USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 88
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In 1833, Dayton suffered from a cholera epidemic and on August 30, Robert L. Patterson, son of Colonel Patterson, died at the Rubicon home after only thirty hours' illness. His mother never recovered from the shock of his death. She was then in her seventy-fourth year, surrounded by all the care that loving children and grandchildren could give. On October 22, nearly two months after the death of her son, she passed quietly away and, after a funeral service held in the First Presbyterian church, of which she had long been a devoted member, her remains were laid to rest by the side of her husband. Six children survived: Mrs. Rebecca Goodlet ; Mrs. Jane Steele, of Kentucky ; Mrs. Margaret Caldwell, near Franklin, Ohio; Mrs. Catherine Brown; and Jefferson and Francis Patterson, of Dayton. Jefferson Patterson, the last survivor of Colonel Patterson's children and the one who inherited the family home, was born in the stone farm house at Lexington, Kentucky, May 27, 1801, and was three and one-half years old when the family removed to the Rubicon farm in the fall of 1804. One who knew him well wrote of him:
"Jefferson, the worthy son of a worthy father, is remembered as an honor- able man in every condition of his life; attentive and energetic in business, en- joying the faithful discharge of duties; observant in commercial and political affairs ; courteous and just, doing a kind turn when possible; socially inclined, his first and constant aim the comfort and happiness of his family; no specu- lation in his make up, satisfied in managing his own business affairs.
"He was given a good business education, early acquiring regular commer- cial habits through responsibilities that came as a consequence of the absence of his father, during the war of 1812. At eleven, he already had farm work to do, the care of live stock and errands for the farm, but none of these duties was al- lowed to interfere with school and studies. Mrs. Patterson depended much upon him and when her husband was away. Jefferson remained at home with his brother Robert L., as a protection against the straggling soldiers, who were apt during these exciting times to make daily calls. This mingling with teamsters and sol- diers in the camp, proved a stern but valuable education for the boys, and at
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the age of sixteen Jefferson was already a man in mind and stature, thoughtful and industrious, a source of comfort and pride to father and mother. Jefferson and his sister Harriet and brother Robert, regularly attended the first Sunday school established in Dayton in 1817, which with the teachings and example at home, gave steady habit and sturdy character as he broadened with opportuni- ties into manhood."
Everybody about the home farm had daily duties and worked, but they were also allowed hours for play and recreation. Love for fine horses and cattle was bred into the Patterson boys and to them the care and handling of live stock was a pleasant task. In his youth riding and racing constituted the chief sport of Jefferson Patterson. As the estates of his parents were settled, Jefferson Pat- terson came into ownership of the Rubicon farm and mills, although he did not occupy the home until 1840. In the year 1832, he and his brother took up the business of raising cattle, which proved a profitable venture, and they also doubled their profits by investing in wheat and flour, at the same time operating the mills.
In 1833, Jefferson Patterson was united in marriage to Juliana Johnston, the fifth of the family of fifteen children of Colonel John and Rachel Johnston, born 1775 and 1785 respectively. The children of John and Rachel Johnston were: Stephen, whose birth occurred in 1803; Rebecca, born in 1805; Elizabeth, in 1807; Roxanna, in 1809; Juliana (known as Julia), above mentioned, who was born August 16, 1811; Mary, in 1813; Abraham R., in 1815; Rachel, in 1816; Rebecca, the second of the name, who was born in 1818; John H. D., in 1820; Catherine C., in 1822; William B., in 1824; Margaret D., in 1825; Harriet J., in 1827; and James Adams, born in 1830. The parish of Johnston in Annandale, in the county of Dumfriesshire, on the southern border of Scotland, was the home of the Johnstons as far back as tradition goes. The "Peerage of Scotland" says that they were one of the chief Scottish clans and "a race of brave and warlike men of great authority and power on the border." The first Johnston was Sir John de Johnston, chevalier of Annandale, 1296. In 1590, another Sir Johnston was knighted at the Queen coronation. Their crest was a winged spur with a motto "Semper Paratus" (Ready? Aye, ready). In the latter part of the seven- teenth century two brothers, James and Stephen Johnston, followed King Will- iam to Holland, and in 1690 went to Ireland to take possession of certain lands granted them by William III. James Johnston was the father of Stephen John- ston, who was the grandfather of Mrs. Patterson. Stephen Johnston married Elizabeth Bernard, a girl of French descent, whose grandparents had emigrated from France to Ireland. Colonel John Johnston, their son, was one of a family of five sons and a daughter and was born in March, 1775. On June 14, 1791, Stephen Johnston brought his family to the United States, the son John having come some years before. They settled in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where Stephen Johnston afterward died, while his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston, spent her last days in Piqua, Ohio.
