Obituary from the Antioch News from press clippings in Martin's General Store Archives, March, 1896:
* "Again it becomes our sad duty to pay tribute to an old personal friend and one of the early pioneers of this township, Uncle Jacob Van Patten, as he was familiarly known to almost everyone, old and young, around our village..."
* He had moved to Waukegan just prior to his death.
* Obit - Martin's Gen'L Store Archives, March, 1896:
from a loose clipping, source unknown 24 March 1896 - Obituary.
Again it becomes our sad duty to pay a tribute to an old personal friend and one of the early pioneers of this township, Uncle Jacob VanPatten., as he was familiarly known to almost everyone, old and young, around our village.
Jacob Van Patten was born in Albany, New York, September 15, 1824, died March 24, 1896. Such in brief is the beginning and the end of a useful life interwoven with the shifting scenes of childhood, youth, manhood and decline. The childhood and youth of Uncle Jacob was passed away in the Empire State, until he had arrived at the age of 24, when he decided to leave the east and seek his fortune in the western wilderness which afforded opportunities for his sturdy nature and rugged toil. He arrived in Illinois in September, 1848 and was married to Mary Smith, May 24, 1854, who still survives him. Mr. Van Patten was the father of five sons, the eldest, Albert D., was by his first wife and was born June 30, 1848, enlisted in the Union Army and was killed at the battle of Petersburg, Virginia, August 15, 1864. Benjamin F., Homer W. Charles E., and Jacob H. are still living.
Mr. Van Patten enlisted as a private, Aug 7, 1862, for three years or during the war. He was discharged from the service June 26, 1865, by reason of close of the war. While much of interest in the life of Mr. Van Patten could be said of his honorable service in the cause of the Union, we will let a comrade who shared in the hardships of his army life speak on that subject and devote a few concluding remarks to his life as a citizen and neighbor. Of a genial and happy disposition Uncle Jacob was known and respected by all. A kind and indulgent father, a good neighbor and citizen and a true and loyal friend can be truly said was embodied in the sturdy frame of Uncle Jacob.
Comrade VanPatten enlisted in company D., in the 96th regiment, on the 7th of August, 1862. The first battle he participated in was at Chickamauga, Sept, 20th, 1863. There he was wounded in the leg and breast. In this battle the 96th fought more than three times its own number. Three times it had hurled itself against the solid lines of the enemy, when each attack seemed hopeless, but each time it had broken and driven back the enemies front lines. The regiment went into this fight with 419 men; 200 were killed and wounded and 24 were taken prisoners. Our Comrade VanPatten soon recovered from the wounds he received in said fight and again joined the regiment and took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Dalton, Rocky Face Ridge, Resace, and others, and withstood all the hardships of an army life until the close of the war, when, on the 26th of June, 1865, he received his honorable discharge as a faithful soldier, to return to his home and the family which was in the township of Antioch where he has resided until his death occurred on Tuesday, March 24, 1896.
- A Comrade.
The funeral was held at the Disciple Church, Saturday last, where many of the friends and neighbors who had known him for years, assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to his memory. The floral offerings were very nice, prominent among them being a large try of roses inscribed "Uncle Jake",. A card accompanying the try bore the following inscription: FROM UNCLE'S FISHING COMPANIONS. A. W. Roth, C. C. Dose, Wm. Mohr, T. J. Swenie, R. P. Beygeh.
Other floral offerings were from friends in and around Antioch. Those present from outside Antioch were: Mrs. Carrie Lewis, Beloit, Wis., a sister of Mrs. Van Patten, Homer VanPatten, of Prairie View, Kansas, a son of the diseased, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Webb, of Aurora, Ill.
Rev Moffett took charge of the prayer and scriptural reading while Rev. Hollowman delivered a very appropriate discourse on "the resurrection," eulogistic of the deceased.
Luther Crane Post, G. A. R., of Burlington, Wisconsin, was well represented while nearly all of the local survivors of the late war were also in attendance. The remains were laid at rest in the Cemetery at Antioch.