My Genealogy Hound

JOHN K. PATTERSON. Occasionally we find one of the old school railroaders who has pulled coupling-pins, twisted brakes and punched tickets for over a third of a century and escaped with his life, but such men are scarce. He, of whom we are writing, is such a man, who began in 1856 and relinquished his punch on the first of the present year. John K. Patterson is a son of David and Eva (Kern) Patterson, and was born in Sheridan, this county, December 2, 1836. David Patterson was born in Perthshire, Scotland, March 11, 1794, and came to this country in 1812 in time to see the burning of Buffalo, although he was not a belligerent. He located at Buffalo, which he made his home for two years and then moved to Oneida, New York, and began to farm, and by this labor he lived until 1834, when he went to Sheridan and continued farming until old age compelled his retirement. Then he moved to Dunkirk and died January 17, 1877. He was early taught the Presbyterian faith but joined the Baptist church after coming to America, and died in its faith. Politically, Mr. Patterson was originally a democrat, but when the slavery question agitated the country, he transferred his allegiance to the whigs and afterwards to the republicans. He was active in politics and energetic in business, decided in his convictions and one so well informed, that it was difficult to touch a subject upon which he could not talk intelligently. He served five years in the British navy before coming to America, and married, on October 31, 1818, Eva Kern, who was a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, born July 8, 1802. Her father, John Kern, was a sea captain, who came to America some years after the Irish rebellion of 1798, and died in Oneida county, New York, in 1839, aged ninety years. Mrs. Patterson is still living with her son in Dunkirk, with a mind unimpaired by age. She is a member of the Baptist church.

John K. Patterson was reared in the town of Sheridan on a farm, and received his education in the Westfield and Fredonia academies, and after leaving school he taught the winter term 1855-56, in the spring of the latter year going to Davenport, Iowa, which at that time was in the far west. Soon after his arrival there he secured work on what is known as the Great Rock Island Route, his division being between Davenport and Iowa City. He remained there two years, and in 1858 returned home, living on the farm until 1863, when he went to Bradford and took charge of the construction train on the Bradford branch of the Erie R. R., where he remained until August, 1864. The fall of 1864 found him in Marietta, Georgia, employed in business until March, 1866, when, the soldiers having withdrawn, he came away. His business was providing supplies along the line. Upon his arrival at Dunkirk he hired a vessel and engaged in trade between the latter city and Canada, and the next year, forming a partnership with O. R. Oakley, he began the dry goods business, the firm being Oakley & Patterson, and was continued until the fall of 1868, when President Andrew Johnson appointed him postmaster, his being the last appointment confirmed by the Senate, then in session. Upon assuming his duties he disposed of the dry goods business, and devoted his whole time to the execution of the duties of his office, which he held until 1871. In October, 1871, he took a passenger train on the D. A. V. & P. R. R., and ran as conductor until January 1, 1891, when he was appointed special agent to collect statistics for the United States Government, Department of the Interior. Mr. Patterson is an active republican and a member of the Baptist church, of which he has been treasurer for many years. He belongs to Irondequoit Lodge, No. 102, Free and Accepted Masons, of Dunkirk; has attained the rank of Sir Knight, and is a member of the Conductors’ Insurance association.

John K. Patterson was twice married, first to Mary Seamans, of Poughkeepsie, New York, whom he married February 15, 1864. She came from a Quaker family, the daughter of Nelson Seamans. She died April 10, 1885, leaving four children, one son and three daughters: John K., Jr., Mary H., Maud J. and Jennie F. On December 15, 1886, he married Lida Cronkrite, daughter of Rufus Cronkrite, of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, this State, and they have one child, Mildred K.

Mr. Patterson has a beautiful home on Central avenue, Dunkirk, and is a pleasant, fine-looking, social gentleman, whose friendship is esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances.