CAPTAIN JOHN R. PATTERSON
Was born in Lunenburg county, Virginia, on July 12, 1834. He is the
son of William Patterson, born in Ireland, died in 1837, aged fifty-one
years, and Ann Atkinson, born in 1798, died 1883. In Petersburg,
April 9, 1867, he married Betty M., daughter of Edmund H. and Sara
(Cabaniss) Osborne, both now deceased. She was born in Petersburg,
April 30, 1841, and died on July 4th, 1872. Their children are:
Edmund H., born April 9, 1868; Betty O., born June 20, 1872; Ann,
died June 23, 1872.
Captain Patterson went to various country schools in Lunenburg
county, and completed his academic studies at Frederick, Maryland,
entering on a mercantile business previous to the war. He entered
the military service of the State of Virginia on April 19, 1861, sergeant
Co. E, 12th Virginia Infantry; was promoted lieutenantin 1861, captain
in 1864. He was wounded at Crampton Gap, Maryland, September 14,
1862, gun shot in right leg; was in battles of Seven Pines, Malvern Hill,
Crampton Gap the Wilderness, Spotsylvania C. H., second Cold Harbor,
and many others, and surrendered at Appomattox C. H. He returned
to Petersburg after the war, and resumed the grocery business, in which
he continued until appointed postmaster, August 24, 1886, which office
he is still (1888) acceptably filling.
