ROBERT M. PATTERSON is a prominent citizen of Cross Creek township, and a son of Samuel, whose father was Gen. Thomas Patterson. Thomas Patterson was of Irish descent, his grandfather having been born in Ireland in 1708, and immigrating to America in 1728, settled in Pennsylvania, where his son William was born in 1733. William was first married to Rosanna Scott, and reared a family of five children, among whom was Thomas. His first wife died in 1769, and in April of the following year William was married to Elizabeth Brown, who bore him ten children. Gen. Thomas Patterson, the grandfather of our subject, was born October 1, 1764, in Lancaster county, Penn., and came to Washington county with his parents, at the age of fifteen years. In 1795 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Finley, of Westmoreland county, Penn. Of the twelve children born to their union the following lived to an adult age: William, James, Samuel, Mary, John, Thomas, Finley, Elizabeth, Moses and Rosanna. Gen. Patterson was a wealthy agriculturist, and actively interested in politics, having represented Washington county in the United States Congress for several years. He passed away November 17, 1841.
Samuel Patterson was born March 27, 1800, in what is now known as the "Mill Property" in Cross Creek township, this county. He was reared on the home farm, and, when a young man, took charge of the mill for a few years. In 1825 he came to the place now occupied by Robert M. Patterson, and passed the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits, making a specialty of raising fine-wooled sheep. He was married to Miss Anna McClave, daughter of the late Stewart McClave, who emigrated from Ireland at an early day and settled in the northern part of Jefferson county, Ohio, where his descendants are yet living. Samuel and Anna (McClave) Patterson were the parents of the following children: Thomas, Lydia, Eliza, Stewart, Robert M., Eleanor, Mary A., Harriet, Julia, Emily, Franklin (the latter three being deceased in infancy), Rosanna, Silas C. and Adeline (deceased at the age of nine years).
Robert M. Patterson was born June 19, 1829, in the house where he is now living, which was erected by his great-grandfather in 1794. It is a stone structure with massive walls, two and a half feet through; the interior being divided by board partitions into several rooms which are finished in the best manner known to the workmen of those days. In this house Robert M. Patterson grew to manhood, obtaining his knowledge of farming from the instruction of his father. On October 15, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Ann McClave, daughter of Samuel McClave. She has borne him children as follows; Annie Luella, Rachel Ellen, Charles L., Frank M., Mary E., Robbie (deceased in infancy), Willie (also deceased in infancy) and Harvey (deceased when three years of age). Robert M. Patterson is a most successful farmer, and has devoted his principal attention to raising sheep. He owns 245 acres of land in Cross Creek township, which he keeps in excellent condition and well filled with good stock, now having some of the most valuable fine-wooled sheep within the limits of Washington county. He usually keeps from three to four hundred sheep. In politics Mr. Patterson votes with the Democratic party, but is very liberal in his views. He is much interested in educational matters, having bequeathed to his children that invaluable gift---a collegiate education. In church relationship, he is a member of the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, giving to that Society a most liberal support.
Text taken from page 757 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]