Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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PATTERSON HARDWARE [Akron, Indiana]
William A. Patterson and his brother Martin L. Patterson opened a hardware store in
1886. It was located in a little frame building which stood on the site of Doering TV in 1974.
See Akron Exchange Bank.
PATTERSON, MARTIN L. [Akron, Indiana]
BIOGRAPHY
Martin L. Patterson, one of the honored residents of Akron, and a Union veteran, was
born in Henry county, Indiana, May 25, 1846, the third child in a family of six children. His
parents were Daniel B. and Ruth Petterson, whose history is given elsewhere in this work. Of
their children, Martin L., William, and a daughter, Mary P., wife of [Johnson E. Burdge], are
residents of Akron. Following the completion of his work in the public schools, Martin L.
Patterson took a training for the calling of a teacher at the Indiana State Normal School, Terre
Haute, during 1871, and subsequently was a student of Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana. It
was in 1868 that he began teaching school, and he continued in that work for nine years, for three
years of that period being principal of the schools of Gilead, Indiana, and the remainder of the
time served as principal of schools in Henry county. Realizing then the importance of cultivating
the soil to provide an adequate food supply Mr. Patterson turned his attention to farming, and in
the course of time became the owner of 120 acres of exellent land in Miami county, but
subsequently sold that farm and bought 169 acres in Henry township, Fulton county. For some
years past he has not been actively engaged in the actual work of operating his farm, but he still
continues to supervise it, and has never lost his interest in agricultural matters. A reader and
thinker he has always combined his intellectuality with research. In May, 1864 he proved his
patriotism by enlisting in the Union army, and was assigned to Company G, One Hundred and
Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was under the command of General Milroy. His
field of action lay in Alabama, where his command was engaged in pursuing General Wheeler.
After the completion of his enlistment period he was honorably discharged, at Indianapolis, in
April, 1865, returned home, and resumed his civilian garb. While he is a sound republican he is a
man who exercises his right of franchise according to the dictates of his conscience. For six and
one-half years he was trustee of Perry and Henry townships, and four school buildings were
erected in his district during his term of service. In 1896 he was elected to the Indiana State
Assembly, from Fulton county, and he served for one term with credit to himself and his county,
and supported some very constructive legislation, part of which is now on the statute books of the
state. He is a member of Akron Lodge, F. & A. M., and has served the lodge as secretary. In 1871
he was married to Miss Debbie Baker, who was born in Miami county, Indiana. After attending
the common schools, she took a course at Wilbur College, a Quaker institution, but in religious
faith she was a Methodist. Her death occurred, September 6, 1875. September 12, 1877, Mr.
Patterson was married second to Viola E., daughter of George and Abigail (Davidson) Hakins, the
former a native of Yorkshire, England, who was but fourteen years old when his family came to
America, landing at Montreal, Canada, from which they traveled to Vermont. Still later they
traveled overland in the historic “covered wagon” to Indiana, and located at Lafayette, but after
some years mo ved to Miami county. It was in that county that Mrs. Patterson was born,
September 17, 1847, and there her mother died, but her father died at Akron, Indiana. Reared in a
Christian home by careful parents who were church members, Mrs. Patterson was given excellent
educational advantages, attended Oxford College, Oxford, Ohio, and for about thirteen years was a
public school-teacher of Miami and Kosciusko counties. Her interest in educational work
continues, and she has served as president of the Carnegie Library board during the greater part of
the time it has been in existence, and the beautiful brick building which houses the library, is a
credit to the county and state. She was president of the county Woman’s Christian Temperance
Union, and is one of the officials of the local Eastern Star. Since its organization she has served as
president of the Henry Township Chapter of the American Red Cross, and she belongs to the
Woman’s Relief Corps. In fact she is one of the leading factors in all of the constructive work of