She was born on December 2, 1845, in Chillicothe, Ohio. She was the daughter of Samuel Halsey, a newspaper man.
Patchin was educated in Ohio and Albany, New York. She studied wood carving at the Cincinnati School of Design. She taught woodworking in St. Louis, Missouri. She began her career as a journalist covering the Mardi Gras and writing articles for many newspapers. Soon after, she was hired in 1878 by The Washington Post newspaper to become their first woman reporter. She was described as a lively writer and was assigned to "women's news." "On the Post, she was in no sense limited to articles, supposedly appealing especially to women. She wrote editorials, reported notable public events, interviewed statesmen, author, actors, and actresses, painters, etc."[2]
In 2018, as part of its 141 anniversary, an illustrated graphic strip of her life was published in the Post.[1]
Before her marriage, she wrote a novel called Two of Us,[3] about two young women who were wood artists. She also wrote several short stories. One, "The Professor", is included in Prairie Gold, a collection of writings by Iowa authors.[4]
Her wedding announcement states: "Miss Calista Halsey well known in literary circles and elsewhere, is to be married at her Ohio home shortly to a young physician of large practice and most excellent promise in Des Moines, Iowa, in which city she will hereafter reside. As the author of the very clever little book entitled "Two of Us." And also as a contributor to magazines and the daily press, Miss H. Has won the reputation of a bright and earnest worker, who bade fair to give the world literary contributions of permanent value."[5]