Colonel John Johnston was but eleven years of age when he came to America. The volume "Concerning the Forefathers" says :
"From a brief summary of his career as a citizen of the United States, we find him to have been, from first to last, these several things: A clerk in the war
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department ; Indian agent for thirty-one years; canal commissioner for Ohio for eleven years; paymaster and quartermaster throughout the war of 1812; president of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio; author of the article on 'Indian Tribes in Ohio'; founder of the first Sunday school in Miami county ; first lay reader in the Southern Ohio Diocese of the Episcopal church ; one of the founders of Kenyon College; trustee of Miami College in Oxford, and member of the visiting board at West Point. He was also an accepted authority on all Indian affairs ; he was familiar with their language, religion and war habits, and his articles contributed to the Archaeologia Americana and to Cist's Mis- cellany in 1845 contain much valuable material relative to this decaying race.
"His character may be conceived from words which he penned more than fifty years ago and which are, in this form, a lesson applicable to the-more dis- tant generation of his descendants. Speaking of the members of the Johnston family who had fought in the Revolutionary war under General Washington, he says :
" 'I humbly trust as their blood flows in my veins, that the spirit which guided them has still an abiding place in my affections ; for my rule throughout a long life of more than four score years, in peace and war, has invariably been to go for our country, no matter who might govern it and this lesson has been instilled into the minds of my children, and so it was with their excellent mother who trained them up for God and their country.'"
After five years spent in Pennsylvania, Colonel Johnston, after clerking for a time in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, started for the west with Samuel Creigh, who was taking a stock of goods for sale in the Indian tribes. At the age of eighty- two years before the Pioneer Association of Cincinnati, Colonel Johnston gave a most interesting account of his experiences. His life record, therefore con- stituted an important chapter in the history of the west and its reclamation for the purposes of civilization. When twenty-seven years of age, he married Rachel Robinson, a young Quakeress of Philadelphia. The first important assignment of John Johnston by the government was that of United States factor, and he was stationed at Ft. Wayne, Indiana. His duties consisted of looking after the agency and distributing government supplies of food, clothing and weapons to the Indians. Of the trading houses owned by the government at the commencement of the war of 1812, the one of which he had direction, yielded the most profit- about ten thousand dollars a year. Just at the breaking out of the second war with England, he was appointed by President Madison to the office of Indian agent for Ohio, and removed to Piqua. Under his control were seven powerful tribes, comprising in all over six thousand Indians. In this position he received a salary of twelve hundred dollars a year, besides house rent and two servants. Piqua then consisted of an Indian village of the Miamis and Shawanoese, the log fort of the United States government and a half dozen log cabins of the white settlers. Colonel Johnston's residence, which is still standing in Upper Piqua, marks the site of the original Indian village. The "Early History of Piqua" says: "Too much cannot be said of Colonel Johnston's influence with the Indians in keeping them from going over to the British, and in protecting the white settlers from their molestations." He had executive ability and method in detail and his papers prepared for government inspection, show exquisite care
