History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 917, Vermont Township
Patterson Hamer, merchant, was born and reared in Eastern
Pennsylvania, where he taught school, worked on a farm and learned the
tailor’s trade. His cousin Edward (noticed above) assisted him in his
educational career, and they subsequently entered the dry-goods and
grocery business sin partnership, excluding the retail of liquors.
Although many predicted their defeat, they succeeded, and continued to
prosper for 14 years, while many other business firms in their
community failed. In 1854 they came to Vermont and purchased the
building they now occupy, besides several town lots, and other business
property. They are also joint owners of a valuable farm, and have done
much toward the material advancement of the village of their choice.
Patterson has declined all public office except that of Supervisor or
other local positions. He has always been opposed to slavery, and in
the days of its existence he aided many a fugitive. In the late war he
contributed largely to its prosecution, hoping thereby the sooner to
end it.
Note: "noticed above" is the bio of Edward Hamer.
