I found the following bio while looking through this book and hope that it may be of help to some researcher. Please do not e-mail me for more information as I am not related and this is all there is! Jack McNatt in Sunny Florida ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >From "The Biographical Record of Linn County Iowa." Published in 1901 by the S.J. Clarke Publishing Company of Chicago IL. WILLIAM J. PATTERSON For over sixty years William J. Patterson has been connected with the history of Linn county, and few have done more for its upbuilding than he. He was born in Pike county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1812, and is a worthy representative of a prominent old family of that state, being a grandson of Robert Patterson, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and a pioneer of Pennsylvania. The father, Isaac Patterson, was born in that state, and when a young man went to Pike county, where he married Nellie Jones, a native of that county and a daughter of Squire Jones, who was one of its earliest settlers. For several years Mr. Patterson was one of the prominent farmers of Pike county, but later removed to Knox county, Ohio, where he cleared and improved a farm, making it his home throughout the remainder of his life. William J. Patterson grew to manhood in Knox county, Ohio, and in early life assisted his father in clearing away the timber from the farm, making rails and breaking the land. As the great part of his time was devoted to these arduous tasks he had little opportunity to attend school, and is almost wholly self-educated, though for a few months during the winter he pursued his studies in an old log school house. During his youth he learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he served a three years apprenticeship, and then worked as a journeyman on Kenyon College for thirteen dollars a month and board. He was employed at journeyman work for some time. He spent two seasons working his trade in Toledo, Ohio, and then returned to Knox county, though he subsequently worked at Columbus, Ohio for two years. In the spring of 1840 Mr. Patterson came to Marion, Iowa, having previously visited this locality in 1837, before going to Columbus. On coming to Marion he was in the employ of others for a time, and then engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He assisted in building the court house, several years being spent in its construction, as there was no public money in the treasury and lumber was hard to obtain. Later he superintended the erection of a public school building, the poor house, and the old Smith Hotel, besides building numerous business houses and residences in Marion. In 1875 he sold his home and other property in that place and removed to Vineland, New Jersey, where he resided about eighteen months. At the end of that time he went to Philadelphia, where the following year was passed, and in 1878 returned to Marion, Iowa. A year later he removed to Cedar Rapids and purchased a lot on which he erected his present home. After years of active labo! r he is now living retired, having acquired a comfortable competence which enables him to spend his declining days in ease and quiet. Mr. Patterson was married in Marion, in October, 1852, to Miss Elida M. Dumont, who was born reared and educated in New Jersey, and became one of the pioneer teachers of this state. They have one son, W.D., a dentist of Cedar Rapids, who is married and resides with his parents. Originally Mr. Patterson was an old line Whig in politics, and cast his vote for William H. Harrison in 1836. Owing to his removal to this state in 1840, he lost his vote that year, but since then has never failed to deposit his ballot for the candidate of his choice at each presidential election. He continued to affiliate with the Whig party until 1856, when he became a Republican, and has since been identified with that great political organization. Coming to Linn county in pioneer days, Mr. Patterson has witnessed almost its entire growth and development. The difference between the past and present can scarcely be realized, even by those who have been active participants in the development of the county. Mr. Patterson has ever borne his part in the advancement and upbuilding of this locality. His upright course in life commands the respect and commendation of all, and his labors as a founder of this county justly entitle him to a prominent place in its annals.