Strachan/Tate Family

[William Carman.FTW] Joseph E. Patterson was reared on a farm in Newark, New york and received his preliminary eduction in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he assumed the duties of like on hi own account rentedand operated on farm and later added others, untill at the age of Twenty-two he had nine farms under his supesrvicion, in addition to a lumber business of considerable proportion. It now became apparendt to him thast he must have a better education in order to conduct the business satisfactorily to himself, and for two years he was under private instructions to fit him for entering college. In order that his mind should not be distracted in any way business cares, he closed out all his interests and entered the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York, and so industriously did he apply himself to his studies, that in eight weeks he obtained his diploma. Upon leaving college he went to Pittston, Pennsylvania, and accepted a position with the late John Loveland, and extsensive lumber dealer in Pittstoon. Before he had been with him three monts, greatly to Mr. Patterson's surdprise he was asked to become a padrtner of Mr. Loveland in the buiness of manufacturing lumbe, but declined on the ground that he had not sufficient capital. Mr. Loveland was, however so favorably inpressed with the methods, business ability and perseverance displayed by this young man. that he formed a partnership with him under the firm name of J.E.Patterson & Company, and loaned to him the amount of money that he lacked of having enough to pay for one-third intrest in the business. This arrangement continued for some time and then they opened a lumber yard in WilkesBarre, Mr. Patterson having from that time on a half interest in that, and the manufactring bussiness. Later they moved their saw mill to the Redout Common on North River stree, where the court house now stands, and manufactured lumber there for a Number of years; the logs being brought doen the river and canal. Soon after this Mr. Loveland's health failed, and he requested Mr. Patterson to takea half interest lin his Pittston lumber yard and to conduct the entire busines under the firm name of J.E.Patterson & Co. About this time the firm built a large planing mill and factory in Pittston.At Mr. Loveland's death his will stipulated that his executors should continue the business, which they did for seventeen years , when Mr. patterson puchased the interest of Mdr. Loveland's estate, whilch had grown much lager, and is now probably the largest and most extensive in this line of any firm in the Wyoming Valley. Mr. Patterson is ladrgely interested in the whole grocery business, the firm now being known as the Crocker Grocery Company. They have a large and constantly increasing trade, which having outgrown therr former quarter, they have erected and adre now conducting their business in the more substantial and the most finely equipped six-story wholesale grocery store in Pennsylvania. In addition to these enteprises Mr. Patterson wa one of the organizers of the Easton Lime Company of Easton, Pennsylvania, one of the large concerns of that city engaffed in quarring and Kalsomining lime. He was also one of the organizers of and is a padrtner in the Mason's supply Company of Easton, Penn. which deals extensively in all kinds of supplies used by masons, the two firms employed a large number of men. Mr Patterson was the founder of the Beautiful summer resort on the top of Nescopec Mountain known as Glen Summit springs. the pure spring water and dry, pure air, together with the vision of what it might be made, led him to decide on this location. He also dicovered the Glen Summit Spring water which has become so popular. Perhaps the enterprise which gives promise of being the most extensive of any in which Mr. Patterson has yet become engafed, is known as Colorado Yule Marble Company, which is developing enormous quarries at Marble, coloado, whereby great quantities of a very fine quality of white marble have been discovered. This company was capitalized at $3,000,000. and he was on of its directors. He also had some interst in coal. He later engaged him-self in a business with his son-in-law, R.H.Cabell in NewYork City. Mr. patterson always had strong convictions regarding his duty as an American citizen, and believes that the present generation has inherited from their forefaters a rich legacy in the present republican form of government that guarantees to everyk trkue citizen the perfect freedom for which in the days of the revolutionary period so many brave men gave up their lives. He was a member of the Emplyers' Associations, who recognized no Union which is not conducted on legal lines, but employs men purely on their merit. Living as he did in a section of country infested by labor leaders with only selfish purposes in view, it had cost Mr. Patterson at lenght took a decided stand against them. After exhausting every other means he finally took recouse in law, and a bitter fight was fought which cost him thouksands of dollars, but he finallky won a great victory, and succeded in having some of the leadwes of that form of oppression convicted and fined, and in teachin a salutary lesson to all who may followl. No brief sketch can convey an accurate or adequate idea of this man. He is selfmade in all that the word implies, and has clearly demonstrated what it is possible to accomplish by careful, conservative, up right business methods. In all his business transactions he strived to follw the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", and thereby has reached his place where he is admired for all his best qualities which go to makeing a true American Citizen, and his career affords a conspicuous example of a noble character, selmade and well worthy of emulation.