JOHN S. PATTERSON, a well-known representative of one of the oldest, most influential and prosperous families of Cross Creek township, is a lineal descendant of James Patterson, the earliest pioneer of the family name. James Patterson immigrated to America in 1728, settling in Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Penn., where he was married and reared a family of ten children, of whom the sons were William, John, Samuel, James and Thomas. William Patterson was born in 1733, and was first married to Rosanna Scott, who bore him children as follows: Mary, Moses, Samuel, Thomas and James. The mother died April 5, 1769, and on April 10, 1770, William Patterson was again married, his second choice being Elizabeth Brown, and ten children were born to the latter union: John, Rosanna, William, Nathaniel, Rachel, Elizabeth, Josiah, Hannah. Nathan and Eleanor. In 1779 the family removed to Cross Creek township, this county, settling on a farm now owned by R. M. Patterson. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died June 29, 1818, and his wife passed from earth about 1828.
Nathan Patterson, a son of William and Elizabeth (Brown) Patterson, was born September 11, 1788, in Cross Creek township, this county, and on October 14, 1816, was married to Lydia Houston. The young couple settled in Cross Creek township, and reared the following children: Daniel, William J., John, Nathan and Mary. The father of this family died in February, 1846, at the age of fifty-eight years.
William J. Patterson was born May 10, 1820, on the home farm, and passed his boyhood in attending to the agricultural duties. He began the milling business in early life, and always followed that vocation. He was first married on May 5, 1849, to Elizabeth Reed, of Washington county, and they had one child, Agnes A. Mrs. Patterson died August 17, 1857, in Iowa, and Mr. Patterson was afterward married to Eliza Snodgrass, of Allegheny county, Penn., daughter of Robert Snodgrass, one of the pioneer lumbermen of that county. At this time he bought and moved upon the Patterson's Mills property. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson: Lydia H., Hannah M., Lizzie M. (a student in a seminary at Washington) and John S. William J. Patterson was a lifelong Democrat in politics, and in religious connection was an elder in the Union Presbyterian Church of Patterson's Mills until 1876, when he withdrew from that body, and united with the Presbyterian Church at Independence, this county, of which he was also an elder. He died September 4, 1889, followed by his widow January 28, 1892.
John S. Patterson was born July 12, 1860, on the old Patterson homestead, where he remained, assisting with the duties of the farm and mill until he arrived at man's estate. His early education was received at the common schools. He then took a course at the Cross Creek Academy, and finally graduated from Duff's Commercial College of Pittsburgh. On June 3, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Dunbar, daughter of William Dunbar, a resident of Cross Creek township, this county. In political matters Mr. Patterson has followed in the footsteps of his forefathers, and votes the straight Democratic ticket. He is an honorable and conscientious Christian gentlemen, who well merits the esteem in which he is universally held, and in religious faith is a member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek.
Text taken from page 431 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/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]