[p. 494] whose excellent farm of fifty-two acres of well cultivated land, situated in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is a part of the old homestead farm, is one of the representative citizens of this section. He was born on this farm, October 28, 1839, and is a son of James R. and Margaret (Robison) Patterson.
The Patterson family has been established in North Beaver Township for many years, the old grandfather, Robert Patterson, being its founder. It is probable that the early ancestors of this family came from Ireland, but Robert Patterson lived in eastern Pennsylvania before coming across the mountains to the undeveloped western part of the State, in the days when North Beaver Township was almost a wilderness. The grandfather lived and died on the farm on which his children were reared. James R. Patterson was a child of six years when the family came to Lawrence County, and he grew to manhood on the above farm, which was situated north of Westfield Church. After his marriage to Margaret Robison, a daughter of George Robison, he rented a farm for several years and then bought a wild tract of land, containing 106 acres. This land was well situated and James R. Patterson cleared it all and erected the buildings which stand on the western section, that portion belonging to his two daughters, Martha Patterson and Mrs. Margaret Miller, both of whom reside at Petersburg. They have it cultivated by a tenant. When Mr. Patterson started to build his house, he was obliged to first make a clearing, the woods were so dense at that time. Both James R. Patterson and wife died on this farm. They were people of high standing in the community, church members and esteemed as neighbors and friends.
Frank G. Patterson attended the district schools near his home, in his boyhood, and all his mature life has been given to agricultural pursuits. His home and interests have always been in North Beaver Township. When his portion of the homestead farm came to him he began improving it, built his comfortable residence in 1869, and in 1880 put up the substantial barn.
Mr. Patterson married Martha S. Leslie, who was born and reared on an adjoining farm. She is a daughter of Adam and Betsy (Vaneman) Leslie. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have five children, namely: William E., who is a farmer residing in Little Beaver Township, married Bertha Swisher and they have two children, Raymond and Martha; Elsie R. and Bessie both reside at home; Raymond, who died at the age of twenty-one years; and Annetta, who married William Young, has one child, Virgil. Mr. Patterson is a member and liberal supporter of the Westfield Presbyterian Church.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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