J.A. PATTERSON, M.D., was born in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., April 7, 1844. His paternal grandfather, a native of Ireland, when a young man emigrated to America, where he married. In the war of 1812 he enlisted in the American army, and was never more heard of, and his wife in the meantime died, having given birth to a son, who was named Harrison. Harrison Patterson, father of the Doctor, was born in East Finley township, and was reared to the trade of stone mason, which he followed twenty years, but later took up farm life in his native township, where he is yet living at the age of eighty-one years. He married Grizzella, daughter of Daniel and Catherine Ross, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to the United States and became residents of Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Patterson settled on a farm where she died on Christmas day, 1884, at the age of sixty-six years. The children born to them were as follows: William R., a butcher in Claysville; John A., subject: Mary A.; J.A.R., who died in infancy; Francis P., residing in East Finley township; one deceased in infancy; Henrietta, residing in East Finley township; Catherine G., a teacher in a mission school in Indian Territory; Josephine, who died at the age of two years; David W. and Harrison Newton, farmers in East Finley township. The father is still on the old place, where he has lived for the past fifty-six years. For fifteen years he was a captain in the old militia, and is commonly called by the title of "Captain." John A. Patterson received his education in the common schools and in the Millsburg Normal School. For six years he was a professional school teacher, in the meantime preparing himself for the medical profession. He read medicine with Dr. J.W. Kelley, of Claysville, and attended Jefferson Medical College during the winter of 1869-70; then practiced the profession four years at Zollarsville, after which he attended Ohio Medical College, graduating therefrom in the class of 1875; he is also a graduate in dental surgery. Returning to Zollarsville, he remained there until 1887, when he moved to Washington, where he has since enjoyed a highly satisfactory general practice in medicine. On October 18, 1875, Dr. Patterson was united in marriage with Miss Belle, daughter of Isaac Leonard, of West Bethlehem township, and they have one son, Guy E., born July 19, 1876. Politically the Doctor is a Democrat, and for twelve years he was school director in West Bethlehem township. He is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs and of the Equitable Aid Union. He is now a member of the borough council.

Text taken from page 154 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Jack McNatt of Valrico, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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