My Genealogy Hound

JOHN M. PATTERSON was born in 1838, in Mount Joy, Lancaster county, Pa., and there his boyhood days were passed in attending school and assisting his father in business. John Patterson, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Lancaster county, as above, in 1809; was a farmer at first, but later engaged in dealing in coal, lumber and grain. He was a hard worker and a good financier, and at the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1872, he had, by his own exertions, accumulated $60,000. He married Barbara Coffman, in 1836. She was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1817, and bore her husband six children, of whom two died in infancy. The others are — Mary Ann, now Mrs. Shock, of Mount Joy, in Lancaster county, Pa.; Samuel, a shipping clerk in Baltimore, Md.; Phebe (deceased), wife of George R. Moore, a Presbyterian minister; John M., the subject proper of this sketch. In politics, the elder Mr. Patterson was first a whig, but later became a republican. At the death-bed of his daughter Phebe, who was his favorite child, he was induced by her to unite with Christ, and thenceforward he was an ardent and liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church.

John M. Patterson finished his education at Freehold (N. J.) academy, and then resumed work for his father in the office, where he was employed until 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Pennsylvania infantry, for three months. At the close of his term he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, for three years, served out his time, and was honorably discharged at New Berne, N. C., in August. 1865. He participated in the engagement at Altoona, Lookout mountain, Franklin, Tenn., Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Triune, Tenn. At the last-named battle he was shot in the right thigh and the right hand, and still carries a ball in the latter member. On his return to Mount Joy he re-entered the employ of his father, with whom he remained until 1870. He was then for some time employed as night baggageman in the Union depot at Erie, Pa., and from there he went to Mount Pleasant, Ohio, whence he came to Nebraska, in 1877, locating on section 34, township 1, range 13, Franklin county, remaining on that place two years, when he moved to his present farm, on section 17, township 1, range 13.

The marriage of Mr. Patterson took place in 1866, to Miss Elizabeth E. McDannel, who was born February 5, 1846. One child, Ada, has been sent to brighten their home. Miss Ada Patterson has been a teacher for four years, and is now employed in that capacity in the public schools of Lincoln. She graduated from the Franklin academy, and also took the Chautauqua course, securing her diploma when but fifteen years old. In politics Mr. Patterson is a republican; his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his daughter.