HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG1310.AM: Joseph Diven Patterson, 1836-1903
Reminiscence: 1901
Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska: Superintendent of public schools; county surveyor
Size: One folder
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 1835, Joseph Diven Patterson was the son of John Patterson, a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. John Patterson died when Joseph was six years old. Mrs. Patterson had a difficult time raising three young sons on her own, so Joseph’s uncle, Samuel Patterson, offered to take and raise Joseph.
Joseph moved around quite a bit during his lifetime; living in at least nine states, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Montana and Nebraska. Between 1861 and 1903 he spent time in several Nebraska communities, including Rock Bluff, Fremont, Portal and Papillion. The bulk of his time in Nebraska was spent serving as the County Superintendent of Public Schools and as county surveyor in Sarpy County. He also served seven years as postmaster of Portal, Nebraska.
Joseph Diven Patterson died on February 10, 1903 in Papillion, Nebraska.
Note: See the collection for more detailed information about the life and career of Joseph D. Patterson.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection consists of a typescript reminiscence (photocopy) written by Joseph D. Patterson in 1901. The reminiscence is titled, “Something written for Mrs. Lulu P. Nickerson by Her Father, 1901.” In the reminiscence Patterson describes his family and education. He mentions “troubles” with Indians, as well as meeting the abolitionist, John Brown. He describes life in Ohio, Virginia, Montana and Nebraska, as well as several years he spent in Brazil. The collection also includes a photocopy of Patterson’s obituary from The Papillion Times.
INVENTORY
Reminiscence, 1901
ADDED ENTRIES:
Bellevue (Nebraska) — History
Fremont (Nebraska) — History
Papillion (Nebraska) — History
Patterson, Joseph Diven, 1836-1903
Rock Bluff (Nebraska) — History
Sarpy County (Nebraska) — History
Virginia — History
Revised TMM 02-14-2011
