Patterson was a Washington County, Pennsylvania, native born in 1825, who attended Jefferson College.
After passing the bar in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Patterson moved to Muscatine, Iowa, to practice law.
Patterson subsequently vacated his Iowa Senate seat, and was replaced by Joseph A.
The following year, he was elected to the fourth Colorado Territorial Legislature by Jefferson County residents.
In 1870, Patterson was secretary of the Legislative Council, and in 1876, served as justice of the peace for Clear Creek County.