Patterson - James - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

There lives a man 5 mi. W. of Advance on the Advance-Crawfordsville Rd that for nearly 7 years has lived and had a being contrary to all published history. Nearly 7 years ago, while helping his brother thresh, he met with an accident that broke his back. History gives but few, if any, cases where a person with a broken back lived more than 7 months. This man is James Patterson and the terrible accident that caused his condition happened in this manner: while driving into a double crib or granary, the wagon being loaded with sacks of wheat protruding over the front end of the wagon box, he was sitting on the front sacks with his feet and legs hanging over the front, supposing that by bending over there was plenty of space above the door for him to pass under. But there was not. His body was bent over and wedged in so tightly between the wagon and the top of the door, that it stopped the team. He heard his back crack and felt it break and from that time until now there has never been any feeling or movement from the middle of the back downward. He had presence of mind all the time and directed the men about him how to deliver him from his terrible position. Many eminent surgeons have seen Mr. Patterson and one of the best of Chicago performed (in the presence of many surgeons) an operation, cutting into the spinal column and dissecting quite a number of pieces of bone. After this it was hoped he would have the use of his limbs but all were disappointed. Mr. Patterson has lain upon his bed all those years with the exception of one trip to Crawfordsville, one to Ladoga and one to Jamestown. Two years ago last harvest he went to the harvest field and superintended the cutting of his wheat... section missing ...many swindlers, especially quack doctors. Just a short time ago he paid off a claim of $100 to some parties from Indianapolis. Although he could not get out of his bed under any circumstances it would be best for those people never to enter his house again. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and was before his affliction a good quiet Church worker. He has a big heart and no one in need or distress was ever turned away empty handed, no man has a better record as a neighbor and a friend. There are times bedridden as he is that he can crack a joke or spin a yarn with the best of them. And thus he passes his time waiting till the Master calls. He is a great reader and much of his time is spent in reading. James has 4 sisters and two brothers living: John B, his oldest brother lives at Lebanon; Thomas lives at Peru, one sister lives in Virginia, where he was born. One sister in Missouri; Mrs. James Walker, W. of Advance and Mrs. Dr. Finch of Jamestown are his sisters.