Born in Clinton County, Penn., September 3, 1831. His parents were Robert and Eleanor (Bowers) Patterson, both reared on the frontier and accustomed to the hardships and perils of border life. When John was two years old, his parents removed to Seneca County, Ohio. He attended school winters, and picked up the rudiments of an education. From this time until he was twenty-two, he attended the spring and autumn terms of the Republic Academy, teaching during the winter months, and working on the farm in summer. In the autumn of 1854, with ten dollars in his pocket as his whole available capital, he commenced reading law in the office of Pennington & Lee, of Tiffin, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in September 1856, and in June 1857 came to Charles City and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1861 he formed a law partnership with S. B. Starr. In 1863, Mr. Patterson was elected State Senator; was reelected in 1867, serving eight years. He was chairman of the committee on township and county organizations for three sessions, was on the judiciary committee three sessions, and chairman of the railroad committee the last session. He was sent to the Legislature especially to aid in securing a land grant for a railroad on the forty-third parallel of latitude. He labored unceasingly to affect that object; and to him, more than to any other man, is due the securing of that grant. An abler or more industrious man never represented Floyd County in the Legislature, and he gained for himself while there a State reputation. After retiring from the Legislature he took an active part in politics, and was recognized as a power in the Fourth Congressional District. He was a staunch, uncompromising Republican, and his voice was always on the side of right. Mr. Patterson was first married in 1856, to Miss Hester E. A. Quiggle, of Pennsylvania. She died in 1872. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Smith McCann, daughter of Judge Elvin Kendrick Smith, of Northern New York.

Born in Clinton County, Penn., September 3, 1831. His parents were Robert and Eleanor (Bowers) Patterson, both reared on the frontier and accustomed to the hardships and perils of border life. When John was two years old, his parents removed to Seneca County, Ohio. He attended school winters, and picked up the rudiments of an education. From this time until he was twenty-two, he attended the spring and autumn terms of the Republic Academy, teaching during the winter months, and working on the farm in summer. In the autumn of 1854, with ten dollars in his pocket as his whole available capital, he commenced reading law in the office of Pennington & Lee, of Tiffin, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in September 1856, and in June 1857 came to Charles City and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1861 he formed a law partnership with S. B. Starr. In 1863, Mr. Patterson was elected State Senator; was reelected in 1867, serving eight years. He was chairman of the committee on township and county organizations for three sessions, was on the judiciary committee three sessions, and chairman of the railroad committee the last session. He was sent to the Legislature especially to aid in securing a land grant for a railroad on the forty-third parallel of latitude. He labored unceasingly to affect that object; and to him, more than to any other man, is due the securing of that grant. An abler or more industrious man never represented Floyd County in the Legislature, and he gained for himself while there a State reputation. After retiring from the Legislature he took an active part in politics, and was recognized as a power in the Fourth Congressional District. He was a staunch, uncompromising Republican, and his voice was always on the side of right. Mr. Patterson was first married in 1856, to Miss Hester E. A. Quiggle, of Pennsylvania. She died in 1872. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Smith McCann, daughter of Judge Elvin Kendrick Smith, of Northern New York.

Born in Clinton County, Penn., Sept. 3, 1831. His parents were Robert and Eleanor (Bowers) Patterson, both reared on the frontier and accustomed to the hardships and perils of border life. When John was two years old, his parents removed to Seneca County, Ohio. He attended school winters, and picked up the rudiments of an education. From this time until he was twenty-two, he attended the spring and autumn terms of the Republic Academy, teaching during the winter months, and working on the farm in summer. In the autumn of 1854, with ten dollars in his pocket as his whole available capital, he commenced reading law in the office of Pennington & Lee, of Tiffin, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in September 1856, and in June 1857 came to Charles City and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1861 he formed a law partnership with S. B. Starr. In 1863, Mr. Patterson was elected State Senator; was reelected in 1867, serving eight years. He was chairman of the committee on township and county organizations for three sessions, was on the judiciary committee three sessions, and chairman of the railroad committee the last session. He was sent to the Legislature especially to aid in securing a land grant for a railroad on the forty-third parallel of latitude. He labored unceasingly to affect that object; and to him, more than to any other man, is due the securing of that grant. An abler or more industrious man never represented Floyd County in the Legislature, and he gained for himself while there a State reputation. After retiring from the Legislature he took an active part in politics, and was recognized as a power in the Fourth Congressional District. He was a staunch, uncompromising Republican, and his voice was always on the side of right. Mr. Patterson was first married in 1856, to Miss Hester E. A. Quiggle, of Pennsylvania. She died in 1872. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Smith McCann, daughter of Judge Elvin Kendrick Smith, of Northern New York.

Born in Clinton County, Penn., Sept. 3, 1831. His parents were Robert and Eleanor (Bowers) Patterson, both reared on the frontier and accustomed to the hardships and perils of border life. When John was two years old, his parents removed to Seneca County, Ohio. He attended school winters, and picked up the rudiments of an education. From this time until he was twenty-two, he attended the spring and autumn terms of the Republic Academy, teaching during the winter months, and working on the farm in summer. In the autumn of 1854, with ten dollars in his pocket as his whole available capital, he commenced reading law in the office of Pennington & Lee, of Tiffin, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in September 1856, and in June 1857 came to Charles City and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1861 he formed a law partnership with S. B. Starr. In 1863, Mr. Patterson was elected State Senator; was reelected in 1867, serving eight years. He was chairman of the committee on township and county organizations for three sessions, was on the judiciary committee three sessions, and chairman of the railroad committee the last session. He was sent to the Legislature especially to aid in securing a land grant for a railroad on the forty-third parallel of latitude. He labored unceasingly to affect that object; and to him, more than to any other man, is due the securing of that grant. An abler or more industrious man never represented Floyd County in the Legislature, and he gained for himself while there a State reputation. After retiring from the Legislature he took an active part in politics, and was recognized as a power in the Fourth Congressional District. He was a staunch, uncompromising Republican, and his voice was always on the side of right. Mr. Patterson was first married in 1856, to Miss Hester E. A. Quiggle, of Pennsylvania. She died in 1872. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Smith McCann, daughter of Judge Elvin Kendrick Smith, of Northern New York.