Patterson Family Genealogy

Also see my family treeand names related to Patterson.

My Grandfather David Dwight Patterson researched and compiled the history
and wrote the biography of one of my anscestors.

BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN ALEXANDER PATTERSON, 1842-1888

John was born in the state of Pennsylvania on February 1, 1842. Joseph, his father, was born in Pennsylvania on October 8, 1804. His Grandfather Patterson (Christian name unknown) was born in Ireland; his Grandmother Patterson was born in Pennsylvania. [1]

John was born and raised on his fathers' 200 acre farm located near the town of Iselin, Young Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He was the fourth of ten children born to Joseph and Margaret Mc Collam Patterson, seven children living to maturity. His brother Francis died at the age of six and unnamed twins died at birth.

A monumental event occurred in John's life during the year 1864. At that time he was 22 years old, unmarried and working as a farmer on his father's farm. The Civil war, called the "War of the Rebellion", was in its' third year. John Alexander, in answer to President Lincoln's call for an "Army of Emancipation" volunteered (he was not drafted) to join the Union Army. On August 26, 1864, he traveled to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles from his home and joined the 206th Regiment Company "D" of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, Army of the James. He was paid a bonus of $66.67 for joining the Army at this time. His military record stated that he was "5'8" in height, blue eyes, with fair hair and fair complection". His family nick-name was "Sandy". [2]

With John joining the army, his 60 year old father and 20 year old brother James were left to operate the family 200 acre farm. Also living at home at this time were his mother Margaret, age 52, sisters Sarah, age 24, Martha, 17, Nancy, 14 and brother Joseph Mc Kee, age 11.

The 206th Regiment was involved in the siege of the Confederate capitol, Richmond, Virginia. His son and namesake, John Alexander Patterson, born 1887, was the eighth and youngest son of his family. He told me that his father served in the Engineering Corps of the Infantry "building bridges" . The Engineering Corps was considered very hazardous duty since these men were out in front of the regular army repairing bridges destroyed by the retreating Confederate Army or building bridges and roads for the advancing Union Army. The Engineers were constantly under attack by Confederate "sharp-shooter" snipers on the other side of the river, whose job, of course, it was to prevent the completion of the bridges which were necessary to transport the Union Army infantry and artillery units across the rivers of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

John was mustered out of the army on June 26, 1865 at the close of the "War of the Rebellion" at Richmond, Virginia. In this biography is a copy of the tintype of John Alexander Patterson that was taken at the close of the war. John returned to the family farm at that time.

A special meeting was called by the congregation of the Olivet United Presbyterian Church, Indiana County, Pennsylvania on April 18, 1867 for the purpose of releasing the Reverend Samuel Anderson at his own request, so that he could accept the position of Pastor of a new Presbyterian church in College Springs, Iowa. [3]

A great flock of parishioners, nearly 40 in all, followed Reverend Samuel Anderson to College Springs, Iowa. This group included 3 single young men, John Patterson and his cousins John Miller and John Henderson (all three served in the Civil Was together) and the Samuel Trimble family. [4] Reverend Anderson was the brother-in-law of Mrs Trimble. Jane Trimble, one of the daughters of Samuel Trimble later became the wife of John Alexander Patterson. [5]

The College Springs Presbyterian Church records indicate that the flock arrived in Iowa July 1, 1867 which suggests the party travelled by horseback and covered wagons, the journey taking approximately 9 weeks in transit. [6] This means of travel was corroborated by the oral history taken by Walter G. Patterson of Needham, Massachusetts, during the 1940's when in College Springs, Iowa he met the widow of John Miller, who at that time was 96 years old. She stated that when the Pennsylvania flock was on the "way west" to Iowa, she met John Miller on a river bank, that they fell in love, were married and spent the rest of their lives in College Springs, Iowa. [7]

John Alexander Patterson did not stay put in Iowa but traveled with his cousin John Miller to the then territories of Utah and Wyoming. They operated a freight hauling business (horse team and wagons) for about two years between Omaha, Nebraska and the Wyoming territory points and then returned to College Springs, Iowa to take up farming. [8]

John Alexander Patterson and Jane Trimble were married December 30, 1869 in the College Springs Presbyterian Church. John was 27 years of age and Jane 24. They were supposed to have been married by her uncle Reverend Samuel Anderson but he died tragically 10 days before the wedding at age 44. My grandfather "Andy" whose Christian name was Samuel Anderson was named after the Reverend Anderson.

