Biographical Sketch of Thomas A. Patterson,Sr., Johnson County, Missouri,
Kingsville Township

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.

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Thomas Alexander Patterson, Sr., retired frmer and stockman, is one of
the oldest citizens if not the oldest citizens of Johnson county, one
who has for many years been prominently identified with the varied in-
terests of his community.  Mr. Patterson, Sr. was born January 25, 1826
in North Carolina, a son of Joshua and Polly Patterson, who were highly
respected among the best families of the early colonists.  Reared on a
Southern plantation, the early life of T. A. Patterson, Sr., was marked
by no wild, thrilling experiences.  The daily routine of his life con-
sisted in a round of honest, rugged toil, varied at intervals by atten-
ding such schools as the country at that time afforded.  He grew to 
manhood sturdy and strong and with the earnestness of purpose that was
characteristic of his pioneer ancestry.  Mr. Patterson, Sr. began life
in North Carolina with a determination to succeed if success could be
obtained by hard work and conscientious, persistent effort.  In 1860,
he left the South and came to Missouri, locating in Johnson county. 
Nearly all his hard earned savings were exhausted by the time he reach-
ed this state, and he began working as a hired laborer on the different
farms for the mere pittance of five dollars a week.  Mr. Patterson, Sr.
from his boyhood days always made it a point to lay aside a part of his
income, be it ever so small, and thus he always had a surplus, which,
when the proper time came, he invested in farm land in Johnson county,
land that increased in value in due time and made him a wealthy man.
With his first savings he purchased a farm from Mr. Kertley, a place he
sold shortly afterward and then bought 210 acres of land and in 1867
purchased his present home place, and to these two farms constantly 
added additional tracts until at one time he was owner of 600 acres of
excellent farm land in Johnson county.  Mr. Patterson, Sr. has given
tracts of land to his children at different times and is now the owner
of 213 acres of his original holdings.  At one time, he was one of the 
most extensive dealers in mules in this part of Missouri and he was 
widely known also as a successful stockman, a specialist in breeding 
and feeding Poland China hogs.  Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War,
Thomas A. Patterson, Sr. was employed as overseer by A. W. Reddings, a
wealthy landowner of Johnson county, the proprietor of thousands of
acres of land and a colony of slaves.  Mr. Patterson was serving the
government under a contract to carry the mail in his township and he
was exempted from service in the army during the war.  In 1863, he 
drove a herd of 128 cattle into Lafayette county and there sold them, 
realizing a good profit.  After the war had ended, Mr. Patterson, Sr.
again resumed agricultural pursuits in Johnson County and in the years
which followed became very prosperous and influential.  In 1868, T. A.
Patterson, Sr., and Minerva Poindexter, of North Carolina, were united
in marriage.  To this union were born eight children, seven of whom are
now living: James M., Dodge City, Kansas; Mrs. Cornelia Hale, Kings-
ville, Missouri; Thomas A., Jr.; and John Edwin, who reside with their 
father and manage the home farm; William H., Kingsville, Missouri;
Wiley R., a banker of Stillwell, Kansas; and Annise, Pleasant Hill, Mo.
The mother died in 1907 at the age of 65 years.  She was born in 1842.
She was a good, religious woman, faithful wife and kind mother, whose
assistance to her husband was invaluable.  She endured hardships with
fortitude.  She was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, July 2, 1842
and died October 13, 1907.  The "Pleasant Hill Times" has this tribute
to her memory in its issue of November 22, 1907.  "She professed faith
in Christ when a mere girl living in North Carolina.  Coming to Miss-
ouri shortly after her marriage she at once united with the Elm Springs
Baptist church and later became a charter member of the Forest Grove
Baptist church.  She lived a beautiful and devoted Christian life until
she was called home at the age of 65 years, 3 months and 11 days to 
join a company of saints on the other side and received her crown of
numberless stars.  "The beautiful funeral services were held at Elm
Springs Baptist church by her pastor, Rev. C. P. Jones of Liberty, Mo.,
after which she was laid to rest in the Elm Springs cemetery.  "While
in her earthly home she was a faithful wife and a sweet and devoted
mother.  Her home was ideal.  It with her church and loved ones was the
especial object of her love and care.  In this home she was loved and
trusted, honored and obeyed.  Her children took the greatest possible
delight in pleasing her, and precious in her memory is the thought that
not one of them ever brought grief to her heart in life."  In former
days, Thomas Alexander Patterson, Sr., was considered an expert and
authority as a stockman.  He was asked once to select from a large num-
ber of hogs enough which when sold would bring $1,000.  He made his 
selection.  The hogs were sold and they brought the owner $1,008.  Be-
sides an established reputation as an exceptional judge of livestock,
Mr. Patterson was considered one of the best and most intelligent wheat
and corn producers in the state.  His sons, Thomas A., Jr., and John
Edwin, now manage the home place.  They too, are successful farmers and
stockmen.  This past season, 1917, they harvested 800 bushels of oats,
90 tons of hay, and have 60 head of cattle and 25 head of horses and
mules on the farm at the time of this writing.  Politically, the 
Patterson brothers are affiliated with the Republican party.  From a 
very humble beginning, by practicing prudence, industry and thrift, 
T. A. Patterson, Sr. forged to the front among the most successful men
of Johnson county.  He has carved a name his sons may well be proud to
bear.  And now in the eventide of life, safely over the hilltop and
bravely, cheerfully facing the Valley, T. A. Patterson, Sr. can cast a
retrospective eye back over his active career and with complacency know
that all that he is and all that he has is the well merited result of
his own honest, honorable exertions.  For ages the chivalry in battle
and the clash of arms have been the themes of song and story, but the
man who quietly remains in the humble walks of life, performing each
day's duties the best he can, promoting the general welfare and pros-
perity by his individual efforts, is no less a hero than he who wins
the Iron Cross on bloody battlefields.  For more than a half century,
the career of T. A. Patterson, Sr. has been inseparable interwoven with
the growth, development and posperity of Johnson county.  
 
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