Patterson, Illinois

was laid out as Wilmington in 1836. Thomas Hanks, father of Nancy Hanks Lincoln was one of the founders. One of the earliest businesses was a tannery, shipping its leather to St. Louis. The name was changed to Patterson in 1862. Abraham Lincoln was a periodic visitor to Patterson. He is said to have given speeches from the store front porches to large crowds.
A very unusual barn is on a farm north and west of Patterson, near the Scott County line. The barn was purchased from the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 by Mr. Bill Cunningham of East St. Louis. He transported the barn and rebuilt it on Cunningham Ranch, where it is in use today.