The Life and Times of John H. Patterson

John H. Patterson grew up at his family’s Rubicon farm, completed high school, served briefly and without incident in the Union Army, and attended Dartmouth College, where he acquired a bachelor’s degree and a lifelong disdain for college men. His disdain for higher education may have come when he returned to Dayton, diploma in hand, and found himself unemployable. His degree disqualified him for physical work; his lack of experience disqualified him for everything else. He eventually landed a job as a toll collector on the Miami-Erie Canal, an undemanding task that soon exhausted his limited capacity for boredom. He later got involved in cash registers and did quite well for himself. The speaker, Jim Charters, is a spokesperson for Dayton History and speaks in the community about significant historical events and individuals from the Dayton area. He volunteers as an interpretive guide at Carillon Park and Hawthorn Hill. In 2013 he received Carillon Park’s “Volunteer of the Year” award. Jim was born in Dayton and graduated from Chaminade High School and Ashford University. After a career with Illinois Tool Works (ITW), he returned to Washington Township to enjoy retirement; in particular golf and volunteering. He volunteers as a tutor at Centerville High School and Magsig Middle School. He also moderates classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Dayton and at Sinclair Community College. In addition, he has performed on stage as an actor with the Tipp City Players and Dayton History.