PATTERSON, WILLIAM for many years an enterprising and substantial farmer residing in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., but now living in retirement, was born September 1, 1832, in Carroll County, Ohio, the son of John and Isabel (McGaw) Patterson, natives of Scotland, the father being born near Dumfries. John Patterson was a farmer by occupation, as was also his father. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, then emigrating to the Unites States and settling in West Virginia. After being employed there two years, he removed to Carroll County, Ohio, where he entered 160 acres of Government land. This he cleared, otherwise improved, and cultivated until his death in April, 1868. Isabel McGaw, who became his wife, came from Scotland with her parents at a very early period. They first built a log cabin and afterward a comfortable and spacious residence, and became the parents of ten children, namely: James, of Linn County, Kans.; Margaret and Rubena, deceased; Ruthema, who lives in Ohio; William; Adam, who was killed in the Civil War; Mary, who lives in Scio, Ohio; Martha, whose home is in Richland County, Ohio; and Alexander, who lives in Morgan County, Ill. The mother of this family died at the age of forty-six years.

In boyhood William Patterson attended the subscription schools of that primitive period, and afterward pursued a course of study in the Hagerstown Academy. Subsequently, he taught school some years, and then remained at home until 1855. In that year, he located in Cass County, Ill., where he passed two years. Thence he migrated to Iowa and Missouri, and then returned to Morgan County. In 1866, he bought a farm of 240 acres five miles northwest of Jacksonville, Ill., the improvements on which were somewhat dilapidated; but he now possesses the most modern buildings and conveniences in his vicinity. He is the owner of 400 acres of land in one tract. During his active life he carried on general farming and stock-raising, but is now enjoying his later years in leisure and comfort.

In 1857 Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Mary A. Boston, a native of Cass County, Ill., and a daughter of Anthony and Louisa (Stevenson) Boston. Nine children were born of this union: Louisa Williamson, of Jacksonville; Nettie Dewees, of Morgan County; Ulysses, deceased; George W., who occupies a portion of the home far; Torin of Morgan County; Edward, of Jacksonville; Martha and Maude, who are with their parents; and Leonard, who lives in South Dakota.

On political issues, Mr. Patterson is a positive Republican, and takes much interest in the success of his party, having filled most of the local offices in his vicinity. Mrs. Patterson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his prime, Mr. Patterson was a model farmer, his intelligent, careful and systematic diligence and enterprise always securing satisfactory results. He is now enjoying the ample fruits of toilsome years, to which he is richly entitled.