Family Remembrance:2178 "There are strong clues they [i.e. Smiley Patterson and Mary A. McEldowney] met 1858-1862 in Johnson Co., Iowa and came in 1863 in the same wagon train as the McEldowney's to Virginia City, NV or Carson City, Nv (There is conflicting evidence). A brother Adam Patterson may have accompanied them. From NV they went to Nevada Co., CA for a short while before moving on to Butte Co. Lived for a short while in Washington Co., OR c. 1890."

1843 Birth:1655 Birth date of 18 February 1843 taken from 1923 death certificate issued in Butte County, California. Birth place of Pennsylvania given in the same certificate, supported by information in the 1860 and 1870 census enumerations.

1860 U.S. Census:2383 Mary A. enumerated in the household of her father William McEldowney in English River Township, Washington County, Iowa as a female, age 17, born in Pennsylvania. The McEldowney household was adjacent to the household of Jacob Moore,2382 thought to be a cousin of Ephraim Patterson2379 residing in Washington Township, Johnson County, Iowa, in 1860 and whose son Smiley Patterson married Mary A. McEldowney.

1870 U.S. Census:1673 Mary A. enumerated in the household of her husband Smiley Patterson in Oregon Township, Butte County, California, as a female, age 25, born in Pennsylvania.

1880 U.S. Census:2425 Mary A. enumerated in the household of her husband Smiley Patterson in Oregon Township, Butte County, California as a white femlae, age 39, wife, married, keeps house, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ireland, mother born in Ireland. One son (albert) and four daughters (Mary E., Nelly, Jessie R., and Daisy) also resided in the household as well as Mary's father-in-law William McEldowney, a widower.

1923 Death Certificate:1655 County of Butte, City of Gridley, Mary A. Patterson; date of death 12 May 1923; female, white, widowed; husband, S. H. Patterson; birthdate, 18 Feb 1843; age 80 years, 2 months, 24 days; occupation, at home; born in Pennsylvania; father, William McEldowney, father born in Ireland; maiden name of Mother, Ann Law, mother born in Ireland; length at residence at place at death, 2 years; in California, 51 years; place of burial, Chico, California, date of burial, 15 May 1923.