My Genealogy Hound

PATTERSON, WILLIAM, COL., Keokuk; was born in Wythe Co., Va., March 9, 1802; when he was 4 years of age, his father moved to Adair Co., Ky., where William received his education. In 1822, he married Miss Eleanor Johnson, a native of Maryland. In 1829, they removed to Marion Co., Mo.; thence to Sangamon Co., Ill. in 1833; in 1837, removed to West Point, this county, where he resided until 1846, then removed to this city (Keokuk) and engaged in merchandise and pork-packing; in 1848, he went exclusively into the latter business, to which he still devotes his capital and experience. Col. Patterson has taken an active part in public affairs; he was elected a member of the first Legislature of the Territory of Iowa in 1838; while in that body, he was influential in settling the disturbance concerning the boundary-line between this portion of Iowa and Missouri; at that time, the Missourians of Clark Co. claimed the point of Iowa lying below a direct extension of the northern boundary line of their State to the Mississippi River; the people of this section resisted their claim, and determined that the boundary line should follow the Des Moines River to its mouth; the contest between them waxed warm; war seemed imminent; the militia on both sides were called out, and general orders given to march to the scene of action; at this juncture, Col. Patterson was commissioned Colonel of militia by Gov. Lucas, of Iowa, and authorized to raise a regiment, which he at once proceeded to do; Col. Patterson was several times elected to the Legislature, both to the upper and lower Houser and served in all, during nine sessions, regular and special; he was a member of the Constitutional Convention which convened in Iowa City in 1857; he has been three times elected Mayor of Keokuk, and was Postmaster several years. He was the first Elder of the old Presbyterian Church elected in Iowa, having been chosen for that office in 1837, he was one of the chief movers, and most liberal donors to the erection of the Westminster Church in this city.