by Bailey, Elms Doudna.

See previous entry: Little Home Histories, Part 53 -- The Patterson History: A Dog Story.

Joseph Patterson was born third month 18th 1753, and married Hannah Marmon in 1775. She was born second month, 27th 1753.

Their daughter, Sara Patterson, was born fourth month 8th 1790, and married John Shoebridge Williams. He was born 7th month 31st 1790. They were married 9th month 16th 1813. Sara died 5th month 29th 1858. John died 4th month 27th 1878.

John Shoebridge Williams was my fathers great uncle and a brother of his grandmother Elizabeth Williams Garretson. Joseph Patterson died 5th month 7th 1816 at the age of 63, and was the first one buried in the grave yard at Ridge. His wife, Hannah Marmon Patterson, died 2nd month 9th 1820 at the age of 67.

Uncle John Shoebridge Williams helped build the National Road. In 1826 he became the assistant of C.W. Wever in the construction of the National Road in Ohio -- east of Zanesville. It was his business to superintend the grading and macadamizing of the Maysville turnpike, which he did during the six years of its construction. That road -- together with the engineering of drivers roads (drover roads) in Kentucky and several diverging from the city of Cincinnati and some other roads in this state -- will long remain as marks of seventeen years labor.

I will copy a little from the American Pioneer, which Uncle John S. Williams wrote in 10th month 1843.

"In my twenty second year, I took up school near Barnesville, where the bright blue eyes of one of my pupils, Sara Patterson by name (the same eyes that do not wear glasses to this day) together with her rosy cheeks, seemed to monopolize in themselves all that was good, bright, or pretty in Euclid, Ferguson, Newton, Bacon, Martin, and a host of other authors that were dear to me. The purpose of my life seemed to be changed. Here let me drop a caution to the fair lasses not to let their eyes shine too sparkingly around, for they know not what harm they might do. How many good scholars in prospect they might spoil, and how much of the course of life might be changed by them."

Later he says, "Ten fine children have in times past sat around my table. Other kinds of wealth I never was adept at either collecting or keeping together. The lack of such a trait of character I shall not regret until it is seen that money bestows merit, or that the value of the man is in direct proportion to the weight of his purse. Having seen some men do more good with one dollar than others with their thousands, the conclusion had been forced upon me, that riches are more frequently detriments than in blessings. This however, is not the fault of the property, but of those who possess it."

Source: Written by: Elms Doudna Bailey.

See next entry: Little Home Histories, Part 55 -- 'Bob Peters'.

For the table of contents and first entry in this series, please see: Little Home Histories, Part 01 -- Table of Contents and Introduction.

This entry is adapted from Little Home Histories in Our Early Homes, Belmont County, Ohio, which was published in 1942. Its publication was coordinated by Robert D. and Beulah Patten McDonald. This entry has been reedited for inclusion in the Pierian Press Fulltext eBooks database, and is included on the Stratton House Inn Website by special permission. This entry is licensed for use ONLY on this Website. It may be used for educational purposes and personal pleasure under fair-use provisions via this Website. Please note that the Stratton House Inn iteration of this entry does NOT include the subject headings assigned each chapter for use in the Fulltext eBooks database.

DATABASE: Fulltext eBooks: Copyright (c) 2002 The Pierian Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved
ENTRY NUMBER: EBK30013754

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