Mr. Patterson has been a resident of this county since December, 1853, and occupies the land which he purchased that year. Prior to coming here he had been a resident of both Iowa and Missouri, owning land in each State. He sold out upon coming here from Missouri, and afterward operated as a renter until ready to purchase again. He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1832, and lived there until Dec. 18, 1853. His father, John Patterson a native of Scotland, was born near the city of Dumfries and came of pure Scotch Presbyterian stock. He was reared to farm pursuits and emigrated to America when a young man, prior to his marriage, preceding his family to this country and locating in Carroll County, Ohio. Later he was joined by two brothers and one sister - Adam, William and Jane - locating in Pennsylvania.

John Patterson was married in what is now West Virginia, to Miss Isabelle McGaw, who like himself, was a native of Scotland and came with her parents when a young girl to the United States. The latter settled in West Virginia and it is probable there spent the remainder of their lives. The young people after their marriage, lived for a time in the Old Dominion, then located on a farm of 160 acres in Ohio, to which he afterward added a like amount and built up a good homestead. He was a cautious and careful business manager and accumulated a good property. His death took place Sept. 18, 1859. The wife and mother had preceded her husband to the silent land, Nov. 17, 1846. They had been reared in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, to which they loyally adhered all their lives.

Five sons and four daughters completed the household circle of the parents of our subject, of whom, Margaret, wife of Mathew Nichol, a farmer of Pennsylvania, and Adam are deceased. The latter met his death on the battlefield at Goldsboro, N. C., March 19, 1865, after three years service in the 98th Ohio Infantry, Company H, under Capt. A. G. Thomas. He was aged twenty-seven years, having been born May 1, 1838.

William Patterson our subject, was reared to man's estate in his native county and soon after reaching his majority, emigrated to Cass County, Ill., where he sojourned two years, then crossed the Mississippi into Iowa. Later he moved on to Missouri and from there came to this county. From his boyhood up he had been familiar with farming pursuits and chose these for his life occupation. He was married at Jacksonville, March 11, 1858, to Miss Mary A. Boston, who was born in Cass County Ill., April 18, 1838. Her parents, Anthony and Louisa (Stephenson) Boston were natives of Jessamine County, Ky.; the father was of German ancestry, while the mother traced her origin to Ireland.

Mr. And Mrs. Boston emigrated to the United States when quite young and were married in Cass County, where Mr. Boston subsequently entered 200 acres of land from the Government. They began life in limited circumstances, having nothing but their land, and this in order to become productive, necessarily involved a large amount of hard labor. The country around them was wild and unbroken, and thinly settled. They battled with the elements of a new soil and the difficulties of a distant market, and lived there until 1856. Mr. Boston then sold out and coming to this county purchased a farm three miles east of Jacksonville, upon which he labored a few years and then with his estimable wife, retired from the active duties of life and removing to the city there spent his last days, departing this life April 9, 1879. The mother is still living and makes her home with her daughter Mrs. A. J. Bacon, near Jacksonville. She is now seventy-three years old and belongs to the Baptist Church.

Mr. Boston was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1807, and came to Illinois in 1832. He was a Democrat, politically, and in religion, a Baptist. Mrs. Patterson was the eldest daughter and second child in a family of six sons and three daughters. One son and one daughter are deceased; the latter, Martha, was the wife of James Dyer, and died in Wichita, Kan. George Boston was married to Miss Melvina Caldwell, and died at his home seven miles east of Jacksonville, in 1879.

Mrs. Patterson was born April 18, 1838, and remained a member of the parental household until her marriage, acquiring her education in the common school. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Boston, one son, Ulysses G., died when a promising young man of twenty three years old. The survivors are recorded as follows: Louisa B., is the wife of John Williamson, a painter by trade and they reside in Jacksonville; Nettie, married Ernest Dewees, a farmer of this county; G. Wallace remains at home and assists in operating the farm; Irvin A., Mattie, Edward, Leonard and W. Maude, are also at home with their parents. Mrs. Patterson has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the past twelve years. Mr. Patterson, politically, is a Republican, "dyed in the wool," a man with decided ideas and one whose opinions are generally respected.