Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 447
J. B. PATTERSON

J. B. PATTERSON, a successful merchant at Dunlap, will form the subject of this biographical notice. He is a native of Athens County, Ohio, born December 6, 1848, the son of Joseph and Martha (VAN PELT) PATTERSON, who were also natives of the Buckeye State, who descended from the pioneers of New England, and were of the Quaker faith. Our subject was of a family of ten children, he being the only member of the family in Harrison County. His early life was spent on a farm, and when about ten years old, his father removed to Annsville, where he engaged in general mercantile business. Here our subject spent most of his time, until he was thirteen years of age, when his father removed from New England to Athens County, Ohio. Here our subject assisted his father in a store, of which he was the proprietor.

At the age of sixteen, Mr. PATTERSON ENLISTED IN Company A., Eighteenth Ohio Infantry; and served until the fall of 1865, entering the service in October, 1863. He participated in the battles of Nashville, Tenn., FRANKLIN and several minor engagements. After leaving the service he remained in Ohio, at his old home, for about one year, and then came to Dunlap in September 1867. Upon arriving he had but $50 as his capital with which to commence life in the new country. The first six months he was in Harrison County; he worked at haying and harvesting, after which he entered the employment of R. B. HILLAS in his mercantile establishment, where he was engaged for two years, when he entered the employ of MITCHELL & BRYAN, who were also running a general store on the same lot, occupied at present by our subject. With this firm he remained eight years, and then embarked in business for himself, as a member of the firm of PATTERSON, DALLEY & Co., who carried a general merchandise stock. This co-partnership existed for six years, when Mr. PATTERSON disposed of his interest. At first they carried a stock of $4,000, but at the time our subject retired, they carried $16,000.

After being out of business three months, Mr. PATTERSON formed a partnership with H. E. McELROY. This establishment was conducted for twenty months, during which time H.C. LAUB, of Denison, had purchased the stock of the former establishment, of which our subject had been a member, and in January, 1890, H. C. LAUB and our subject purchased McELROY'S interest and consolidated the two firms under the firm name of J. B. PATTERSON & Co., Mr. PATTERSON assuming control. They carry a general stock, and have an average of $50,000 annual sales. Their store is a model of neatness, while the best quality of goods is found on their shelves. They keep a force of four clerks.

Politically, Mr. PATTERSON is a Republican, and has served his town by holding most of the local offices, and is at this time President of the School Board, where he has proven himself the right man in the right place. He is a member of SHIELD'S Post No. 83, G. A. R., also of Lodge No. 284, K. of P.

He was united in marriage in November, 1871, to Miss Maggie FERREN, daughter of Peter and Margaret FERREN. Our subject's wife was born in the old Dominion State�Virginia�and of Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. PATTERSON have a family of four children�Louis J., with his father in the store; Pearl H., at home; John Leo., at home; Tessa, deceased at the age of six months; Cassius, at home.

The family are members of the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, of Dunlap.

Remarkable indeed, has been the career of this business man, who came to Harrison County with the paltry sum of $50, but possessing the genuine spirit of industry, coupled with the fact that he was a citizen of the best country for a man of small means to rise in the financial scale, of which the history of the world is acquainted, has enabled him to take first rank among the business men of Harrison County.

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