The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-01-10
PATTERSON FUNERAL


The passing away of Corvine Pat
terson on last Wednesday, closed the
career of one of the best known pi-
oneers of Wyandotte county.
The untimely death of his only son
about one a ago, whom IL is
thought by many, was murdered,
preyed heavily upon his mind and he
seemed not to have entirely recov.
cred from it.
This heavy blow, together with the
increasing weight and cares of his
many years, broke the thread of his
long and useful life.
Courtesy and kindness we're the
strong elements of his nature. and he
was honorable and straightforward
in his dealings with all.
He was really and truly a popular
man, knowing almost every man
woman and child in Wyandotte coun-
ty, and being known by all of them.
The history of Wyandotte county
will not be complete without some
record of this remarkable man.
He was born at Roanoke, Howard
county, Mo-, Ocet. 81, 1S4S, and at the
aeg of fifteen took French leave of
his master, going to Glasgow, where
he enlisted in the Sixty-fifth regiment
of U. S. Colored Volunteers.
He was mustered in at st. Louis,
Mo, and proceeded south, where he
took part with distinction in the bat
ties of Port Hudson, Mihigans Bend,
Baton Rouge, New Orleans and others,
He was mustered out at st. Louis.
Mo-, and returned to his old home,
but spent only a short time there,
and drifted with the tide of emigra-
ton westward to Kansas, arriving
here in June, 1867.
He took employment with the Union
Pacific Railway Co. and helped lay
this great trunk line to the West, be-
ing present at the driving of the
Golden Spike that linked the Eastern
and Western sections of it's construc.
ton.
He was constructing a grocery
store in this city at the northeast
corner Of Fifth street and Minnesota
avenue at the time of the exodus of
Negroes from the South in 1879, and
was appointed on a committee to care
for these unfortunates, a duty he per-
formed with kindness and credit.
AS a token of the esteem accorded
him in the community, he was elect
ed constable, then appointed deputy
sheriff, then deputy city marshal for
six years, following which he served
as sanitary sergeant for two years,
after which he was elected a member
Of the board of education for two
terms.
Following these, he was appointed
street commissioner in 1889 by the
Hon. w. A. Coy, and filed his posi-
ton with credit, and later was ap
pointed to the position of deput!
sheriff by S. S. Peterson and ]. w
Longfellow successfully, serving
term of eight years.
His last political preferment wa
the appointment to the Office of stree
commissioner by the late lamente
mayor, d. e. Cornell, who had know
and respected him for more than tw
score years.
For forty years he was the soul
e Wyandotte county politics, and wa
active and effective in every primar
e and convention, be it city, county {
u state; and there is no man who hs
taken an active part in the condul
t of public affairs, who has not know
y him well and favorably.
u For although an uncompromisir
B. and stalwart Republican, still he WI
considerate, kind and courteous
le all, and all who knew him loved al
y respected lin.
lie Just forty years ago he organic
OF Sumner Post, G. A. R., and for
n many years has not failed once,
the Goth day of May, to lead the ev
Ill decreasing number of his grizzl
e, comrades to plant a bunch of roses
n the graves Of those who bravely
fered their bodies on the altar
lie Freedom.
e. Let us see to it that his is Ike
as green, and his memory fresh throu
the ages.
He was not what could be call
a college bred man, though he W
Ill one among the first students Of L
coin Institute at Jefferson City, M
where he spent one year, after viii
~ he took an extensive course in t
anI-AI - ~-----o - =. A.. -,
ways and by-ways of life he gather
81 much useful knowledge, so that
: could be truthfully said of him, 90
was a fairly well informed man, O
who always had a care for the upl
and betterment Of his people: alwa
re ready, apt and full of good and u
m. full information.
be In all his long career there was
ar. day so short, dark Oh dreary that
o. could not do some act or say so
ne thing that pointed or helped SO
al member of his race to higher ide
and a better life.
Among, and the last of his faith
public services, were those throl
many years as a trustee of West
University at Quindaro.
He was a church man, indeed,
active in every and all of its dep
ments, a friend to all strangers, WI
: he warmly welcomed into the con
m ~-4s- - - $3.50 II