James A. Paterson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 604-605 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES A. PATERSON. 

	James A. Paterson, conducting a real-estate and insurance 
business at Henry, was born in Chatham, Ontario, on the 14th of 
November, 1870, a son of James and Waltress (Scott) Paterson. The 
family came to the United States in 1883, settling in Watertown, South 
Dakota, where they lived for two years and then removed to Henry. The 
father homesteaded on sections 28 and 29, Graceland township, Codington 
county, and also secured a tree claim. The family still retain 
possession of the farm but the life labors of the father were ended in 
death on the 25th of April, 1912. Mrs. Paterson survives and is well 
known in that county. 

	James A. Paterson was a youth of about fifteen years when the 
family located at Henry. He had previously attended the public schools 
and when his school days were over he sought and accepted any 
employment that would yield him an honest living but gradually advanced 
through the wise use which he made of his time and opportunities, until 
1899, when he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in 
Henry. There he has since conducted his office and now has a good 
clientage which makes his business a profitable one. He is thoroughly 
informed concerning realty values, knows the property that is upon the 
market and has been a factor in conducting many important real-estate 
transactions. 

	On the 18th of March, 1903, Mr. Paterson was united in marriage 
with Miss Mable H. Kirscher, a daughter of J. F. and Helen Kirscher, 
early settlers of Henry township, Codington county. Mrs. Paterson was 
one of the first white girls born in that county. Mr. Kirscher passed 
away July 15, 1912, but his wife survives and makes her home at Henry. 
Mr. and Mrs. Paterson have two children, Kenneth C., born January 11, 
1904; and Glenn Scott, born July 30, 1905. The religious faith of the 
family is that of the Congregational church while Mr. Paterson's 
fraternal connections are with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the 
Modern Woodmen of America. He is fond of outdoor sports, and is an 
especially enthusiastic fisherman. His political allegiance is given 
the republican party and for three terms he has served on the town 
board of Henry, while the board of count commissioners appointed him to 
fill a vacancy in its ranks on the 4th of June, 1913. In 1914 he was 
elected a member of the board and is now chairman of that body. He is 
thoroughly interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and 
upbuilding of city, county and state and has given substantial aid to 
many movements which have been of public benefit and which have 
advanced civic standards.