In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886)
JOSEPH S. PATTERSON, merchant, dealer in dry goods, carpeting and house furnishing goods, Findlay, O., was born in Bellefontaine, Logan Co., O., November 25, 1827; son of Robert and Eliza Patterson, the former of whom was l)orn in Bailee, County Down, Ireland, January 6. 1789; he spent the greater part of his life in merchandising— was one of the originators of the old Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, now the Indiana, Bloomington & AVestern, and was for many years a director, and the secretary and treasurer of that company; after a successful life in business and in his social relations he passed away in 1807, leaving four sons and four daughters. Our subject, Mr. J. S. Patterson, came to Findlay fi'om his native town, Bellefontaine, in the spring of 1843, when still a boy. in the sixteenth year of his age, and for some years and until he entered into a home of his own, made his home with his brotherin-law. Rev. R. H. Hollyday. He had been connected in business with John Ewing, John S. Van Eman, Frederic Henderson and Milton Taylor, with the last two as a partner in business. For many years Mr. Patterson has conducted a successful business, independent of any partnership until recently; now his two sons, Charles and Frank, are associated with him. In 1866 Mr. Patterson erected the imposing business block on the northwest corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, which he continues to occupy with his growing business. He has taken a leading part in the mercantile interests of Findlay, and is to-day the oldest merchant in active business in the place, and traces back a record of over forty-three years of successful business relations. In 1853 IMi-. Patterson was united in maitiage with Minerva, daughter of AVilliam Taylor, one of the earliest settlers in Findlay. a merchant, and a representative of Hancock County in the earlier period of its history in the State Legislatm-e. Mr. Patterson united with the Presbyterian Church in Findlay. in the spring of 1850, during a season of special religious interest; in '1866 he was elected and ordained a ruling elder in this church. He has served the church in this capacity for twenty years, during which time he has been called to represent the church in meetings of the Presbytery, and has served as a commissioner for the Presbytery in the General Assembly. He has been an active worker in the church, contributing liberally to Its support at home, as well as to all its benevolent enterprises at large, "and has given a liberal support to all measures tending to the development of the" industrial and social interests of the community in which he has so long resided. In politics Mr. Patterson is a Republican.
As printed in History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOSEPH S. PATTERSON, who for sixty years has been identified with the mercantile interests of Findlay, O., is the senior member of the firm of J. S. Patterson & Sons, a business which had its inception in 1849, stands today as one of the representatives of the highest standard of business integrity. The activities in which he has been engaged for so long a time and with so much ability, have had an effective part in the commercial and financial upbuilding of this city. Joseph S. Patterson was born November 25, 1827, at Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Eliza (Moore) Patterson, and a grandson of Rev. James Patterson, who was a clergyman of Bailee, County Down, Ireland.
Although the Pattersons originated in Ireland, for a generation they have been American and in almost every State of the Union, bearers of this honorable name have been distinguished in some walk of life.
Robert Patterson, father of Joseph S., was born in 1789, in Ireland. In 1811 he came to Licking County, O., one of the venturesome pioneers, but he later established his permanent home at Bellefontaine, in Logan County, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits until his death in 1867. In 1819 he was married to Eliza Moore, a daughter of Joseph Moore, also a pioneer, and they had nine children born to them, the fifth in order of birth being given the name of Joseph S., and he is one of the two survivors.
Joseph S. Patterson attended school at Bellefontaine until he was sixteen years of age, leaving home at that time with the intention of providing for his own necessities and of preparing himself to do so in the future by learning a special line, heredity, perhaps, having something to do with his choice. He came to Findlay in 1843, where he found employment as a clerk with Frederick Henderson, with whom he continued for six years, when he purchased an interest in the business and it was continued under the firm name of Henderson and Patterson. Three years later the business was reorganized and additional capital gave the concern larger and more extended facilities, and the firm name then became J. S. Patterson and Company, remaining that way until
In the above year, Mr. Patterson retired and purchased the business of Van Eman and Company. Two years later, Milton Taylor, a brother-in-law, became associated with him under the firm name of Patterson and Taylor. This firm continued until the withdrawal of Mr. Taylor in 1865.
In 1866 Mr. Patterson built his present business block, moving into it early in 1867. From 1870 to 1875 the firm name was Patterson and Winders.
In 1878, Chas. W. Patterson, his eldest son, became interested under the firm name of J.
S. Patterson and Son.
Five years later, Frank T. Patterson, the second son, was taken into the firm, when the name became J. S. Patterson & Sons and has so continued to the present time.
With the exception of one year during which he was local agent for the Mad River and Lake Erie R. R., for sixty years and over, Mr. Patterson has been interested in the same line of business and has always been recognized as a keen and able business man.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
T. Patterson.
In religious matters, Mr. Patterson has always taken an active interest. His affiliation has been with the Presbyterian denomination, of which church he is an elder as well as a liberal supporter.
As a charter member of the City Y. M. C. A., he was always interested in its work and contributed liberally towards its present building and equipment.
Politically, Mr. Patterson has always been a Republican. He never aspired to office and never held but one office, that of city councilman and that as a matter of duty.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John Ewing (b. 1839) Joseph Moore
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.