Madera County
Biographies
H. S. PATTERSON
H. S. PATTERSON, who was among the early settlers of Borden, is a native of Tennessee, born in Wilson County, in 1827. His father, Samuel F. Patterson, was a successful stock-raiser. He moved his family to Smith County in 1831, upon a plantation of 600 acres, where he engaged quite extensively in the stock business. The education of young Patterson, our subject, was received in his native town, in the subscription schools held in the old log school-house; but under his father’s direction he was well trained in agriculture and stock-raising, which was the secret of his late successful career. At the age of eighteen years he was married, in Smith County, to Miss Meridian Armonett after which he rented a farm of 100 acres, and also conducted a tannery, which business he had followed since fourteen years of age. After four years he purchased a farm of 180 acres and there engaged in stock-raising, and also trading in hogs and mules through South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. His farm lay on a fork of the Cumberland river, and he also owned and operated a saw and grist-mill, sawing lumber by day and running the mill at night, and doing an extensive business, which he continued for eleven years or until the breaking out of the war. In 1862 the country became too turbulent for him, he being a Republican, and in November went to Kentucky, but returning to his farm in October, 1863. The Southern sympathizers had driven all his stock from his farm, and he had no redress. In 1865 he started a general merchandise store upon his place, which proved quite successful.
In 1867 Mr. Patterson was elected to the State Senate by the Republican party, to fill the unexpired term of John W. Brown. He was re-elected to the office in 1868, but declined the nomination in 1870. In the spring of that year his store was destroyed by fire, and he decided to seek a new home, and with that intent came to California. Being pleased with the country he brought out his family in the fall of the same year. He then settled in Stanislaus County, and bought a farm of 300 acres bordering on the Stanislaus river. There he farmed in grain and stock for two years, when he sold out and came to Fresno County, and bought 480 acres of R. B. Allen, later adding to the amount of 1,280 acres. He there followed grain farming and the breeding of horses, mules, cattle and hogs very extensively. When he came to the valley all supplies were brought from Stockton, 146 miles away, drawn upon wagons, or from Milton, twenty-two miles away, where the same articles cost about four times as much. Still, with all this, Mr. Patterson has been highly prospered, and has reared a family of eight children, all but one of whom are settled upon ranches about Fresno County. His grandchildren now number forty, with two great-grandchildren, and his declining years are passed among his dear ones in peace and contentment.
After a married life of forty-five years his wife died, November 7, 1890, mourned and regretted by all. Mr. Patterson has reduced his ranch to 440 acres, which he still farms and continues the stock business, this always having been a part of his life. He now lives with his children. He is a member of Madera Lodge, No. 280, F. & A. M., also of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 485-486
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn
SOL LAZAR
SOL LAZAR, merchant, of Madera, was born in Prussia in 1860. After a brief education at the early age of thirteen years, he cut loose from all home association, and with a friend started for the broad and free land of America. He first found employment in Milwaukee at clerking, and there he began the study of the English language. After a few months he started for California and settled at Firebaughs, Fresno County. In the general merchandise store or Mr. Jake Myer, young Lazar secured a position as clerk, and he remained with Mr. Myer until 1880, when he went to Fresno Flats and started in business in general merchandise. In 1882 Mr. Lazar went to Seattle, and after one year in the real estate business, he went to Olympia, and then opened a store, which he continued but one year. He then went to Tulare and opened business, but was burned out in 1886. Thus after many changes he came to Madera in 1887, and opened his present store with dry goods and gents furnishing goods, carrying a stock of about $12,000.
Mr. Lazar was married in San Juan in 1889 to Miss Annie Flynn, a native of California, and the family has been additionally increased by the birth of two children, Willie and Louis. Mr. Lazar is a member of Madera Court, No. 749, Independent Order of Foresters. Not neglecting the agricultural opportunities of this valley, Mr. Lazar has a twenty-acres ranch two miles west of town, which he has set to Malaga grapes, being the only Malaga vineyard in this locality. He is also interested in town property and owns his residence on D street.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 798-799
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn