Pattison, William L, 1905 Bio, Rio Blanco County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/patisnwl.txt --------------------------------------- Donated March 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- William L. Pattison Orphaned by the death of his mother when he was one year old and that of his father five years later, and thus thrown upon the attentions of others for rearing and preparation for life's usefulness, William L. Pattison was not favored by circumstances in his start, and he has not depended on fortune's favors for advancement at any subsequent stage of his career. He was born in Logan county, Illinois, on January 26, 1853, and is the son of Daniel and Laura (Harcourt) Pattison, natives of Indiana. There were seven children in the family, five of whom are living, Hannah, wife of Grandson Dawson; John; Elizabeth, wife of Philander Semico; Jennie, wife of Frank Hackley; and William L. The mother died in 1854 and the father in 1859. When but a boy William was put to work in his own behalf and thereafter was employed at various kinds of labor in his native state until 1868. He then moved to Winfield, Kansas, and during the next three years he farmed in that vicinity with indifferent success. In 1871 he came to Colorado and, locating at Colorado Springs, furnished logs under contract until 1875, when he moved to Middle Park. Here for ten years he followed mining and prospecting with many successes and reverses. In 1884 he took up his residence at Trappers' Lake and there conducted a summer resort until 1893, at which time he homesteaded one-half of his present ranch, which now comprises three hundred and twenty acres, two hundred of which are yielding good crops of the usual farm products grown in this region under his careful and systematic cultivation. He also raises cattle to a profitable extent. The ranch is twenty-nine miles east of Meeker, and is pleasantly and advantageously located. In the fraternal life of the community Mr. Pattison takes an earnest and serviceable interest as a member of the Woodman of the World and the Odd Fellows, and politically he is a cordial supporter of the Republican party. He was married on April 13, 1884, to Miss Laura Spurgeon, a native of Virginia. They have two children, Pearl and Lyton. Both parents are far from the scenes and associations of their childhood, but they have established a pleasant home in this state, and they find the conditions of life around them and the field for enterprise in which they are located agreeable, and in consequence they are devoted to the welfare of Colorado and among its useful and respected citizens. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.