My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL L. PATTERSON. Woodson County is very fortunate in having for her officials men of high character and genuine worth, capable in business, prompt in action and reliable and trustworthy in the performance of duty. On the roster appears the name of Samuel Patterson, who is now serving as county sheriff, and who well deserves mention in this volume as one of the leading and influential citizens of southeastern Kansas.

Mr. Patterson is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred July 8, 1865. The family is of Irish descent and was established on American soil by the grandfather Patterson, who in the year 1839 brought his family to the United States, locating in Pittsburg, where he spent the residue of his days. He was a harness-maker by trade, and by following that pursuit provided for his family. John F. Patterson, the father of our subject, was born in Ireland in 1835, and was therefore only four years of age when an ocean vessel brought the family to the New World. He was reared in the Keystone state and at the time of the Civil war he manifested his loyalty to the government by joining the Seventy-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers with which he served for three years, meeting the enemy on many a southern battlefield. He married Josephine Cox and in 1871 came with his family to Kansas, locating in Anderson County, where he made his home until 1888, when he came to Woodson County, spending his last days in Toronto township, his death occurring in 1896. His wife was called to her final rest in 1898. Their children were: George, of Arkansas; John, who was the first marshal of Yates Center, and died in Woodson County; Mary, wife of James Wilkins, of Webster County, Missouri; Samuel L., of this sketch; Susan, wife of Murray Goff, of Denver, Colorado; Robert, of Woodson County; Alexander, of Illinois; Mathew, who is also living in this county, and Emma, wife of Charles Newtson, of Mason City, Illinois.

Throughout the greater part of his life Samuel Patterson has resided in Kansas and is imbued with the true western spirit of progress and enterprise. He came to Woodson County when twenty-two years of age and for one year was engaged in clerking for E. B. Rall, of Toronto. He then embarked in merchandising on his own account, and after nearly a year traded his store for a farm in Barton County, Missouri, operating the same for about twelve months, when he resumed merchandising at Iantha, Missouri. Four months later, however, financial reverses overtook him and he turned his attention to blacksmithing, which he there learned and followed during his two years’ residence in Iantha. Going to Toronto he built a shop and there worked at his trade until July, 1899, when he was called to public office.

The political faith of the Pattersons is Republican, and like the other members of the family our subject allied his interests with the “Grand Old Party,” casting his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. While residing in Toronto he was elected and served as city marshal, and that service proved an excellent training school for his present official duties. In 1899 he had three competitors for the nomination for sheriff, but he was the fortunate candidate and won the election by eleven votes, thus becoming the successor of M. E. Hunt.

In January, 1888, in Woodson County, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Patterson and Miss Verda Ledgerwood, a daughter of S. M. Ledgerwood, of Lamar, Missouri, but formerly of Dubois County. Indiana. Their children are Francis, Ferne and Pearl. Socially Mr. Patterson is connected with several fraternal organizations. He belongs to the lodge and Rebekah department of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also identified through membership relations with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. Fearless in the discharge of his public duties, showing no favor in the performance of the tasks which devolve upon him, he is a faithful custodian of the public peace and of the law, and has made an enviable record in office.