Patterson family of OH and IA generation I

He was born in Patterson Mills, PA June 9,1801. His parents are unproven. There is a chance that his father is John Patterson, who was born in Lancaster Co. PA in January 1770 & died August 31, 1849 in McConnelsville, Morgan Co. OH, but I don't have any primary documentation that John was the father of William. Other unrelated Patterson lines also claim this John as "their own". Still other researchers will argue that John indeed is the proper ancestor in this family tree. Family lore says that William removed to OH with his parents as a young child.

William H. Patterson married Mary Elizabeth 'Polly' Taylor in Morgan Co. OH on June 21,1825. Mary was born in Westmorland, PA on September 30, 1802. Her parents are unknown.

A family history compiled in 1937 by Cora Patterson Stevens, his granddaughter, tells us that William bought land on the east bank of the Muskingum River about 5 mi. north of McConellsville, Morgan Co. OH. He also ".....bought the Shick Salt Works" and "He owned his boats on which he shipped his salt down the Muskingum, Ohio and Mississippi rivers..." and "he was known as Honest Uncle Billy" because of his ethical business practices. William operated the salt mine until around 1854.

The Patterson family is found on the 1850 census in Bloom twp, Morgan Co. OH; dwelling #701 family #718. Dwelling #702 family #719 lists son John W. and his wife Caroline. John W.'s occupation is Saltmaker.
Dwelling # 713 family #730 lists Margaret Patterson 67 female and Rebecca 30 female. Both women born in PA. Most likely this is his mother & sister.

In 1854/55 the family removed to Allamakee Co. IA. The history by Cora Patterson Stevens gives this accounting: "Early in the spring of 1855 William and family went by boat down the Muskingum and Ohio rivers and up the Mississippi to Burlington, Iowa.......went on up to McGregor where ox teams were waiting ......". Another version, undocumented family lore, is that they went to Iowa with the Elisha Harris family in a wagon train led by their son-in-law Elisha Harris.

William and Polly bought land, built a home and farmed for a few years before moving into the village of Postville. A listing of Business & Professional men of Postville, January 1868: Meat markets: John Hoppas and Wm. Patterson.

William and Mary also raised their 3 grand-daughters by their son James who died in the Civil War.

The Allamakee Co. IA farm owned by William Henry Patterson eventually passed down through the generations and it came to be known as 'Greens Sugar Bush'. It was owned by his g-grandson Ralph E. Green.

After Williams death in 1872 Polly, her grand-daughters and daughter Nancy moved to Grand Meadow Twp. Clayton Co. IA.

Polly died September 3, 1881 Postville, Iowa, at 78 years of age. William died November 13,1872 Postville, Iowa, at 71 years of age. They are interred in Minert Cemetery, Post twp. Allamakee Co. IA.

William Henry Patterson and Mary Elizabeth Taylor had 11 children: