Source: Williamsburg Journal Tribune August
6, 1914
Patterson--Melissa Patterson died at
her home in Honey Creek Township on July 21, 1914, aged 92 years.
"Grandmother" Patterson was among the oldest of Iowa
County's residents as well as among the early pioneers. She came here in
1856 and her home life was singularly happy and no finer character was
known in Iowa County. The funeral services were held at the home and the
interment was in the Koszta cemetery. She is survived by her son Samuel,
and two daughters, Mrs. J.L. Rader of Howard, Kansas and Mrs. Sarah
Sherman of Ladora, Iowa.
Melissa Nicholson, daughter of Samuel and Francis Brandon, was born in Miami
county, Ohio, May 15, 1822, and died at her home in Honey Creek township,
Iowa County, Iowa, July 21, 1914, age 92 years, 2 months and 6 days.
Melissa Patterson, or "Grandmother," as she was called by
all, as a mark of esteem for her, has lived continuously on the old
Patterson homestead for nearly sixty years, except a short time spent with
her son's family in Marengo.
She came to Iowa in the fall of 1856, with her husband,
the late Alexander Patterson, one of the pioneer settlers of this county.
Her husband, having a family of children bereft of a mother, found in her
the sterling qualities of a woman grown from childhood "in the fear and
admonition of the Lord."
Her life has been one especially filled with
responsibilities. Her dear mother died when she was a child of ten years,
leaving one son older, a daughter and two sons younger than herself, for
whom she cared, to the utmost of her strength and ability. She has given us
many an interesting tale of her early life, when she scutched the flax, spun
the thread, wove the cloth and sewed the garments for the orphan family; or
spun the yarn and knit the stockings when there was no source from which to
secure the necessities of life except through her own efforts.
She told us, too, of many a lonely vigil over the little
flock while in constant dread of Indians, of the primitive methods of
cooking, the inconveniences of pioneer life, and the many struggles of her
childhood.
Born of ancestry known as revolutionary patriots, (the
names of Knox, Brandon and Armstrong, etc., among them), she shrunk from no
task, wavered in no duty, but ever looked forward with an unfaltering faith.
One who knew her well says of her, "the harder the task the happier she
seemed".
Being possessed of the ornament "of a meek and quiet
spirit," her home duties, the hospitalities of pioneer life, charity to the
needy and ministering to the sick filled her measure of life. Her favorite
quotation was "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Timothy
2:15)
Realizing that "of all the misfortunes that harass the
human family none are so relentless as old age," her son and wife whose home
she has shared, have ever been mindful of her pleasure and comfort.
Her failure has been so gradual that for about five years
she has been unable to assist with the work she loved to do. She really had
no sickness. For about six weeks we have seen the end drawing near. During
all this time she has not complained, never spoke of anything except being a
little tired, refused all food save a little liquid. She was well
constituted, her organism so evenly balanced that nothing failed until the
great master workman, the wheels of life stood still, old age the cause of
her death.
Her husband's family to whom she sought to bring comfort,
consisted of Lemuel lately deceased, James of Marengo, Johnny of New Mexico,
Jennie "Beulah Jane" who died many years ago and Lena "Mary Angeline", (Mrs
William Dye) lately deceased.
She is survived by her son, Samuel two daughters, Mrs.
J.L. Rader, of Howard, Kansas, Mrs. Sarah Sherman of Ladora, all of whom
have been with her during the closing hours of life. There is also one
brother, Benjamin Nicholson, nine grandchildren and three great
grandchildren.