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- "John K. Patterson. Occasionally we find one of the old school railroaders who has pulled coupling-pins, twisted brakes and punched tickets for over a third of a century and escaped with his life, but such men are scarce. He, of whom we are writing is such a man, who began in 1856 and relinquished his punch on the first of the present year [1909].
John K. Patterson is a son of David and Eva (Kern) Patterson, and was born in Sheridan [New York], this country, December 2, 1836."
John K. Patterson was reared in the town of Sheridan on a farm, and received his education in the Westfield and Fredonia academies, and after leaving school he taught the winter term of 1855-56, in the spring of the latter year going to Davenport, Iowa, which at that time was in the far west. Soon after his arrival there he secured work on what is known as the Great Rock Island route, his division being between Davenport and Iowa City. He remained there two years, and in 1858 returned home, living on the farm until 1863, when he went to Bradford and took charge of the construction train on the Bradford branch of the Erie R.R., where he remained until August, 1864. The fall of 1864 found him in Marietta, Georgia, employed in business until March, 1866, when the soldiers having withdrawn, he came away. His business was providing suppliers along the line. Upon his arrival in Dunkirk he hired a vessel and engaged in trade between the latter city and Canada, and the next year, forming a partnership with O. R. Oakley, he began the dry good business, the firm being Oakley & Patterson, and was continued until the fall of 1868, when President Andrew Johnson appointed him postmaster, his being the last appointment confirmed by the Senate, then in session. Upon assuming his duties, he disposed of the dry goods business, and devoted his whole time to the execution of the duties of his office, which he held until 1871.
In October, 1871, he took a passenger train on the D.A. V. & P. R. R., and ran as conductor until January 1, 1891, when he was appointed a special agent to collect statistics for the United States Government, Department of the Interior.
Mr. Patterson is an active republican and a member of the Baptist church, of which he has been treasurer for many years. He belongs to Irondequoit Lodge, No. 102, Free and Accepted Masons, of Dunkirk, has attained the rank of Sir Knight, and is a member of the Conductors' Insurance association.
John K. Patterson was twice married, first to Mary Seamans, of Poughkeepsie, New York, whom he married February 15, 1864. She came from a Quaker family, the daughter of Nelson Seamans. She died April 10, 1885, leaving four children: John K., Jr., Mary H., Maud J. and Jennie F. On December 15, 1886, he married Lida Cronkrite, of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county,k this State, and they have one child, Mildred K.
Mr. Patterson has a beautiful home on Central Avenue, Dunkirk, and is a pleasant, fine-looking gentleman, whose friendship is esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances."
Source: Obed Edson. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York. Philadelphia. July 1891. Pp. 405 & 406.
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