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and neatness. All accounts of provisions to the Indians, of presents made to them and of articles purchased for the Indian department are written in a round, legible hand and can be verified to the smallest item. General Harrison was often a welcome visitor at Colonel Johnston's home in Piqua, both while he lived in the log cabin, while in the fort and after he built his commodious farm house at Upper Piqua. Henry Howe wrote of him: "He was a tall, dignified man, of the blond type. * * * No man had the power and influence with the western Indians that he possessed, and it arose from his weight of character and his high sense of justice." He continued to hold his position as Indian agent of Piqua for twenty years, us- ing his great influence always for good and remaining a friend in the best sense of the word to the Ohio Indians. Upon the election of General Harrison in 1840, he was appointed agent to the Seneca Indians and was stationed at Upper San- dusky, Ohio. Here the previous government treaty with the Indians, which he had secured, was supplemented by a valuable treaty between the United States and the Senecas, by which they moved westward over the Mississippi river, leav- ing Ohio forever free to the white race and to civilization. To write a detailed account of the life of Colonel Johnston, would be to give a complete history of the settlement and development of Ohio by the white race. In his later years, his words were received as authority upon matters connected with the Indian his- tory of the state. His last nine years were spent at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Julia Patterson, in Dayton and his figure was a familiar one on the streets of the city. In December, 1860, he went to Washington to trace his claim against the government amounting to twenty-one thousand dollars, which sum he had ex- pended during the two years following his retirement from the office of Indian agent at Piqua, when, notwithstanding the appointment of a successor, he was obliged to furnish supplies to the Indians. He never lived to see the claim paid, however. The last entry in his journal was written on Christmas morning of 1860, and on the 18th of February, 1861, he passed away, his remains being brought back to Piqua, where with civil. military and Masonic honors, he was laid to rest. His daughter, Julia, who became the wife of Jefferson Patterson, was born in a block house inside the stockade fort of Piqua and her girlhood was passed on the frontier. Following her death a contemporary biographer wrote :
"The eighty-six years of Julia Johnston Patterson's life stretched over the pioneer period of Ohio's history to the later social life of Dayton. She saw the procession of humanity pass from the log cabin in the stockade fort to the stately and beautiful homes of today; from the forest wilderness to paved city streets ; from the primitive hardships of farm life half a century ago to the present exis- tence of luxurious comfort. She saw Indian wars and the great rebellion; the industrial development of this country revealed itself, year by year, before her eyes and she who had been born in a stockade fort and studied at a 'dame school' in a log cabin, lived to see her grandsons in a university. Her first journeys were on horseback through the trackless Ohio woods ; her latest, in a Pullman vesti- buled train through the state of New York. The carpets she played on when a child were woven in a hand loom at home ; the lights were dipped candles and the fabrics were spun on a wheel, woven in a loom and finished with thimble and thread. From these primitive ways and manners she lived to enjoy the highest products of scientific machinery and skilled labor.
JOHN II. PATTERSON
. .
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"Mrs. Patterson was an interesting talker and loved to dilate upon these con- trasts in her life and to repeat anecdotes and reminiscences. Her physiognomy was a striking one, carrying with it the impression of strong character. She wore a cap according to the lovely old fashion when age was not ashamed to confess itself and the eyes under it were commanding eyes which spoke with authority. Her white hair, soft as silk and bright as satin gloss, framed a face which was more beautiful with the lines of old age than many a younger one. She had the manner of a grande dame and stood as the head of the family to her last days; another good old fashion now gone out.
"Those who knew Mrs. Patterson well loved to recall her personality, her vivacity, her interest in all that pertained to life, especially to her own family history and connections. Whether she is remembered through the stretch of years at the farm, where her open doors, and bountiful table made good cheer for- her friends and her children's friends ; or during the later years in her city home, where she accepted her increasing age as did the patriarchs of old, with dignity and serenity, Mrs. Patterson will be a beautiful memory ; for she was a fine gentle- woman, a devoted and generous mother, a firm friend and a true Christian."
