The Republican journal., 1911-09-14
MRS. JANE PATTERSON.
Death and Funeral of Burnham Woman
Whose Eventful Career Dates Back to
1917


Death and Funeral of Burnham Woman
Whose Eventful Career Dates Back to
1917.
The funeral services of Mrs. Jane Pat
terson were held September 9Th at the
Edmonds home in Burnham. Mrs. Pat
terson died August 26th. She was born
in Plymouth, Me-, September 20, 1917,
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Comins
Curtis and Dorcas Crosby, and was only
nine years old when her parents died,
after which events she lived and was
reared in the family Of Capt. Jerrard of
Plymouth until she was eighteen years
OF age. When she was II years old she
professed the Christian religion, was
baptized and Joined the Free Will Baptist
church. In 1910, she married Peter Gard
ener of Troy, Me-, and the earliest part
OF their married life was passed on what
is now known as the John Wood estate.
To them were born three children, Lean
der, William and Viola. They were liv-
ing in peace and plenty in the little house
first erected on the place, when the
great cry FOR settlers in the far west
sounded so loud and so promising that
Mr. Gardener, hoping to benefit his con-
dition, heard to it and with his family
went to Ohio. 1t was disastrous move
and proved nothing but failure, for by
the unusual hardships, anxiety and
change Of climate he lost his health, so
by advice of his physician they con-
cluded to return. On the way it was
necessary to cross Lake Erie, Mrs Pat
terson said, as she frequently was heard
to relate these incidents among the many
trying events of her life.
when they boarded the boat the cap
tain and his wife went ashore ard re-
NAMED, but sent another nran to run the
boat to Buffalo. The boat, it seemed
had been in the habit of losing time, for
the captain says run her, and run her to
hi, but you get there in time, and if
wood won't do it, take tar No one can
imagine the feelings of depression that
came over me when | heard it, and in
moment | knew that we were unsafe. l
knew there was no surety of reaching
port, but delay for US meant great
deal of extra expense, which we could i'll
afford and so we felt obliged to accept
our destiny as it came. l shall never
forget that night on Lake Erie 1t stands
out prominent from all other memories,
the anxiety and care had on that voy-
age. My only recours was in prayer.
Iprayed earnestly for deliverance as one
naturally would when they knew they
were in imminent peril, with a sick man
and three small children who were pow
erless to help themselves. And to make
it still worse, the night was dark and
stormy and cold. We We're half way out,
when the crisis came in the bursting Of
the boilers. This explosion left the boat
In q sinking condition and every man
&c 70, fhn
for half the night, to keep above water.
Everyone on board was burned most Sc
verely, or injured in some way, except
ing Mr.. Gardener and our family. Just
before midnight another vessel came
along and took US from our disabled
craft and We landed in Buffalo. Mr..
Gardner died in Troy, August, 1850, Just
twenty days after We got there
A few years later Mrs. Gardener
married Lycurgus Patterson of Carmel.
who served in the Civil war, ard died
Sept. 5, 1891. One son named Charles
was born to them. Since the death of her
husband Mrs. Patterson had lived with
her daughter, Mrs. VIOLA Edmonds, who
accompanied her mother on that event
full night across Lake Erie, and remem-
bers the trying time of her life. There
are also descendants of this remarkable
women who are not deficient in the ster-
Ing New England qualities of their grand
mother, that made her an acceptable citi-
zen, respected wife and mother, and en-
deared her to all her neighbors and asso-
ciates through her long life. She will be
remembered as pretty, intelligent and
entertaining lady of high ability, and
now is laid away in the beautiful little
cemetery overlooking the waters of
v innecook lake.