Pattersonh
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
HECTOR PATTERSON, who is now
identified with the fruit industry of Chelan county, resides near Mission.
He was born in Scotland, June 16, 1845, but came with his parents to Canada
when he was only a year old. His parents, Hector and Catherine (Love)
Patterson, were both natives of Scotland. The father died in Canada
in 1895, and he was survived by his widow only three years. Our subject
was reared in Canada and attended the district schools there, improving
his opportunities so far as possible, and when sixteen years of age he
went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he found employment in the lumber woods.
Eighteen months thereafter he removed to Wisconsin where he became a clerk
for a large milling concern, and in this work, and various other employments,
he continued until 1876, making his home principally in Oshkosh.
In this latter city he was graduated from a business college, having previously
attended a similar institution in Milwaukee. Coming to the Puget
Sound country our subject worked in the lumber district three years, and
then filed on a claim lying on the Nooksack river, in Whatcom county.
Within six months he was flooded out, and he then came across the mountains
and was in the service of the Northern Pacific railway company three years.
In 1882 Mr. Patterson entered the employment of Shellworth & Company
of Walla Walla, being assigned to their Clark's Fork store, as head bookkeeper.
Following a short period passed in Ainsworth, Washington, he came to Waterville,
Douglas Chelan county, identified himself with the stock raising industry,
fifteen years. He then removed to his present location, one and one-quarter
miles from Mission, and purchased twenty acres of land, now having
five acres set out to orchard, and which he intends to increase.
Mr. Patterson has four brothers living, Neil,
John, in Detroit, Michigan; William, a bridge contractor, in Kentucky,
and Duncan, a farmer, residing near Waterville. His two sisters are
Catherine, widow of Mr. Hardy, and Sarah, wife of James Dawson, of Detroit.
Mr. Patterson is single, his niece, Jeanette Patterson, living with him.
He is a member of Camp No. 5856, M. W. A., of Mission, and the K. O. T.
M., of which he is record keeper. He is a Democrat. In the
campaign of 1900 he was a candidate for county auditor on the fusion ticket,
but was defeated. In Douglas county he was delegate to many county
conventions, and when the county was organized he was appointed assessor.