Joseph J. Pater

As printed in 1894

JOSEPH JOHN PATER, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamilton, April 9, 1858, on South Front Street, where his parents owned several acres of land, on which they raised vegetables for market. His parents were Gerhard and Mary Pater, thrifty Germans, respected by all who knew them. His father was born at Merzen, in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, on the 15th of August, 1826, and emigrated to America in June, 1850. His mother and his younger brother, B. IT., came with him, while his brother Henry and his sister, Mrs. Mary Kettmann, preceded him here. They lived in Cincinnati for several years, and then moved to Hamilton, where they have lived since, or until their death. Gerhard Pater died in this city, January 6, 1871, aged forty-live years, and his death was regretted by his many friends. He was a devout Catholic, and one of the original members of St. Joseph’s congregation. He was known for his strong will and force of character, and was upright in all his dealings with his fellow-men.

The mother of Mr. Pater, whose maiden name was Mary Strieker, was born at Damme, Oldenburg Germany, December 22, 1821. After landing on American soil, she made Cincinnati her home for several years, and there married Gerhard Pater,

Later they moved to Hamilton, where she died February 20, 1886, at the age of sixty-five years. She was endowed with a wonderful memory, and it was a pleasure to hear her relate events that happened forty years back with as much accuracy as though they happened but yesterday. She was of a kind and charitable disposition. Her mother lived with her until her death, reaching the age of seventy-two years. Her father died in Germany. She has a brother, Henry Strieker, and a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Shumaker, living in Hamilton.

The grandfather of Mr. Pater on his father’s side was B. FI. Pater, who died in Germany, in 1838, from dropsy, caused by malaria. The grandmother came to America in 1850. She was born in 1802, and died of typhoid fever, July 28, 1861, at the age of fifty-nine years. Her family was known for longevity. Her mother died at the age of one hundred and two years, and her mother’s sister at the age of one hundred and five years.

Joseph J. Pater was the eldest of five children. Two sisters, Josephine and Elizabeth, died when very young. Ilis sisters living are Philomena, Mrs. Joseph Schumaker, who was born February 26, 1860, and Catherine, Mrs. George Deinzer, born January 23, 1862. Mr. Pater attended St. Joseph’s parochial school until thirteen years old, and was then sent to the Dayton Institute, where he was graduated with high honors. He later took a two-years course of classics at St. Mary’s Seminaiy, Cincinnati, to prepare himself for the medical profession. For some time he read medicine with Dr. Dan Millikin, but later abandoned his studies, and took a position as teacher in St. Joseph’s school, where lie taught for live years with success. April 20, 1882, he married Miss Annie M. Endress, and their union has been blessed with live children, Karl, Alphons, Eugene, Mary and Louise. Eugene died when two years old, and Mary passed away in infancy. His father-in-law, John M. Endress, was born in 1804, and died August 9, 1876. His mother-in-law, Barbara Endress, was born in 1820, and died May 3, 1882.

Joseph J. Pater and his brother-in-law, Joseph Schumaker, formed a partnership, under the firm name of Joseph Schumaker & Co., for the manufacture of a remedy for the cure of rheumatism. They secured the trade-mark “Angeline,” by which name it is known to the public. The remedy contains much merit, and through extensive advertising it has established for itself a fine reputation throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, and their business is a success.

In all city affairs Mr. Pater has taken an active part, is a stanch Democrat, and has been elected for three consecutive terms by the citizens as a member of the Board of Water Works Trustees. The Water Works Plant is the most valuable piece of city property, and has been so prudently and economically managed that the receipts have been sufficient to pay all the running expenses, make all necessary improvements and extensions, and enough is saved from the annual receipts to pay the bonds that come due each year. The members who have constituted the various boards from the time when the works were built are deserving of much praise for the faithful manner in which they discharge their duties.

In religious belief Mr. Pater is a member of St. Joseph’s congregation, and takes a lively interest in its welfare. He was a member of the building committee that erected the beautiful tower, which is admired by all lovers of Romanesque architecture, and of the handsome parsonage, which is considered the finest in the diocese. He was the first State President of the Catholic Knights of Ohio, which order was organized in this city, and of which he was one of the organizers. During the first two years, while he was President, he worked faithfully to secure its present success. But the monument which he has erected to his memory, and which will be as enduring as time itself, is Mercy Hospital. During the years 1890 and 1891, he frequently urged the Little Sisters of the Poor, who have charge of the Betts Street Hospital, Cincinnati, to come to Hamilton and take charge of a similar institution here. He was continually put off by the good sisters, who said they had no sisters to spare, which was true. In the spring of 1892 he once more called on the sisters, and finding no encouragement, he next called on the Sisters of Charity, who have charge of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati. He persuaded these sisters to accept the management of a hospital here, but Archbishop Elder had promised the hospital, if such were ever built in Hamilton, to the Sisters of Mercy. These good sisters gladly accepted the offer, and have charge of Mercy Hospital to-day, where the sick and wounded are nursed back to health, or, if it is God’s will, can die in peace. It is open to all creeds and nationalities, and will be forever kept out of the turmoil of politics. Joseph J. Pater, John F. Neilan and John N. Hibner, the first executive committee, collected $10,000 for Mercy Hospital, purchased the present site, and presented it to the sisters in the name of the citizens of Hamilton.

As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.