John Patterson was born in Urshult, Sweden and immigrated to the US in 1853, stopping in Kentucky for two years before settling in Adair County.  At the time of his death, he owned one of the largest dairy farms in the region, had been President of the State Dairy Association for several years and was considered one of the leading experts in scientific dairy farming.  John and his first wife, Elizabeth Richardson, had one daughter, Ginevra.  After Elizabeth’s death he remarried twice, to Maggie Sees and Jane E Hill. [Violette]