MILTON G. PATTILLO. He whose name heads this sketch is a fair representative of the better class of men who began life’s battle at the lower rounds of the ladder, and through his own efforts he has gained a substantial place near the top. Practically speaking, he is today in comfortable financial circumstances, and the position he now occupies is direct evidence that he possesses the confidence and esteem of his fellow-mortals. He was born in Gallatin County, Illinois, February 11, 1826, a son of John S. and Mary (Trawsdale) Pattillo, the former of whom was born on Blue Grass soil in Kentucky, and the latter in Tennessee. They were among the very early settlers of Illinois, and there they tilled the soil successfully and reared a family of nine children; but when the Lone Star State was opened up to settlers Mr. Pattillo was one of the first to emigrate there, and there died. His widow survived him until a few years ago, and breathed her last in the State of Illinois.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in the State of his birth, and there continued to make his home until 1872, when he moved to Jackson County, Arkansas, later to Baxter County of the same State, and in 1874 came to Ozark County, Missouri, his home being situated about eight miles from Gainesville. He is the owner of an excellent tract of farming land on Bryant River, about three-fourths of a mile from its mouth, and ever since starting out to fight the battle of life for himself he has followed blacksmithing in connection with farming, and is an excellent workman. He and two brothers served in the late Civil War, he being a member of the One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served faithfully for three years, participating in the engagements at Vicksburg and Gun Town, being afterward sent to Nashville with his regiment. He saw some hard service, and his health has never been good since that time. He is a member of the G. A. R. at Bakerfield, this county, has long been a Republican of pronounced type, and is an active and earnest member of the Christian Church. He was married in Illinois to Miss Margaret Sherwood, and by her became the father of the following children: Mary J., Alice, Johnson, Walter, George, Hugh and Leonora, Johnson and Walter being the only ones now living. After the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Pattillo took for his second wife Mary Houston, and eight children were the result of this union, only four of whom are living: Adrian S., Lorenzo D., Edgar and Hester. Mr. Pattillo’s children reside near him, and they are all highly esteemed citizens of the section in which they reside.