It is worthwhile to note of the proud history of College Springs which is located on the Missouri border. The church members prior to the Civil War were part of the Underground Railroad which provided a safe harbor for run-a-way slaves from Missouri. " On one occassion there was a threat of a band of rebel marauders from Missouri on their way to burn out this little anti-slave town. The women buried their valuables and the men slept on the floor of their homes with loaded guns, ready for defense." [9]

In 1870 the population of College Springs was 530. The 1870 Federal Census stated that the John Patterson farm was valued at $1200. At this time he was 28 years old, his wife Jane was 24 and living with the newly weds was Jane's 12 year old brother, Bill Trimble.

Hard times occurred in College Springs during the 1870's. There were several years of crop failures due to drought and the plague of locust insects. By 1880, the population had dropped to 508.

The 1880 Federal Census indicated that John was no longer a farmer but the operator of a butcher shop. He now had a family of 5 sons: Joseph Newton, age 9, Frank Trimble, age 6, Samuel Anderson, age 4, Charles Ross, age 2 and Clair Lemow, age 3 months. A daughter was born between the births of Joseph and Frank, but she died at the age of 6 months. [10]

After living in College Springs for 16 years, John decided to try his luck again as a farmer. Sometime in the year 1886 he moved his family to file a claim on farm land in the northwestern corner of Kansas. He settled on a farm in Graham County, Kansas. [11] Between the years 1880 and 1888, 3 more sons were added to the family: Albert Kerney, Oliver Clyde, and John Alexander, junior.

During the winter months of 1888 while working his farm, John's team of horses fell through the ice in a stream on his property. It was necessary for John to jump into the icy water to pull out his team of horses. He developed pneumonia due to exposure and died on February 29, 1888 at the age of 46. He is buried at Lenore, Kansas. He left his wife Jane and eight sons. Joseph, the oldest being 17 and John Alexander being 4 months of age. [12]

Jane Trimble Patterson tried to keep the family together, but this wasn't possible due to hard times and crop failure. By 1890, they gave up the farm. The older sons, Joseph and Frank, were left behind in Kansas to earn their own living while my Great-Grandmother took the the 6 youngest sons and left for Omaha, Nebraska to live with her sister, Martha Trimble Wiggins. [13] In 1890 she applied for a widow's pension of a war veteran. She was paid $8 a month plus $2 a month for each child until the age of sixteen. [14] Jane lived in Omaha with her son John Alenaxder Patterson until her death on January 1, 1926 at the age of 80. [12]

What legacy did John Alexander leave to his descendants? What gifts did he leave for his sons and as of this writing, clear down to his Great-Great-Great Grandchildren? I believe there are three particular to us, his descendants:

1. Christian heritage. He worshipped God and served Jesus Christ through his work in the Presbyterian Church during his lifetime. This was chronicled in the records of the Olivet church in Pennsylvania and the College Springs Presbyterian Church.

2. Patriotism. He answered his country's call to arms during the great American Civil War. There were 3,100,000 men (on both sides) that fought in this war. More men were killed in this civil war (497,000) than American men and women killed in the entire World War II when 16,200,000 Americans served their country.

3. Family devotion. John exhibited the classic Protestant work ethic by striving all his life to support and care for his family with all his strength and resolve.

I am privileged to be one of his descendants.

This biography was prepared on May 1, 1995 by David Dwight Patterson, born 1926, a great grandson of John Alexander Patterson.