The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-05

On April Il, 1880, Edwin FL. N. Pat
terson. died &C Georgetown. Colorado,
aged SO years. he will be remembered
as at one time editor of the Oauawka
Spectator of Oquawka, Ills. and was
known and greatly esteemed for his uni
form kindness to all. From the Spectator
we CLEAN the following brief sketch of his
life: =
He was born in Winchester. Frederick
county. Virginia. on the 9th day of Janu-
fary, 1928, and came to Oquawka with his
father had previously come and built
residence for his family. There being
then no public school in the new town or
vicinity, ne was taught the elementary
branches By his mother, SO that on bis
frss attendance at school--a year later
he was sufficiently advanced to enter
classes com posed OF boys several years his
senior. After acquiring knowledge Of
all the branches taught ia the school, he
took lessons from Rev. Stebbins, 1.-THE first
PRESBYTERIAN minister located here 10
latin, and thus prepared himself to enter
Jubilee College in 1S45, where he remain.
ed two years and afterwards spent one
year 10 Kuox College Soon after he
became assistant editor of the Oquawka
Spectator. which had just then been
started, aud continued in the Office until
the spring of 1850, when he joined party
California in March. After long aud
wearisome march they arrived in Colona
on the 18th of July. Here he went to
work. with John Mcfarland and brother
and other members of the company, at
mining. Soon afterwards be went to
Sacramento for his mail matter that had
accumulated at the post Office, aud
while there called at the Office of the
Placer Times, and instead of being inter
viewed by the editor, proposed to sit down
and write q short sketch OF their trip
across the plains, which led to an offer of
position on the editorial staff of the
Times, which he accepted. After filing
this position for few months his health
failed and with DIR. j. FL. MoDill. W. M.
Graham, Jno. Mcfarland and others of
their original company, he returned 20
Illinois via Panama, and after recovering
his health again resumed his connection
with the Spectator. In January. 1852. he
married Laura Phelps-who died 10 1867
In the spring OF 1859. his health having
again failed and another gold excitement
having sprung up at Pixies Peak, he
OtSACC0 win q company SdUA
j. R. White, of Oquawks.) for the new
Eldorsdo in the Rocky Mountains. on the
18th of March. On arriving at the noun
taius his health vas entirely restored, and
after spending the summer and fall he re-
turned home. and went out again the
next spring for two years. The splendid
scenery in the grand old mountains and
the exhiiarating i0hueEce of the climate
caused him to love Colorado so much that
he was not again contented until he finally
removed from Oquawka in the spring of
1873 aud took position as editor of the
Miner, at Georgetown, which position he
retained until death
He leaves two sons, Ii. n Of the Spec
tator. add Norman L who has been with
his father since 1874, and one daughter,
Meta V. Darch-his wife and thee infant
children having long ago preceded him to
the spirit land.
The funeral, conducted by the Masonic
Lodge of Georgetown of which be was a
member, took place on Sunday, the 25th
of April