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All rights reserved. ************************************************************************************************ George W. Patterson - Madison Parish, Louisiana From Madison Journal July 26, 1940 Lingering Illness Claims George W. Patterson Tuesday An old time resident of Tallulah and one of the outstanding men of the Northeast Louisiana Delta country, George W. Patterson, died Tuesday, July 23, at his farm home on Crescent Plantation just southeast of Tallulah after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Patterson was born at Burlington, Wisconsin, where his grandfather pioneered in the early days and where together with his father they developed the livestock business, introducing better bred cattle, and later banking and financing livestock. Mr. Patterson's father took him out of college at the age of eighteen and sent him into the Dakotas to look after his business interests where they had financed sheep on the large ranges. From the range the sheep were sent to the vicinity of Chicago to be fed out for the Chicago market. But the ranges became so depleted by dry weather and the market so low that the total proceeds from the sheep would not pay their freight. Something had to be done about it and he, young George, had his, first lesson in business. With enthusiasm and an inborn faith in the country he took hold of this situation, shipped in feed, took care of the sheep in blizzards and cold weather and brought them through safely. The next year there was a new crop of lambs and the markets were better so George's faith was vindicated and the situation was saved. He took up his residence then in that vicinity and handled the affairs of the people who had put money into pioneering undertakings and the country developed rapidly. He eventually made his home there near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, then a wild prairie country. Their holdings were far from railroads and it took several days to bring their sheep and cattle to a shipping point. As the country developed he moved to Worthington, Minnesota, on the edge of the Dakotas, established a fine farm and stock breeding raising establishment, became an importer and breeder of Percheron horses, showing at all the leading fairs in the Northwest and producing champions at the International Stock Show at Chicago. He also owned and raced a fast stable of harness horses and at the same time developed large herds of beef cattle. He organized a bank at Ashton, Iowa and Worthington, Minnesota. He was a pioneer in financing the livestock business of this new country, thereby developing one of the largest and richest livestock communities in the United States. He continued in this until the outbreak of the late World War; about that time he was advised by his doctors to sell out and retire, which he did. He moved to Minneapolis, bought a nice home and disposed of his livestock and farming interests. He educated and taught a nephew the livestock business and advised him that when he wanted to farm to try a southern climate where he would not have to feed so many months. He told him to start down the Mississippi River and look until he found something that he was sure would satisfy him as a livestock center. The boy did this and finally landed at Tallulah. The boy reported he had found the right place and Mr. Patterson then came to Tallulah, in the year of 1914. The success of Mr. Patterson has proven this a cattle country and that the boy's judgment was right. The boy was drafted immediately and went to war and was killed. Mr. Patterson started right in where the boy left off and we might say he could be called the largest diversified farmer in the whole country, developing one of the most outstanding herds of Hereford cattle in the whole South. The herd today numbers five hundred. Again and again he would buy the best herd sires in America regardless of price and sell their offspring at reasonable prices to the cattle growers of this and adjoining states. He also developed a pure bred herd of Jersey cattle which for a number of years held the highest butter fat records, proving this is a country where you can raise dairy products profitably. He raised thousands of Easter lambs, always selling way over the top in the St. Louis markets; grew for the market as much as $20,000 worth of alfalfa hay per year, over a period of twenty years; always grew cotton and owned a commercial gin here in the city. He proved to the South and the Delta that you don't have to depend on the one crop system to be successful. He grew corn, oats and all the clovers that can be grown anywhere; raised peaches commercially; pioneered in pecan grafting. He was truly a builder in and for his community. He was Vice-President of the Cattle Growers' Association of Louisiana always attending their meetings, a very active member, a director in the bank here and at Vicksburg, an advocate of good roads and electricity in the farm homes. Having no children of his own he was instrumental in educating a number of boys and girls, giving them a high school and college education and setting them up in business. He gave liberally to charity and took an active part in church work. He was born May 26, 1857, at Burlington, Wisconsin, and came to Tallulah in 1914. He was married to Ruth Powell November 7, 1935, who has been an active partner and a good assistant in his many business affairs, and a great comfort to him in his recent illness. The funeral was held yesterday morning from the Methodist church with the Rev. D. W. Poole assisted by Rev. W. H. Giles officiating. Interment was in the Silver Cross cemetery. From Vicksburg Evening Post, July 24, 1940 FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MR. PATTERSON SET AT TALLULAH Prominent Planter To Be Buried Thursday Morning TALLULAH, La., July 24-Funeral services for George W. Patterson, 84-year-old Madison parish planter and businessman, who died yesterday afternoon, will be held Thursday at 10 a. m., at the Methodist Church here, with the Rev. D. W. Poole pastor, officiating. Mr. Patterson was one of the outstanding citizens of the parish. His death yesterday, which occurred at his home a few miles from Tallulah, followed an illness of several months. Mr. Patterson was born May 26, 1857, in Wisconsin. Part of his early life he spent in Minnesota and had lived in Madison parish for the past 25 years. At one time he resided for a short while in Vicksburg, having interests in a dairy business there. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ruth Powell Patterson, a daughter, Mrs. Samuel Wesberry, of Woodville, Miss; two sisters, Miss Florence M. Patterson of Boston and Miss Minnie Patteson of Mankato, Minn.