The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-01-17
A JouRNEYMAN PRINTER.


and various attainments would, but for
his secluded habits and innate modesty,
have long since won fame and fortune.
The "Learned Blacksmth," unwilling
that his light SHOULD be hid, took the tide
1t its flood and has made the most 0f his
requirements. But MI. Paterson, emf.
nent as Mathematician and a Linguist,
having quietly and diligently given his
days TO the space-box, and his nights TO
study, is comparatively unknown. lie
is nevertheless an honor to his craft and
10 his country. a.
Mr.. Paterson is native of New
Jersey, having been born at MUrrstown,
on the 2lsl Of January, 1899; he is,
therefore, in his 5lst year. At the age
of four years, he removed with his pa.
rents 10 Canada. His father was shoe
maker BY trade, and died poor; his mother
is still living and resides in Canada, near
the city Of Hamilton. Mr.. p. was ap-
pventiced 10 on uncle 10 learn the house,
carpenters business. AT this employ
ment he continued about thee years,
when his uncle met with reverse OF for
tune, which compelled his nephew to
pursue some other calling for livelihood.
His next attempt 10 be useful was as
officeboy TO country physician, with
whom MIR. P. remained till be was nearly
as we'll read in Medicine as his employ
er. 1t is, doubtless, 10 "the Doctors
Library" that Mr.. Paterson is mainly
indebted for the literary t1stes by which
his after life has been so sngularly
distinguished.
@ lifting the doctor, we shortly after
find him in Buffalo, where he acted as
clerk in drugstore for about three
months, when the offers and well6lled
shelves of Salisbury, stationer Of that
city, induced him "lo throw physic 10 tho
dogs" md take position under the
Tree that brought bushes ard aprons into
lhe W, rd-lhe tree Of knowledge. In
connection with their bookstore, the
Messrs. Salisborys published a paper
called the Buffalo Gdsette, which paper
having contained libel, the proprietors
were sued, and judgment rendered
agains, them for $4,000. They a, once
proceeded to smuggle their stock into
Niagara, Canada, and sent John ,hero
for the purpose OF disposing of it. He
obtained par, Of a building occupind by
a printer, and then disposed Of the stock
of books in about eight months.
Being again thrown on his own resour-
ces, he agreed To set type for Mr.. Fer.
suson publisher ofthe Niagara Spectator,
A, this lime, the calebratedRobe,,G Gourlay
contributed to its columns, and being
radical roformor, he libeled the Gov
enment. For this species of enjoyment,
Mr.. Ferguson was impr soned. his paper
ceased lis existence, while Paterson was
again compelled to seek bis fortune
elsewhere. 1t was his intention then To
90 10 Montreal; hut finding it impossible
TO raise the necessary funds TO carry him
there, he was compelled to "foot it" to
Black Rock, and not having means suf
ficient to p,y his ferriage, returned 10
B1ff.lo. At this latter city he remained
three years, during which time he learr-
ed Ii, uade hat ofa printe) in the
office Of D. NJ. Day, publisher of the
Buffalo Journal. After having visited
and worked in number of places, no
took up his residence in this city, in tho
year 1922, a residence that he has con.
tinued TO this day. His first work in
Albany, he found at L. w. SINNERS.
The degree Of A. M. was conferred
on Mr.. p. in the year 1886, by Union
College.
AS we mentioned las. week, Mr..
Paterson is scholar is every sense ofthe
term. He is not only thoroughly versed
in every branch Of Mathematics, but can
-ead ard write Greek, Latin, Hebrew,
and Arabic, with as much ease and
Hueucy as he can English. In tho
dilferen, living languages he is equally
we'll posted up, and is probably the only
man on earth who can converse IN every
language spoken in EiIope. His great
work, "The Calculus Of Operations" has
Just issued from the press, and is, in the
opinion of scientific man, one Of the most
profound productions that the Mathemati-
cal world has ye, given to society.
From what we have written above, the
reader will perceive tha, Mr.. Paterson is
not only selfmade, but most perse-
vering man. With no aid but industry,
and no higher salary than that which 10
bestowed on Journeysan Printer, Mr.
Pate rson has become not only thoroughly
acquainted with every department Of
human knowledge, but has acquired
handsome little property, and owns one
of the best select libraries in the city. The
latter contains some 5000 volumes,
while its estimated worth is put down at
5000 dollars.
A week ago, We stated that John
Paterson, of Albudy, was the most ex-
traordinary man in America. The above
f,cls, we think, prove it. In our opinion,
nature will produce half dozen Shaks.
peares before she produces another
man whose requirements will compare
with those belonging to this modest, un-