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ARTHUR H. PATTERSON.--This is
a sketch of a pioneer and commonwealth builder. All the years of his matured
manhood were sedulously devoted to the development and nurture of the
resources and industries of his chosen western home and his death, at the
age of forty-eight years, was a distinct loss to Fort Collins, Larimer
county and to Colorado. He was closely identified with the early history and
subsequent growth of Fort Collins, contributing liberally of his time and
means to its up building and material advancement. He was one of the doners
to the state of the 240-acre tract, since utilized as the Agricultural
college farm, the main college building, the chemical laboratory, the old
and new domestic science building, the horticultural hall, the college
library building, the mechanic shops, the old engineering building and the
group of buildings in use by the department of veterinary science all
standing on the eighty-acre tract once owned by him and given free to the
people. He was an energetic business man and erected two large and
substantial business blocks, one of which stood on the northeast corner of
Jefferson and Pine streets and was destroyed by fire in 1889. The other, a
part of what is known as the Jefferson block is still standing at the
northwest corner of Jefferson and Pine streets. Arthur H. Patterson was born
May 31, 1844, at Trough, Huntington county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish
parents. Later his father’s family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Arthur
received the benefit of a good common school education. In 1856, when but
twelve years of age, his father emigrated with his family to Leavenworth,
Kansas, where, shortly afterwards, the father died. It was while living at
Leavenworth that young Patterson made the acquaintance of William F. Cody,
since become famous as scout, guide, Indian fighter and showman, who is know
the world over as "Buffalo Bill". Their acquaintance ripened into a
friendship that cemented them together in ties of enduring strength, which
the changes of time and circumstances of later years never affected. In
1860, Mr. Patterson, in company with Mr. Cody, came to Denver. They were
both mere boys, only sixteen years old, but they were full of courage and
ripe for adventure. In January, 1862, both left for New Mexico in charge of
government trains carrying supplies for Col. Chivington’s command which
fought the decisive battle at Apache Canon, resulting in the defeat of the
Confederates under Gen. Sibley. In 1863, Mr. Cody returned to his home in
Kansas, but Mr. Patterson remained in the West, serving in the various
capacities of wagon master in charge of freight trains for government
contractors, superintendent of stage lines, mule trains, bull trains, etc.,
until he came to the Cache la Poudre valley in 1866. Notwithstanding his
youth, Mr. Patterson was entrusted with the management and control of
immense freighting outfits, requiring from forty to fifty teamsters all of
whom looked to him for orders, and this trust was never abused. On coming to
Fort Collins in 1866, he at once established himself in business and was
noted for his push and enterprise. In December, 1873, Mr. Patterson married
Alice M. Watrous, eldest daughter of Hon. W. F. Watrous. Six children, five
girls and one son, were born of the union, all of whom are living. He had
held many offices of public trust and great responsibility in Larimer county
and Fort Collins, always discharging the duties thereof to the satisfaction
of the people. He was twice elected county clerk, served as clerk of the
district court, and as alderman from his ward in the city council. In 1884
he was the candidate of his party for the representative in the Colorado
General assembly, and, though his party was largely in the minority,
succeeded by his strong personal following in greatly reducing his
opponent’s majority. He died from dropsy on December 27th, 1892. |
