THOMAS M. PATTERSON, one of the oldest and most influential farmers of Cross Creek township, is a native of same, having been born March 2, 1827, on the J. N. Walker farm. He is a son of James Patterson, and grandson of Gen. Thomas Patterson, whose grandfather (James) was a native of Ireland. James Patterson (1) was born in Ireland in 1708, and coming to America in 1728, settled in Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Penn. He married in Pennsylvania, and reared a family of ten children, the sons being named as follows: William, John, Samuel, James and Thomas. William Patterson was born in 1733, and was first married to Rosanna Scott, who bore him children as follows: Mary, Moses, Samuel, Thomas and James. The mother of these died April 5, 1769, and on April 10, 1770, William Patterson married Elizabeth Brown, and ten children were born to this second union: John, Rosanna, William, Nathaniel, Rachel, Elizabeth, Josiah, Hannah, Nathan and Eleanor. In 1779 the family removed to Cross Creek township, this county, settling on a farm now owned by R. M. Patterson. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died June 29, 1818, and his wife passed from earth about the year 1828.
Gen. Thomas Patterson (grandfather of subject) was born October 1, 1764, in Lancaster county, Penn., and was about fifteen years of age when his parents removed to Washington county. In 1795 he was married to Elizabeth Finley, of Westmoreland county, Penn.; and twelve children were born to them, those who lived to an adult age being William, James, Samuel, Mary, John, Thomas, Finley, Elizabeth, Moses and Rosanna. Mr. Patterson was a prosperous farmer and very influential citizen, having represented Washington county in the United States Congress for several years. He died November 17, 1841.
James Patterson was born April 24, 1798, in Cross Creek township, and passed his life in the vicinity of his birthplace. On June 29, 1820, he was married to Eliza Walker, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Norris) Walker, of Cross Creek township, and they had eleven children, two of whom are deceased. Those now living are Elizabeth (Mrs. Russell T. Johnson), Mary (Mrs. Richard Wells), Thomas M. (subject), Alexander (who was a wool dealer of New York City, married Jane Hodgens, and died January 7, 1888), Jane (deceased wife of Robert Marquis), Ambrose (who lived in Nebraska, married Margaret A. Richey, and died October 15, 1886), James M. (living in Plattsmouth, Neb., and married to Eleanor Campbell), David F. (a lawyer of Allegheny, Penn., married to Mary Gardener) and Emily A. (Mrs. Samuel Latta, living in Cass county, Neb.). The father of this family died August 17, 1861, at the home of his son, Thomas M. In politics he was a Democrat, active to the interests of his party, and he was a wide-awake and prosperous business man, winning friends and success by this integrity. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek township for nearly thirty-four years, and after a painful illness of several months he was laid "where the weary are at rest;" his widow died December 9, 1886.
Thomas M. Patterson (the subject proper of this sketch) was reared to manhood on the home farm in Cross Creek township, and in early boyhood evinced a passionate fondness for the equine race. At the age of fourteen he was given a six-horse team, which he cared for and drove many years. At that time it was necessary for him to make a trip to Pittsburgh nearly every week in order to exchange the farm produce for other necessary articles. On January 14, 1847, he was wedded to Miss Sarah J. Barber, of Jefferson township, this county, born November 18, 1827, on the old homestead, a daughter of John Barber (deceased), a prominent farmer of that vicinity. In 1857, Thomas M. Patterson bought a half interest in the store at Patterson's Mills, which he conducted, also managing his farm until 1861. He then sold his interest in the store, and bought the two-hundred-acre farm upon which he has since worked. He keeps the land in a high state of cultivation, and gives much attention to sheep raising, doing an extensive business in that branch. Politically he has ever been an active Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace, assistant assessor and in various other township offices. He is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek village, Mrs. Patterson being a member of that denomination.
Text taken from page 494 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/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]