Surnames: Patterson, Smith, Lafferty, McAlllister, Denney
J G Patterson was born in Franklin Township, Fayette County, Penna, August 23, 1830. He is a son of James Patterson and Jane Smith Patterson, who were born near Philadelphia and of Scotch Irish descent. Mr Patterson's father was a farmer, his family consisting of nine children, of whom J G is the seventh. He was reared in Fayette County, Penna, attending Madison College at Uniontown, and Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penna. He studied medicine with Dr W L Lafferty of Brownsville, Penna, and practiced one year at Havana, Mason County, Illinois. He then engaged in the drug business in Pittsburgh, Penna, for a period of eleven years.In 1854 he married Miss Nancy J McAllister, daughter of John McAllister, and they are the parents of two children: Julian S Patterson, who is a physician at Carlisle, Penna, and Anna Patterson, wife of George L Denney of Fayette County, Penna.
In 1862 Mr Patterson enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When the company was organized, he was elected First Lieutenant. In 1863 he resigned on account of ill health, returned to Greene County, and engaged in the oil business, and subsequently in mechanical pursuits. In politics Mr Patterson is a Democrat, in religion a Presbyterian. His wife is a devoted member of the M E Church.