Biography:

Dr. Hector McLean Paterson was born at the family farm on Back Street where Rodney joins Aldborough Township (Elgin County) on the 24th of May, 1869.  Dr. Paterson was the 9th of 10 children born to Lachlin Paterson and the former Jean Mclean.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Donald “Daniel” L. Paterson, Mary Paterson, Archibald Paterson (b. May 1858 d. Sept 1858), Lily Paterson, Catherine Paterson, John D. Paterson, Archibald Lachlin Paterson, James Paterson and Ann Jane Paterson.  His grandparents Donald and Lilly Paterson and his great-grandfather John Paterson were among the early settlers to Aldborough Twp., after emigrating from Scotland.

Dr. Paterson attended the Rodney Public School and Ridgetown High School.  Dr. Paterson graduated from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1895.  Upon his graduation, Dr. Paterson set up his medical practice in Rodney over the drug store business of Dr. James Sylvester Munger, who retired from the practice of medicine in 1895.

In 1900 Dr. Paterson purchased a home known as “the old Barber home” in Rodney and he renovated it to include his office.

On the 12th of June, 1901, Dr. Paterson married Minnie Bishop in Kincardine, Ontario.  Mrs. Bishop was born in Middlesex County on the 28th of November 1871.  She was the 2nd of 5 children born to William Bishop and the former Margaret Wark.  At the time of her birth, Mrs. Paterson’s father was a Presbyterian preacher, but he held a variety of occupations over the course of his life, including working in a livery stable and working as a hotel keeper, which is what he was doing in Kincardine when Mrs. Paterson married Dr. Paterson.  Her siblings were; Ida May Bishop, William Bishop, John Bishop and Maud Bishop.

Dr. Paterson answered calls for medical attention in the Orford Twp area of Chatham-Kent especially in the community of Duart.  Dr. Paterson’s name appears on numerous birth and death records.

Dr. Paterson worked up until the day he died on the 22nd of February, 1941.  He was laid to rest at the Rodney Cemetery.  Mrs. Bishop died in 1964 and she was buried next to her husband.  They had no children.

*Dr. James Sylvester Munger is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.