ROBERT BIDDLE PATTERSON. This prominent business man represents one of the oldest families in Washington county. His grandfather, John Patterson, was born of Irish parents in eastern Pennsylvania, and came to Washington county when a boy. He was reared and educated in this county, where he grew to manhood, was married, and reared a family of fourteen children. In politics he was a member of the Democratic party, and in religion was connected with the Presbyterian Church. James Patterson, his father, was born and reared in Washington county, and attended the public schools of Nottingham township, where he married Ann McVay, of Union township, a daughter of Thomas McVay. To them were born the following children: Thomas, John, Mary Jane, Hannah Z., Robert B., J. Kerr, S.R., William C., and Annie. They resided in Nottingham township for twenty years after their marriage, where he followed farming and stock raising; moved in 1862 to Westmoreland county, Penn.; resided there for six years; then went to Greensburg, where he lived in retirement. He was an active member of, and for many years an elder in, the Mingo Presbyterian Church. In political opinion he was a stanch supporter of Democratic principles. Robert B. Patterson was born November 16, 1845, in Nottingham township, attended the common schools and after moving, with his parents, to Westmoreland county, attended the schools there, and also the academy at Salem. He learned the tanner's trade, which he followed but a short time, and afterward taught school four or five years. At the expiration of that time he opened a general store at Greensburg, Penn. In 1880 he moved to Monongahela, where he purchased a grocery store of George Scott, and conducted that business until 1892. There he was married to Miss Agnes Painter, August 30, 1881. Mrs. Agnes Patterson's father's name was G.W. Painter; her mother's, Mary A. Painter; her grandfathers', Tobias Painter and Christian Weaver, all of Westmoreland county, Penn. In 1892 he became interested in the Graham Foundry Company, and is now taking an active part in that enterprise. Mr. Patterson possesses the characteristic spirit of energy which has pervaded all who bear the family name, and has been the architect of his own success. Politically, he is an ardent worker in the Democratic party, and in religion is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Monongahela. The children of this family are: Robert J., Mary W., Edgar M., Catherine E. and Kenneth McVay.

Text taken from page 306 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Jack McNatt of Valrico, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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