Grundy-Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Patterson, James W December 15, 1850 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 4:05 am

Author: Gen/Bio Record Will Co IL 1900

James W. Patterson is engaged in the furniture, undertaking and livery 
business at Braidwood. Since he came to this town in 1869 he has been 
identified with its mining and business interests. Until his father’s death he 
was the junior member of the firm of A. & J. W. Patterson, since which time he 
has been the senior member, having his youngest brother as a partner, under 
the same firm name as before. As a business man he enjoys the reputation of 
being clear-headed. He is deliberate in his judgment as Scotchmen usually are, 
and is universally esteemed for his integrity. One of his marked 
characteristics is the faculty of making the best of everything. Being a man 
of even temperament, the annoyances of business do not depress him, nor do its 
successes too greatly elate him. In a business capacity he has showed a 
manliness of character that has won him the confidence of the people of his 
home town.

Mr. Patterson was born at Fifeshire, Scotland, December 15, 1850. His father, 
Alexander, came to the United States in 1852, and settled at Pottsville, 
Schuylkill County, Pa., but soon afterward, leaving the family there, he went 
to California via the Isthmus of Panama. He spent two years in the gold fields 
and met with gratifying success. Returning to Pennsylvania, he brought his 
family to Illinois and engaged in farming near Hinckley. In 1859 he moved to 
Morris, Grundy County, where for seven years he was interested in 
manufacturing brick. The fall of 1869 found him in Braidwood, then a new 
mining camp. Here he became interested in the flour and feed business. He was 
the first to establish a furniture and undertaking establishment in the town, 
and continued afterward as the head of the firm of A. & J. W. Patterson, until 
he died, in 1891, at the age of sixty-six. He married Jane McKinley, who died 
in 1889, at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of five 
children, viz.: James W.; Margaret, wife of Robert Mickeljohn, of Colorado; 
Christine, deceased; Jane and Alexander.

When only twelve years of age our subject began to work in mines. At first his 
wages were exceedingly small, but as he became more familiar with the work he 
was paid a larger sum. For seven years he was employed in eastern mines. At 
nineteen years of age he came to Braidwood, where he has since risen to a 
prominent position among the business men of the town. For two years he held 
the office of city treasurer, for one year served as town clerk, and for three 
years was a member of the board of supervisors. He is connected with the 
Modern Woodmen of America; Talmud Lodge No. 24, K. of P., in which he is past 
chancellor; Braidwood Lodge No. 704, A. F. & A. M., in which he is past master 
and representative to the grand lodge; Wilmington Chapter No. 142, R. A. M.; 
and Blaney Commandery No. 5, K. T. In 1879 he married Mary Stewart, by whom he 
has six children, namely: Janet, deceased; Alexander J., Christina, John S., 
Mary and Mildred M.

Source: "Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County, Illinois", 1900, 
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, Page 146


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