New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-13

Colonel Johnston. long official servitor OF the \
governm snt an Indian agent, was an indie I
fatigable worker for peace a power among the /
savage reGmen and an earnest opponent Of gov \
ernmental oppression That the careers Of both /
were necessarily picturesque VIII ready be
understood
Robert Patterson was one Of those sturdy .
Scotch-Trishmen who in the old days stamped
their Individuality on the American race. He 4
was born his fathers farm in Pennsylvania /.
In lla3, ana until he was twenty-one his life was
that OF any healthy country lad. In 1774 he en-
rolled in a company Of Pennsylvania rangers I
for six months scouting service, marched TO .
Fort Pitt and had his first taste q Indian war I
fare by the side Of Boone. Kenton. Harrod and
other stalwarts who were TO be his friends and
comrades in arms almost throughout life. The
following year the rangers were disbanded, and
Patterson al once decided to carve out home 4
Tor himself in TIE new West. The story Of his
voyage in q hatboat down the Ohio to Ken 1
lucky is graphically told. is the account Of 4
tho founding OF the city Of Lexington. Ky. The 4
author quotes from the narrative Of Colonel 4
Patterson himself:
when I came 10 the place / had no intention /
~ improving there, but CHANGING 70 kil /
turkey. and IL being late in the evening, James I
Sterritt, who was the only person in my com I
Yany. and I concluded 20 camp there all night 4
Steritt and I Proceeded on and came 10 4
spring where tullt cabin ten or twelve \
f'et square. and deadened fifteen or twenty 1
trees and marked r. p on tree con- 4
sllered L remarkably beautiful place
During the remainder OF the year Patterson
was busy surveying lands for himself, for his
father and for his brother William. He also /
took an active part ia the building Of forts for
the defence Of the settlers against the Indians, /
who had already begun depredations in the dis
trict The dark days OF 1870 are vividly por- /
trayed in these pages. Finally Patterson and
his associates were compelled TO retire 10 the /
shelter Of the HarrodsbGrs fort. In the mean
time a new peril was shaping Itself Ia the after
nath q the war for Independence that had been |
raging so bitterly the seacoast The Brit
ish Lieutenant Governor OF the Northwest re-
gion." says the author. had been ordered 70 \
gather all the tribes together and have them
ready 10 act uuitedly against the Americans as
soon as the weather should permit" In this
contingency although he had barely recovered
from wounds received IN a daring expedition 70
Putsburg 10 obtain supplies for the settlers,
Robert Patterson lost no time in organizing a
regiment which was sent by Washington TO re-
fnf5rce General Hand at Fort Pitt. This was IN
September q 1777. The following month Colonel
George Rogers Clark took Patterson and other
brave young Kentucky pioneers" into his con-
fasuce and unfolded to them his scheme for the
conquest q Illinois. one and all agreed TO as
efst the rlucky colonel. and kept their promise
so soon as Clark was ready 10 move. Again We
are treated to thrilling narrative the story OF
the turning OF the key that unlocked the great
Northwest 10 the American Government" After
the campaign had been successfully concluded
Patterson returned to Kentucky. al but losing
bis lie on the journey home, his two compan-
ions being slain by the ever hostile Indians.
Then came the actual birth OF Lexington the
town which be had founded three years earlier
as sole proprietor With twenty-five men Pat
.e-son marched from HarrOdsburg and the
work Of development began IL earnest
From that time until by force Of circumstances
be was compelled 10 seek new home the .
colonel made the upbUnding Of Lexington his .
Network When not lighting Indians or culti- .
waiting his land he helped frame laws for the .
municipal administration. aided il constructing .
a church and a schooIhoUse. and II short set .
TED down as good citizen alive 10 the needs OF
tie town In 17S7 We ind him again figuring as
the founder OF a city. In that year, together .
with Matthias DenInan and John Filson. he be-
gan the settlement that was 10 blossom into \
Cincinnati For some years thereafter his life
IN Lexington was comparatively uneventtuL
IL 1904 he migrated to Dayton Ohio, where be /
established himself On the "RUbicon Farm
Here the colonel spent his declining days.
Ike Colonel Patterson, Colonel Johnston was
Of Scotch-Irish ancestry Emigrating from
Ireland al early age, he secured a position IN