Isaac Patterson
Although he is now in his seventy-fourth year, Isaac Patterson of West Side township, continues with interest unabated as a farmer, to which he has devoted the energies of a long and useful life. For over forty years he has been engaged in agriculture and stock-raising in Crawford county and he is now the owner of one of the large and valuable properties of this section.
He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1837, a son of Thomas M. and Margaret (Large) Patterson. The father was a native of Ireland and came to America at five years of age with his parents. The family lived for a number of years in Pittsburg, moving to Scott county, Iowa, in 1851, where the father died fourteen years later. The mother passed away in Crawford county in 1896 at the advanced age of ninety-two years. They were the parents of six children, the subject of this review being the only survivor.
Isaac Patterson arrived in Iowa with his parents at the age of fourteen. He was educated in the public schools and assisted his father upon the home farm until after the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1862, in response to the call for men to assist in upholding the stars and stripes, he enlisted in Company D, Twentieth Iowa Infantry, and was sent to the front, participating in the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, the siege of Vicksburg, and the battles at Fort Morgan and Fort Blakely and Mobile, Alabama, also taking part in many engagements of less importance. He always responded to the call of duty and proved true and faithful to the noble cause which he espoused. After being honorably discharged and mustered out at Mobile, Alabama, at the close of the war he returned to Scott county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In 1868 he came to Crawford county and purchased land, which he cultivated so industriously that he is now the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres on sections 12 and 11, West Side township. He has engaged in general farming upon a large scale, also handling and feeding cattle and hogs. As he made a careful study of his business and his early training was thorough and comprehensive he has been more than usually successful in his efforts and ranks as one of the leading men of the county.
In 1868 Mr. Patterson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Shepler, a native of Pittsburg, and by this union two children were born: Josephine and Samuel L., both of whom are deceased, the latter passing away in 1893. The mother of these children died in 1876.
In February, 1911, Mr. Patterson was married to Mrs. Maud Haight, who was born in Woodbury county, Iowa, a daughter of George and Margaret Haight. Her father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Iowa. They located in Woodbury county early in the '50s. The mother is now deceased and the father is living in Colorado.
Politically Mr. Patterson has ever since arriving at his maturity given his support to the republican party. He has never sought the honors of public office but served most acceptably as road supervisor. As a soldier of the Civil war he is a valued member of the Grand Army post at Carroll. He has always made use of honorable business methods and the prosperity he has achieved is the result of an industry and application which seldom fail to produce good returns. He has gained many friends by his kindly manner, his business ability and those qualities of mind and heart which the world over marks the true gentleman.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.