not a man of many words, but a man of action. He had a jovial disposition and was always optimistic. He loved his county with all his heart and was a true, staunch American citizen.

Squire Pate has been a member of the Baptist church of Eagle Grove for many years. Besides the members of the family there is one brother, Scott Pate, and one sister, Lizzie Nichols, both of Oklahoma, who are left to mourn his loss; also 26 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and a host of friends.

Services were held in the M. E. church of Woolstock, Rev. William Baddeley and Rev. E. A. Anderson of Eagle Grove officiating. Squire Pate was given a military funeral under the auspices of the American Legion, Commander Wm. Weir. Fred Jones sounded taps at the grave, and the Legion gave the salute three times at the side of the grave.

Eagle Grove Eagle - Iowa
January 1927