Background
He married Phoebe Caroline Jones, a granddaughter of William Lenoir, in 1824.
He married Phoebe Caroline Jones, a granddaughter of William Lenoir, in 1824.
The two would live much of their life together at her family home, "Palmyra," in Caldwell County, a county which he helped persuade the state legislature to create in 1841. Patterson had a lifelong interest in politics. He later became clerk of the North Carolina Senate, and, from 1835 to 1837, he served as state treasurer.
Even though Patterson was a Whig, he was elected treasurer by a majority-Democratic state legislature.
While serving as treasurer, he also served as president of the state bank. In 1866, he served as a delegate to the second session of the state"s constitutional convention.
Other offices Patterson held included president of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, clerk of the Superior Court, justice of the peace, Indian commissioner, trustee of the University of North Carolina, and various positions with the Masons.
Patterson served as chair of the Caldwell County court. As a member of the House of Commons (1854). And as a state senator (1846, 1848, and 1864).