The  Shelbyville  News
August 23, 1958
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OLD  SHELBY
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          (Editor's note:  The following was written by  Mary Ellen Patterson,  then a senior at Morristown high school.  The composition won first prize in the Historical Society's essay contest, which was conducted in the Shelby county schools in 1953.  Miss Patterson later attended Butler University and is now  Mrs. Gaylord Cole,  Fountain City, Ind., where her husband teaches agriculture.  The Coles have two children.

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THE  CHERRY  CHEST

          The ancient cherry chest occupies an honored place in my bedroom.  What a story that old chest could tell if it could talk.
          It left Scotland for the new world in the early part of the eighteenth century, carrying the possessions of  James Patterson,  my great-great-great-grandfather.  He left the seaboard in the company of his wife, for the new State of Indiana.  They found their way to Shelby county and in 1822 settled a farm in VanBuren township.  The land grant office for this district was at Brookville.  The land grant deed was signed by President James Monroe.  In making the trip to the land grant office, they traveled by way of the Whetzel trace.
          The deed and the original land grant are in the possession of my grandfather,  James A. Patterson.  The farm has never been owned or farmed by a person of any other name.  Every owner has been born on the farm with the exception of the first James Patterson.  He is buried in the family burial plot on the farm which he homesteaded.  A few of his neighbors lie with him, perhaps 30 or more.  The burial plot is tended by my father and grandfather.  The oldest date inscribed upon a tombstone is May 29, 1775.  This is my great-great grandmother's tombstone.
          The cherry chest contained some silver goblets which have been treasured and preserved throughout the years.  These came from Scotland and have no doubt seen happy and sad times there.  Maybe they know to what clan the Patterson belong.  I have often wondered.
          The year 1853 saw the construction of the first frame house on the farm.  Today three rooms of the original house are still in use.  A few rods south of the house once stood the Windfall Church.  This church was named for a storm which felled all the trees in the locality at one time.  The early Pattersons attended church but when the Methodist circuit riders penetrated the county, they joined with the others to form the Freeport Methodist Church.  My great-grandfather,  Horace  and his wife  Nellie (Mellis) Patterson  were among the founders of the new church.  My great-great uncle,  Add Mellis  gave the land for the church and his brother,  Alec,  furnished the lumber.  To insure that the church would not be closed or sold by the church conference, a codicil was added to the deed, declaring that if the church was ever closed, the land would revert back to the Mellis descendants.
          My great grandfather Horace heard the engine that exploded on the old Knightstown-Shelbyville railroad.  This occurred near Hanover cemetery east of Blue River and his home.  I've often heard my grandfather tell of his father wading Blue River to the wreck.  Traces of the old mill race can still be seen along the banks of the river.
          The Pattersons have been thrifty fold and tended the old farm well.  During the years many more acres have been added.  Each year the land produces better crops as new practices are put into use.
          The old cherry chest has moved to Hanover township, but still dreams on in the possession of the youngest Patterson.  Will I have to be a lady farmer and carry on the old tradition?   Only time can tell that story.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  News
Wednesday, December 14, 1949
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LOCAL  PURDUE
SENIOR  NAMED
TO  "WHO'S WHO"
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          Robert Patterson,  22, son of  Mr. and Mrs. John R. Patterson  of 1124 Meridian St., and senior student at Purdue University, has been named to membership in the "Who's Who" among students in American universities and colleges.
          Those elected to membership were chosen from over 600 colleges and universities through the nation and they were nominated from their respective schools on the basis of scholarship; co-operation and leadership in academic and extra-curricular activities; citizenship and service to school, and promise of future usefulness to business and society.
          Patterson, who will be graduated in June with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, is a member of Phi Delta Theta, social fraternity; an executive of the Purdue student union; member of Gimlet Club, Scabbard and Blade, Quarterdeck Society, Chi Epsilon and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Thursday March 6, 1902
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          Harry Patterson  VS  Alta Patterson, suit for divorce, was filed in the Circuit Court this morning by attorneys Morrison & Carter.  The plaintiff charges cruel and inhuman treatment.  This is the fifth time this case has been brought into court and the judge has refused to grant a divorce each time.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Thursday February 20, 1890
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          On the sixteenth day of last November  Gus Patterson of Fairland, married  Miss Jennie Weir, and they lived happily together ever since until day before yesterday, when he took her to a relatives to spend the day saying he would come after her in the evening.  Evening came but Gus didn’t and when she went home she found the house had been stripped of everything in the way of furniture, which Gus had carted off to his daddy’s house. Why he did this Mrs. Patterson declares she has no idea, and she has commenced civil proceedings against him for support, and also commenced a criminal action against him for deserting his family and Deputy Sheriff John Burk is now on his trail.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Monday, February 1, 1886
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          John Patterson  was terribly slaughtered in the fair meeting last Saturday.  John should keep shady until he re-establishes himself.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Saturday, January 23, 1886
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LOCAL  NEWS.
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          A handsome ten-pound son was born to  Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patterson  the other night.  Joe says he will make Washington township Democratic in time.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Saturday, January 16, 1886
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          Joseph Patterson,  Green Burgess  and  Tom Huntington, were up to see us this morning.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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