An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pp. 299-300.

JEREMIAH M. PATTERSON, the efficient and popular postmaster of The Dalles, Wasco
county, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, November 26, 1845, the son of John
and Eliza (Glenn) Patterson, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of
Pennsylvania. John Patterson died in Salem, Oregon, in 1873, and the mother in
1880.      

In the graded schools of Ohio, most excellent institutions, our subject received
a good business education. He was a patriotic youth, and, fully realizing the
duty owed to his country, he enlisted before he had reached the age of sixteen
years, in Company A., Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, and served gallantly three years
during the progress of the Civil war. He participated in the heavy battles of
Shiloh, Pittsburgh Landing, Corinth, Stone River, Perryville, Chickamauga and
many other minor engagements and skirmishes. Mr. Patterson was in the signal
service, during the latter portion of his enlistment, and was, also, telegraph
operator. At the breaking out of the war he had just learned telegraphy, with
the valuable assistance of his father, who had charge of the railway station at
New Concord, Ohio.       Following his discharge he went home on a visit and
then entered the government employment in the capacity of a telegraph operator,
in which he continued until May, 1865. Although not yet sixteen years of age at
the time of his enlistment young Patterson carried a musket and saw active
service during the first eighteen months. Fortunately he was not wounded, with
the exception of a slight scratch on the finger. He emerged from the war none
the worse for his hardships and exposures, and in perfect health. The family
removed to Iowa where our subject engaged in the mercantile business with his
father in Des Moines, one year, and then they disposed of the property and our
subject found employment with the Northwestern Railway Company until 1868, as
telegrapher. January 9, 1869, he left New York for Oregon via the isthmus,
whither he had been preceded by his father a short time previous.      

Our subject and the rest of the family arrived at Salem, Oregon, February 11,
1869. He lived there sixteen years. During two years Mr. Patterson was assistant
postmaster, and the following ten years he was engaged in the real estate
business. He conducted a machine shop and foundry three years, was burned out
and the following year again became assistant postmaster. In April, 1885, he
went to the Warm Springs Indian Agency in the capacity of clerk, remained one
year and then came to The Dalles to become bookkeeper for A.M. Williams and
Company, with whom he remained eight years. He then became cashier of the First
National Bank, at The Dalles, during a period of three years, and afterward was
engaged in various enterprises until 1900 when he received the appointment of
postmaster of The Dalles. During his incumbency the system of free delivery has
been installed, and the office is well equipped with everything necessary for a
proper and convenient conduct of the business, including a Doremus canceling
machine and other labor saving devices. The office is served by an assistant
postmaster, two carriers, for city work, two clerks, and one rural delivery
carrier.      

December 18, 1872, at Salem, Oregon, Mr. Patterson was married to Blanche Gray,
born in Iowa, who came to Oregon via the isthmus in 1865. She is the daughter of
George W. and Minerva (Berry) Gray, the father a native of Pennsylvania, the
mother of Iowa. George W. Gray died in August, 1900, and his wife in December, f
903, at Salem. Mrs. Patterson has three brothers and two sisters living: William
T. and George B., engaged in the hardware business at Seattle; Charles A., a
contractor, living at Salem; Mrs. U.U. Lownsdale, of Portland; and Jennie G.
Kyle, of Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have four children: Edward G., a merchant
at Waterville, Washington; Beulah G., Prudence M.. and William G., living at
home. Our subject is a member of J.W. Nesmith Post G.A.R., at The Dalles, and
for the past five years he has been commander. He also belongs to the W.O.W.,
and Order of Washington. He and his wife are members of the Congregational
church. He is a Republican and has frequently been delegate to county
conventions, and was two terms chairman of central committee, Wasco county.
While in the real estate business in Salem he served two terms as city recorder.



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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.