The eldest son of Jefferson and Juliana Patterson, Robert Patterson, was born November 27, 1833. In the spring of 1840, they removed from the Jeffer- son street house, where they had taken up their abode at the time of their mar- riage, to the Rubicon farm, which continued to be the family home through the life time of Jefferson Patterson. He gave his attention to the control of extensive agricultural interests and of other business affairs, which were capably and profit- ably conducted. He was most active in the organization of the first Montgomery County Agricultural Society and this revived his own interests in well bred cat- tle and horses. With the determination to restock Rubicon farm, he took a trip to Kentucky. Thus early inheriting his father's tastes, he found among the wide acres of the homestead farm abundant opportunity to indulge them, and became recognized as one of the leading stock breeders of the state and at the same time stimulated the interests of others through his efforts in the Montgomery County Fair Association, which held its first meeting in October, 1839. As was always the custom with the Patterson household, each member had his duties to perform, for it was the belief of the father that the sons should be well trained for business life and the daughters as carefully educated in the work of the household. Each child had an appointed share of household labors, all controlled and directed by the mother, herself a constant example of untiring industry and faithfulness. The Rubicon farm was very noted for its generous hospitality, the same spirit being manifest during the occupancy of Jefferson Patterson and his family as had been evidenced when his father, Colonel Patterson, was at the head of affairs there. The place was a familiar rendezvous for the many friends of the family and its entertainments became the standard of hospitality throughout this sec- tion of the state.
It was but natural that Jefferson Patterson, prominent as he was in the business and social life of the community, should also be called to public activity. In the opening years of the Civil war, he was sent to the state legislature and while attending the general assembly of 1862-63, the whole care of the farm and family devolved upon his wife, for the two oldest sons, William and Robert had
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gone to the war. Sorrow and joy had come into her life, as in all others, as death and birth and social events had succeeded one the other, but the greatest sorrow that ever befell Mrs. Patterson came when she lost her husband, who died in Columbus while attending a session of the general assembly, March 23, 1863. Within twenty- four hours, the eldest daughter Kate, died on Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati, where she had been attending school. Perhaps no better estimate of Jefferson Patterson can be given than in the words of one who knew him well and said :
"The life and character of Jefferson Patterson may be briefly told. His life was innocence and his end was peace. His traits of character were few, simple and clear. There was indeed much in him that was so unpretending as to escape casual or careless observation, but in all his life and character, to one who did observe, there was nothing mixed or dubious ; for he was honest, sincere, truth- ful, amiable, sensible and affectionate. He was all this always without a thought of any effect. He did not utter his thoughts or enact his deeds as a matter of interest or design, but they each and all flowed forth from his nature as frankly and freely as a stream from its fountain.
"The writer of this tribute to his memory has known him long and most in- timately in all the relations of his life and yet he never, in a single instance, knew him to do, or seem to wish to do, an act by which he could gain the least advan- tage in business over another, nor to be angered toward any person under any pro- vocation. So charitable was he as not to slander the good name or wound the feelings of any person, and so truthful and guileless as not, under any tempta- tion of interests or vanity, to state an untruth even in implication. For the rest, who was firmer or warmer through years of misfortunes than Jefferson Patter -. son to his many friends? In their afflictions who came sooner or tarried longer
to aid and console them? And at his own home no citizen could with more open hand and welcome board and happy heart, dispense the joys of their frequent hos- pitalities, than did he and his now bereaved consort. This is strong praise, but it is nevertheless true, and it is pleasant to believe that the very many men and women who knew him as 'Uncle Jefferson' will perceive and admit its truth- fulness.
"There was another general characteristic of this man which may not have been so commonly understood. He was not merely just and conscientious to an unusual degree, but he was most fixed in his purposes and plans. Indeed, more than any one we ever knew, he realized what the poets describe 'Justum et tena- cem propositi virum.' To all these private and usual virtues, he added that crown- ing glory, 'a true and faithful patriotism.'"
In 1868, Mrs. Patterson removed to Dayton, living on West Third street, near Wilkinson, until her death, May 29, 1897. No mother ever had more devoted children or was more devoted to them and when she passed away it was to leave a gap never to be filled.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Patterson were born the following named: Robert, born Nevember 27, 1833; John Johnston, who was born in 1835, and died in infancy ; Rachel Robinson, who was born in 1837, and died in infancy ; William Lindsay. who was born April 1, 1839, and died 1865; Elizabeth Jones, born Jan- uary 20. 1841 ; Stephen Johnston, born December 20, 1842; John H., born De-
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cember 13, 1844; Catherine Phillips, born December 29, 1846; Francis J., born June 15, 1849; Arthur Stewart, born June 20, 1852; and Julia W., born March 15, 1857. Elizabeth, called Lizzie, died of cholera when only eight years old.
