Arthur Mitchell Patterson Died 1931

PATTERSON, CLEMENTS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/13/2020 at 16:32:22

Onawa Democrat
19 March 1931

Whiting Pioneer Laid To Rest

A. M. (Arthur Mitchell) Patterson Pioneer Merchant of Whiting Succumbs To Heart Failure.

Came to Whiting in 1878 – Passed Away at His Home in Whiting on March 11 After Three Weeks Illness Which Confined Him to His Bed – Funeral Was Held on Friday

Monona County lost another pioneer and widely respected citizen on Wednesday afternoon March 11, 1931 when Arthur M. Patterson, pioneer Whiting, Iowa merchant passed away at his home there shortly after 2 o’clock as a result of heart failure.

Born in Belfast, Maine on September 10, 1856, Mr. Patterson grew to young manhood there and then came west in 1878 settling in the Whiting community. He worked for a while, and then came back to Whiting to become a partner in the Dimmick and Patterson hardware store.

After living 11 years at Whiting he went to Cordova, Nebraska where he was engaged in mercantile business for 4 years, but in 1893 he came back to Whiting and had resided there continuously until his death.

He became associated with Mr. McCausland in the conduct of a general store and later he bought out his partner becoming sole owner of the business. Just a few weeks prior to his death, he disposed of the business because of ill health. At the time the Patterson store was the oldest store in Whiting.

In July 1928 Mr. Patterson started to have trouble with his heart and was forced to drop some of the activities in which he had been engaged. The trouble became more serious as time passed on and gradually, he dropped out of active business. He was later confined to his home and for 3 weeks before his death he was in bed. Devoted care was given him by his wife and everything that medical science could do was done to relieve him. At times he suffered intense pain, but the end came peacefully.

Mr. Patterson went back to his old home in Maine to claim his bride on February 24, 1883. He was married to Miss Mary Frances Clements, whom he brought back to a home at Whiting. To this union were born 5 children, L.A. Patterson of Sioux City, Mrs. Horace S. Davis of Billings, Montana, Mrs. E.P. Yates of Onawa, Mrs. Emmett Brouillette of Sioux City and R.C. Patterson of Martingtin, Nebraska. With his family he was always a most devoted husband and father, and the home life was a model one.

Throughout his life at Whiting, Mr. Patterson was a constant member and worker in the 1st Congregational Church. His pastor there always spoke of his loyalty to them and he was ever ready and willing to give in his power for the good of the Church. He was especially interested in the Brotherhood Organization of the Sunday School, being its most regular attendants.

In community affairs Mr. Patterson was equally prominent never a seeker after public honors he never sought public office but devoted his talents to the up building of the community and to standing consistently for the things he believed were right. He became widely known for his honorable dealings with all men, for the zeal with which he fought for the better, things in life and for his personal honesty and integrity. He counted as his friends all with whom he became acquainted with, for he, this personal relationship his friends found him a true sportsman and the type of friend upon whom they could depend no matter when happened.

His going is mourned by his widow, the five children and countless friends. He also leaves one brother C.B. Patterson of Fairfield, California. A sister-in-law Miss Belle Culments had made her home with him and his family and was as close and dear to him as a sister,9 grandchildren survive him.

Final tribute was paid to this outstanding citizen on Friday afternoon. After private services at the home a public service was held at the First Congregational Church which was packed with friends from the Whiting Community and from many nearby towns. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Hoerner, pastor of the church, Assisted by Rev. G.H. Croker, who had been Mr. Patterson’s first pastor at Whiting. The fact that Mr. Patterson had been one “who stood for first things first” was stressed by Rev. Mr. Hoerner in his eulogy, “Beautiful floral tributes sent by friends from many communities were banked the rostrum and on the casket.

The pallbearers were all of friends of Mr. Patterson and each of them had been actively associated with him in the affairs of the Congregational Brotherhood. They were W.C. Whiting, E.M. Whiting, W.B. Whiting, W.G. Brown, J.T. Kilbourne and Roy Crawford.

Interment was in the Whiting Cemetery, where Mr. Paterson was laid to rest near the last resting place of a number of other pioneers, all of whom were dear friends of him.