Biographical Sketch (1888):1286, p. 224. "Rev. John Patterson. In every community there are men who stand at the head of public affairs, and whose word is considered authority in public and private matters. It is impossible for a resident of a community to rise to the rank of leader unless he possesses certain qualifications, by the exercise of which he can place himself in sympathy with the minds and hearts of the people at large. In educated and Christian society there is a certain rank accorded by acclamation to the men who devote their lives to the cause of the church and Christianity; by common consent they are acknowledged as the criterion by which facts, principles and conduct are tested in order to obtain a correct judgment concerning them.

Among those who have aided in the spreading of the Gospel and the elevation of the morals of society in this section and vicinity, our subject takes prominence as a man of able attainments and unexceptionable character. Mr. Patterson was born on the 26th of October, 1836 in Licking County, Ohio and is a son of Ephraim Patterson who was a native of Virginia. Leaving his native State of Virginia he went to Ohio, and was numbered among the early pioneers of Licking County, afterward emigrating to Johnson County, Iowa in the year 1849. Our subject spent his early years on his father's farm, and received a common-school education, supplementing it with a course of study at the Iowa City College, which bears a National reputation for its excellent system of education, and ample opportunities afforded its students to thoroughly master any of the branches of learning. In 1870 our subject came to Liberty Township and settled on section 23, and at that time entered the Eastern Nebraska Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For six years he conscientiously discharged the duties of a minister of the Gospel on this circuit, and was then transferred to Vesta Circuit, in which he preached for eighteen months. At the end of that time he was appointed to the circuit of Pleasant Hill, in which he remained for one year, and then settled on his present farm in the spring of 1877. He owns 160 acres of good farming land on section 23 on which he makes his home and engages in various duties of a farmer and stock-raiser.

On the 4th of December 1857, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Rebecca A. Middleton, a daughter of Joseph Middleton, deceased. She was born in Washington County, Iowa, and to her and her husband have been born three children, their names Sylvester, Jacob S. and Celestia. Sylvester married Miss Aurilla M McMains, lives in Bent County, Col and is the father of four children-Smiley, Ethel A., John R, and Celestia I.; Jacob married Miss Nora Crusey, and they with their infant son make their home with our subject; F. Celestia was married to George Owens, of Liberty and they have one child named Frances. Our subject is very happy in the possession of the friendship and respect of the people of his community and does not seek to exchange the title which he bears."

1836 Birth:1286, p. 224. Birth date of 26 October 1836 taken from Portrait and Biographical Album of Gage County, Nebraska. Birth place assumed to be Licking County, Ohio, based on ressidence of parents Ephraim Patterson and Eve Fry in that location in the 18301486 and 18401284 census enumerations.

1850 U.S. Census:2388 John enumerated in the household of his father Ephraim Patterson in Washington Township, Johnson County, Iowa as a male, age 12, born in Ohio, attended school within the year. Three siblings (Jacob, Smiley, and Bruce) also resided in the household.

1860 U.S. Census:2380
Johnson County, Iowa (Washington Township, Frank Pierce Post Office)
Enumerated 30 June 1860
John Patterson •• 25, male, farmer, real estate value $2,000, personal property value $550, born Ohio
Rebecca •• 20, female, born in Iowa
Sylvester •• 1, male, born in Iowa
Walter Hovey •• 9, male, born in Iowa
Household of father Ephraim Patterson2379 was adjacent.

1880 U.S. Census:1288
Gage County, Nebraska (Liberty Precinct)
Enumerated 12 June 1880
John Patterson •• white, male, 43, married, farmer, born in Ohio, father born in Virginia, mother born in Virginia
Rebecca Anne •• white, female, 38, wife, keeping house, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio
Silvester •• white, male, 21, married within the year, farmer, born in Iowa, parents birth place not given
Cora •• white, female, 19, wife, keeping house, born in Iowa, parents birth place not given
Jacob •• white, male, 18, son, laborer on farm, born in Iowa, parents birth place not given
F. C. •• white, female, 13, daughter, at school, born in Iowa, parents birth place not given

Descendant Information

Son Jacob Patterson:1509 Born 1860, wife Elnora (Nora), and other family members buried in Liberty Cemetery, Gage County, Nebraska.
Elnora Patterson, 1869 - Dec. 22, 1945
Fern Patterson, Oct. 12, 1897 - Feb. 16, 1979
Jacob Patterson, 1860 - Dec. 9, 1930
John Patterson, Dec. 30, 1892 - June 10, 1957
Lester Patterson, Apr. 1, 1894 - Mar. 17, 1971

Daughter Frances C. [i.e. Celestia] Patterson:1582 Married George D. Owen on 23 June 1887 in Gage County, Nebraska. George was age 22 and Frances, age 20.