Patterson, James Cowan

Patterson, James Cowan D.D., a Presbyterian divine, was born in Abbeville District, S. C., Oct. 26, 1803. He was the child of pious parents, who brought him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In early life he felt called to the ministry, and obeyed. He graduated among the first of his class at Franklin College, under the presidential care of his early friend and pastor, the Rev. Dr. Moses Waddel. Immediately after graduating he was elected to a tutorship in his alma mater. During the years of his connection with the college he studied theology under Dr. Waddel, and was licensed to preach by Hopewell Presbytery; was ordained Oct. 11, 1828, and called to the care of the Presbyterian churches of Macon and Milledgeville, Ga. He afterwards removed to Forsyth, and associated the duties of teacher with those of the ministry; subsequently he preached at Lawrenceville and Decatur, and was called to the presidency of the Gwinnett Institute, a high school for boys and young men. From Gwinnett he was called as president of the Synodical Female College at Griffin, Ga., which, under his devoted care and management, became a complete success and ornament to society and the Church. His health soon after began to fail, and he died July 18, 1866. Dr. Patterson possessed a mind clear, retentive, and accurate. As a preacher he was direct, instructive, and unimpassioned; as a teacher, faithful and thorough, so uniting decision with kindness as to gain the respect and love of his scholars. His steady, uniform piety was the distinguishing feature of his life, and elicited the confidence of all who knew him. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1867, p. 449. (J. L. S.)