Patterson Family Papers

Access and Provenance

Series Listing

Brief Biographical Sketch

Jefferson Patterson was raised in Dayton, Ohio, on the family farm, which he inherited along with the lumber mill on the death of his father. Jefferson's marriage to Julia Johnston (1811-1897) united two of Ohio most famous pioneer families. Julia was the daughter of Col. John Johnston (1775-1861), a well-known Indian agent and trader in Piqua, Ohio. A native of Ireland, Johnston emigrated to America in 1786. He served in the supply business for Wayne's army in 1793-1794, and in Fort Wayne, 1798-1812. In 1812, he was appointed Indian agent at Upper Piqua, Ohio.

Jefferson and Julia Johnston Patterson had 14 children. One, John H. Patterson (1844-1922) gained national prominence. With his brother Frank J.(1849-1901), John H. Patterson co-founded the National Cash Register Company in Dayton in 1884. As president of NCR, he developed the cash register into an indispensable commercial tool, and his innovative marketing and employee relations practices revolutionized American business. He was also very active in local civic affairs and was instrumental in the formation of the city manager style of government in Dayton.

A detailed Patterson Family genealogy is located in Box 14, File 39. Family histories of the Johnston Family are in Box 13, Files 20, 21, and 26, and a family history of the Pattersons is located in Box 13, File 28. Scrapbook #10 also contains extensive biographical material on Col. John Johnston.

Scope and Content

Series I, family correspondence, consists of letters exchanged between members of the Patterson and Johnston Families. Col. Robert Patterson's letters cover the years 1810-1829 and consist of correspondence from the Colonel to various family members, friends, and associates. A majority of the letters are addressed to his son, Francis, and pertain to business matters. Another portion of correspondence consists of letters from Col. John Johnston to his daughter and son-in-law, Jefferson and Julia Johnston Patterson. These letters cover the years 1832-1860 and discuss Johnston's business as an Indian agent and trader in Piqua, family and health matters, gossip, and advice. Another set of letters are from Rachael Johnston to her daughter, Julia, and span the years 1833-1840. Childbirth, children, health, and miscellaneous family matters are the major topics of discussion in these letters. Of particular interest in this series are the letters to Julia Johnston Patterson from four of her sons who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. A complete transcription of these letters is contained in Box 14, File 41. Correspondence in this series is arranged chronologically within each file folder and the span dates are 1810-1867.

Series II and III contain business and financial records covering the years 1780-1963. The bulk of the records, however, are in the 19th century. These records relate primarily to the operation of the Patterson family farm and lumber mill. A portion of Col. Robert Patterson's land surveys and Quartermaster records are also included. A major portion of Series III, receipts and financial records, is composed of short notes from customers directing the Pattersons to deliver to the bearer of the note a certain amount of unspecified goods. Some of the correspondence in Series II is personal, but the major portion is business and legal in nature. The papers in these two series are arranged chronologically and the span dates are 1780-1963 for Series II, and 1790-1869 for Series III.

Series IV consists of 17 scrapbooks compiled under the supervision of John H. Patterson. These scrapbooks are an eclectic collection of letters and cards, newsclippings on a wide range of subjects, certificates, memorabilia, business and school records, photographs, and family histories. The materials that were not glued down onto pages were placed in file folders and arranged into groups by scrapbook. Of particular interest are scrapbooks 1 and 2, which contain Patterson Family histories and John H. Patterson personal history, and scrapbook 10, which contains material on Col. John Johnston.

The miscellaneous materials in Series V include a Patterson Family genealogy and family tree, materials regarding the Patterson Family Homestead, and three Saturday Evening Posts, published in 1953, which contain articles on John H. Patterson and the National Cash Register Company.

Series VI, photographs, contains a print of a painting of Col. John Johnston, a Jane Reece photographic print of Frank Stuart Patterson, a number of images from the 1913 Dayton Flood, a lithograph of J.H. Patterson, and a file of photographs of Edith McClure Patterson who was a niece of John H. and involved in local and state Republican politics during the 1930's and 40's.

Series VII, newspapers, consists of 25 single editions of various newspapers, mostly from Dayton, Cincinnati, and Piqua published during the Civil War and earlier.

Container Listing