NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG3637.AM: James Madison Patterson, 1836-1903
Diary: 1861-1873
Rock Bluff, Cass County, Neb.: Stockraiser
Size: 1 diary
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
James Madison Patterson was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1836. He received his early education in the public schools and worked in his father’s mercantile store. On August 17, 1858, Patterson married Ellen H. Campbell and the couple had ten children.
In 1861 Patterson came to Nebraska and opened a store in Rock Bluff, Cass County. After three years he and his brother Ambrose sold out. Patterson returned to Pennsylvania where he purchased some 1,000 head of sheep which he brought to Rock Bluff. After experimenting with sheep raising for three years, he sold his holdings and returned to the mercantile trade which he continued with his cousin, James Walker, until 1873. The following year Patterson moved to Plattsmouth, and in December of 1881, became associated with the Bank of Cass County. He held the positions of cashier and director until his ill health forced his resignation in January of 1901.
James Patterson’s political career included his election in 1861 to the Nebraska Territorial Legislature which however, did not convene because of the Civil War. In 1870 he was elected to the Nebraska House of Representatives and in 1882, was elected to the State Senate. A democrat throughout his life, Patterson also held various county and city offices.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of the diary of James M. Patterson of Rock Bluff and Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The entries, while brief, contain interesting references to Patterson’s sheep-raising experiments, farm life, and social activities in and around Rock Bluff. A Franklin Almanac was used for the diary and it includes yearly resumes of national events, especially during the Civil War period.
DESCRIPTION
Diary of James M. Patterson, 1861-1873
ADDED ENTRIES:
Cass County (Neb.) — History
Farm life — Nebraska — Cass County
Livestock — Nebraska
Patterson, James Madison, 1836-1903
Plattsmouth (Neb.) — History
Rock Bluff (Neb.) — History
Sheep
JEP/DDS/ht 08-31-1973
Encoded TMM 01-25-2011
