Pleasants County, West Virginia, Biography of R. Patterson

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R. PATTERSON

R. Patterson, a prominent attorney of St. Marys, was born in 
Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1816, his parents being Robert and Sarah 
(VanMeter) Patterson.  His father was a native of Ireland and came to 
West Virginia when about thirteen  years of age.  He married in this 
state and raised a family of eight children.  He held several 
political offices and while he resided in Jefferson county, Ohio, he 
served many years as justice of the peace and as representative of 
the county for two years.  He manufactured flour on an extensive 
scale for several years, and before his death was one of the money 
lenders of the county, being director in the old Mt. Pleasant bank.  
He came to this country a poor man, and for a number of years 
followed the business of boating to New Orleans.  On different 
occasions he walked back from that distant city after disposing of 
his stock.  At one time he owned as much as 1,500 acres of land in 
the state of Ohio.  He finally removed to Wheeling, W.Va., where he 
remained until 1860 and then returned to Ohio, where he staid until 
his death.  He was a strong anti-Mason and an uncompromising 
democrat.  Our subject was reared and attended school in Jefferson  
county, Ohio.  Afterward he spent some time in attendance at Franklin 
college. December 13, 1837, he was married to Jane, daughter of John 
and Massey (Wilson) Patterson.  Four children were born unto them, of 
whom the following named are living:  James, John and Robert H.  The 
mother was born and reared at Circleville, Ohio, and died in 1845.  
In 1855 Mr. Patterson married Mrs. Simpson and this union was 
productive of two children, one of whom, Sarah V., is living.  His 
second wife died in 1880 and in 1882 he was united to Emma J. Raider, 
the window of a Mr. Clifford.  Our subject began the study of law 
when nineteen years of age, but not liking it he did not begin the 
practice until 1867.  At that time he began business in Pleasants 
county, and now has a good practice.  He held the honorable position 
of president of the company court about six years, when he resigned.  
He served one session as a member of the state senate under the old 
constitution, but was legislated out of office by operation of the 
new constitution. He served as justice as justice of the peace of 
Pleasants county for several years, and revalued the land of the 
county in 1875.  He had one son on each side during the late civil 
war.  His son James being a lieutenant in the Union army, Mr. 
Patterson is one of the leading democratic politicians of the county 
and a man of general popularity.      

From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I; Brant & Fuller, 1891.


(Linda Cunningham Fluharty)