When John Fletcher Pattee was born in October 1845, in Illinois, United States, his father, William O'Banion Pattee, was 28 and his mother, Julia Ann Conklin, was 28. He married Elizabeth Ann Sondles on 31 May 1868, in Clark, Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas, United States in 1900 and Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States in 1910. He registered for military service in 1928. He died on 23 April 1938, in Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 92, and was buried in Altadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.