Zera Patterson was born on Feb 7, 1838 in Ashtabula, Ohio, He came to Iowa in 1855 with his parents, Walter and Sophia Flanders Patterson.

He enlisted in Co I, 2nd Illinois Cavalry on 6 Aug 1861 at Champaign, IL. He was mustered in at Camp Butler and his regiment assigned to the Army of the West. He participated in the battles at Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Raymond, Jackson, Black River and the Siege of Vicksburg. Later in the Red River, Champion Hill, Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Valley battles. He was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La. and received an honorable discharge after three years and three months active service.

After the war, he returned to Jackson County, IA and worked as a carpenter and taught school in the winter time. He was a horseman and farmer. He married Dyantha Nims on 24 Dec 1865 and had five children. On the 3rd of August 1878, he was united in marriage to Lucy Tubbs with whom he had two more children. He spent the remainder of his life in Jackson County, IA and died at the age of 70.

Zera S Patterson