Biography of Frank C. Patten, 1867-1939

The growth and prosperity of a community depends largely upon its industrial and commercial interests, and they who push forward the wheels of progress are the men who are at the head of the business interests, displaying a spirit of enterprise and determination, which conquers obstacles and shapes conditions to their own ends. Frank C. Patten is today at the head of the Sycamore Foundry Company of Sycamore, manufacturers of agricultural implements and hardware specialties, the concern being one of the most important industrial enterprises of the city.

Mr. Patten was born on a farm in Afton township, De Kalb County, October 10, 1867. His father, Sylvester W. Patten, a native of the state of New York, was born in Starkville, Herkimer County, September 4, 1837, and was the third in a family of eight children. In 1850 he came to Illinois with his parents, David and Nancy (Countryman) Patten, who located in Boone county, where they resided for two years. In 1852 they removed to South Grove township, De Kalb county, settling on a farm which David Patten purchased and which is now owned by his son, J. H. Patten. The father was a carpenter by trade and was connected with building operations, while his sons carried on the farm work. He died in April, 1859, while his wife passed away a few years later.

Sylvester W. Patten, father of our subject, assisted his father with the farm operations during the summer months, and in the winter seasons engaged in teaching school up to the time of his marriage, which was celebrated near Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, on the 1st of May, 1860, Miss Elizabeth Coffin becoming his wife. She was a native of Delaware County, New York, born in 1839, and in May, 1845, went to Belvidere with her parents, Jacob and Mary Ann (Hull) Coffin. Her paternal great-grandfather, John Coffin, was born in 1753 and wedded Mary Van Tassel, of German descent, who was born in 1743. Their son, Isaac Coffin, was the father of Jacob Coffin and was born in 1773. The Coffin family were originally of Norman stock. The first to come to America was Tristram Coffin, who came with eight sons in 1642 and settled near Haverhill, Massachusetts. In connection with others he purchased Nantucket Island. His eldest son settled near Albany and was the father of John Coffin, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Sylvester Patten.

Subsequent to his marriage Sylvester Patten purchased a farm eight miles south of De Kalb in Afton township, where he resided until 1882, when he sold that property and bought another farm two miles northwest of De Kalb, continuing to reside thereon until 1892, when he decided to give up farming altogether and with his family removed to the city of De Kalb, where he and his wife still make their home. Previous to their marriage both were teachers for several years in the country schools of their respective counties. They are most highly esteemed people, having a large circle of warm friends in the county by reason of their many good qualities of heart and mind. While living on their farm in Afton township their six children were born. Mary L., the eldest, is the wife of M. D. Shipman, of De Kalb. Emma Louise is the wife of F. S. Greeley, of Waterman, this county. Frank C. is their only son. Edith S. is a teacher in the Normal School at De Kalb. Alice Carey was a member of the faculty of the Northern Illinois State Normal School from its opening until her death, which occurred September 11, 1894. Elizabeth M. is the wife of C. F. Toenniger, of De Kalb.

After attending the district schools, Frank C. Patten entered the high school of De Kalb and was graduated in the class of 1885. Immediately afterward he entered the employ of William Deering & Company, of Chicago, with whom he remained for a year, when, desiring to engage in business on his own account, he returned to De Kalb and established a small shop, in which he began the manufacture of sundries on a limited scale. Owing to the increase of his business, in 1887, he purchased a building and employed several men to assist him. His trade developed so rapidly that soon his buildings covered three and a half lots in the city, and about 1889 had spread over the entire block. In addition to his manufacturing business, in 1889 he began contracting and building, purchasing vacant property, subdividing and improving it. Thus unsightly vacancies were transformed into good residence districts and the appearance of the city was greatly enhanced by his operations in this direction. On his own account he built between seventy-five and one hundred houses and as many more on contract for others. In addition to the erection of residences he built school buildings at De Kalb, Maple Park, Elburn, and Grossdale, employing draftsmen, masons, carpenters, tinners, plumbers, painters and paper hangers, as well as laborers, the combined payroll of the industries under his ownership having upon it as high as three hundred and fifty names.

Constantly on the outlook for opportunities to enlarge his business and broaden the scope of his activities, Mr. Patten in 1893 came to Sycamore and purchased the Marsh harvester plant and also the entire plant formerly owned by the R. Ellwood Manufacturing Company. The business was consolidated and is conducted under the name of the Sycamore Foundry Company. The enterprise is now very extensive and Mr. Patten caters especially to heavy buyers who have goods furnished under contract for their own trade. The working force has increased from thirty-five to one hundred and seventy-five hands, while the product which was formerly mainly farming implements now embraces gasoline engines, hot air furnaces, blacksmiths' tools, and a heavy list of hardware specialties. Every year has seen new buildings erected, modern machinery added and improved facilities for handling the immense business. The output is now extensive and is shipped to various parts of the country and the industry is one of the sources of Sycamore's progress and prosperity, furnishing employment to a large force of workmen and thus providing the means of livelihood for many families.

Mr. Patten was married at the home of the bride's parents on a farm near Sycamore, to miss Carrie M. Crane, a daughter of Frederick S. and Mary Adeline (Bristol) Crane. Her mother was born in Genesee county, New York, a daughter of Hiram and Sarah (Spink) Bristol. The birth of Frederick S. Crane occurred in Wayne County, New York in 1833, and two years later he was brought by his parents to Illinois, where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. He is a son of David and Catherine W. (Stolp) Crane, the latter a daughter of Frederick and Jeanette (Pepper) Stolp, her father being a soldier of the war of 1812. Both families are of Holland descent. The paternal grandparents of Frederick Crane were Zebina and Hannah (Gould) Crane. In 1853, at the age of eighteen years, he crossed the plains to California and after returning from the Pacific slope he purchased a farm near Naperville, Illinois, where he resided until 1869. He then came to De Kalb county and invested in four hundred acres of land in Clrtland township, remaining for many years a prominent and prosperous agriculturist of that locality. His wife died while they were upon the farm, July 17, 1887, being survived by five children: Hiram D., of Sycamore; Frank H., who died September 23, 1894; Myron F., of Sycamore; Mrs. J. W. Snow, also of the same city; and Carrie M., now Mrs. Patten. In 1895 Mr. Crane sold his farm and removed to Long Beach, California, where he is now living. He was married again in that state, in 1896, Mrs. Melvina Moore, nee Lord, becoming his wife.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Patten has been blessed with three sons and a daughter: Byron, born June 14, 1892; Barbara Annette, September 1, 1893; Everett Frank, July 7, 1895; and Ralph Sylvester, January 2, 1898.

For two years Mr. Patten has served as Mayor of Sycamore and has also been a member of the city council, exercizing his official prerogatives in support of measures and movements which have had direct bearing upon the welfare and progress of the county. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they occupy one of the beautiful homes of Sycamore, situated at No. 827 Somonauk street. With the exception of a period of one year spent in Chicago, Mr. Patten throughout his entire business career has remained in his native county and is numbered among its most prominent and progressive citizens. His connection with any undertaking insures a properous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has won for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his strict and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.