YOUNG N. PATTERSON. This prominent and highly-honored citizen of Baxter County, Arkansas, was born on King’s Creek, three miles from King’s Mountain in Lincoln County, N. C. in 1840, a son of Alfred and Eliza (Ferguson) Patterson, who were born, reared and married in the Old North State, and from there moved to Itawamba County, Miss., where the father died at the age of fifty-two years, and the mother is still living on the old homestead. The father met with success in his farming operations, was practical and shrewd in the conduct of his affairs, and succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competency before the close of his earthly career. He was in the Black Hawk War of 1832, and helped to capture the noted chieftain of that name.
In the common schools of Mississippi Young H. Patterson received a practical education, after which he finished his scholastic education in an academy of that State. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, First Mississippi Infantry, and served in that regiment for nearly a year. At the fall of Ft. Donelson he was taken prisoner and for seven months was a captive at Camp Morton, Indianapolis. He was then exchanged and rejoined his old regiment, with which he served until Vicksburg fell when he became a member of Roddy’s cavalry. Three months later, at the battle of Selma, he was wounded in the leg by a pistol ball, and was later taken prisoner at Plantersville, but was soon discharged. As this was just prior to Lee’s surrender he did not reenter the service but returned home and began teaching school and farming, continuing both occupations there until 1874, when he came to Baxter County, Arkansas, and here has in his home place 200 acres of valuable land, besides being the owner of several other tracts in the county. His home place is very pretty, well improved, and everything about it indicates thrift and energy.
He commenced anew the battle of life at the close of the war, with a bullet in his leg, some very poor clothes, and a wife to take care of, but through sheer force of native ability he has bent the forces of circumstances to his will, and has been successful in the accumulation of a bountiful living and some property. While in Mississippi he served in the capacity of justice of the peace one term, and has filled the same position a like length of time in Baxter County, to which position he was elected by his numerous Democratic friends. He was married in the latter part of 1864 to Miss Caroline Thompson, of Monroe County, Miss., a daughter of William Thompson, and by her has three sons and seven daughters, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and socially Mr. Patterson is a Mason and a member of Fairview Lodge, in which he has held official position. He is a substantial citizen and deserves great credit for the manly way in which he has surmounted the many obstacles that have strewn his path.