CAPTAIN ROBERT PATTERSON, the eldest son of the family, spent his youthful days in the parental home and shared with the family in the tasks necessary to the development of the farm and the conduct of the business along progressive and modern lines. At the outbreak of the Civil war, then twenty-eight years of age, he entered military service in defense of the Union and was commissioned sec- ond lieutenant of the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He remained in the service the entire term of three months, organizing and drilling at Camp Den- nison. In the fall of 1861, he again enlisted, joining the famous Fremont Body Guard. He was commissioned second lieutenant and went into his first battle at Springfield, Missouri. He was mustered out with his command in St. Louis in 1862 and the next year he once more joined the army and was made a ser- geant of the Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In November of that year, he was commissioned second lieutenant, was appointed regimental adjutant in Jan- uary, 1863, and when the Sixty-first "veteranized" was raised to the rank of captain in 1864. In March of the following year the regiment was consolidated with the Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Greensboro, North Caro- lina, and he was transferred to the command of Company I, in the Eighty- second. On the 24th of July, 1865, he was mustered out with his regiment at Louisville, Kentucky. He had been a gallant, faithful and loyal soldier, connected with the army almost continuously for four years and at the battles of Chancel- lorsville and at Bentonville, he sustained severe wounds. In recognition of his loyal services, he was elected a member of the First Class of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States by the commandery of Ohio, February 3, 1897. He continued a resident of Dayton until his death, June 4, 1901, and like others of the family bore active and helpful part in promoting the material development of the community and in upholding its political, legal and moral status.
After the war Captain Patterson settled at Warwick, Wisconsin, where he acted as superintendent of a lead mine, and there in March, 1868, he was married to Mary Thomas, of that place. She was born at Red Ruth, England, May 4, 1844, and their children are: Robert Patterson, Jr., born near Mineral Point, Wisconsin, April 7, 1869; Frank Patterson, who was born near Mineral Point, Wisconsin September 7, 1870, died at Dayton, Ohio, December 29, 1891 ; John Johnston Patterson, born near Mineral Point, Wisconsin, December 26, 1876, married Edith McClure; Katherine Johnston Patterson, who was born near Mineral Point, Wisconsin, June 13, 1878, married Edward Watts Davies in 1900; Mary Thomas Patterson, born at Dayton, Ohio, June 6, 1881, married Frank Pritz Hilt in 1909; and Jefferson Stuart Patterson was born at Dayton, Ohio, June 1, 1882. Captain Patterson continued at Warwick until 1881, when he returned to Dayton and was connected with the National Cash Register until his death. In memoriam the Loyal Legion said of him:
"A warm friend and always interested in the fortunes and misfortunes of old soldiers. He was a devoted attendant of the National Encampment of the G. A. R., until he became totally blind during the last two years of his life. This
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great affliction he bore manfully, continuing to discharge his duties at the factory until he was stricken with apoplexy, and died, while making his daily round.
"A sturdy, manly character, he will not be easily forgotten by those who have seen his erect carriage, as leaning on the arm of his son, with 'eyes to the front,' though seeing nothing, he walked from his house to his business."
WILLIAM LINDSAY PATTERSON, born April 1, 1839, in the Jefferson street home, was educated in the public schools of Dayton. In April, 1861, he enlisted for three months service in the Civil war, as a private in the First Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He became sergeant and served in that office at Vienna Cross Roads and Bull Run ; then he re-enlisted for three years in the same regi- ment ; was commissioned lieutenant and for gallant and meritorious services, he was promoted to a captaincy, serving until the close of the war, when he was mustered out. He was selected to present the flag staff, flag and fife of his com- pany to be deposited in the archives at the capitol in Columbus, but in recognition of his valour and efficient military services, he was presented with them as his own property. He retained only the brass eagle, giving the flag, staff and fife to the state. This brass eagle, now in possession of the family, was carried through the most important battles of the war, from Shiloh, April 7, 1862, to Chattahoochie River, July 6, 1864.
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