Goodspeed Sketch of W.W.
Patterson
submitted by Virginia Freeman Taylor
From the History of Tennessee - The Goodspeed Publishing Co., Nashville, 1887
W. W. Patterson p. 974
W. W. Patterson, one of the leading business men of Alexandria,
was born in Smith County in 1848, the second of eight children of
Samuel F. and Catherine (Smith) Patterson. The father was of
Scotch-Irish descent, born in Wilson County in 1801, and the son
of Samuel Patterson, a native of Ireland who immigrated to
America at about the age of sixteen. He settled in Wilson County,
where he married and spent the remainder of his life as a tiller
of the soil. Samuel F. was first married to Miss Lucy Waters, by
whom he had two children, one living. His second union was with
Mrs. Compton, nee Coe; to them one child was born. About 1835 he
wedded the mother of our subject, who was born in Wilson County
about 1812, and died in 1876. In 1832 Mr. Patterson moved to
Smith County, where he was a prosperous farmer. He served several
years as constable and magistrate. He died in 1884. Both were
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Six of their
children are living. Our subject was educated in the country
schools. In 1861 at the age of seventeen he entered the
Confederate Army, Company F, Twenty-fourth Tennessee Infantry. He
took part in the battle of Shiloh and was the only one of nine
guards who escaped uninjured. After twelve months' faithful
service he was discharged on account of ill health. In 1863 he
married Miss J. E., daughter of Willis and Martha Dowell, of
Smith County, where Mrs. Patterson was born in 1844. Of their
five children, one son died in infancy, and one son and three
daughters are now living: Etta J., wife of R. M. Bone, postmaster
at Alexandria, Nora, Mattie C. and Robert W. With the exception
of one year spent in Arkansas, our subject remained with his
father until 1875. He then located at his present place of
residence. The farm contains 250 acres of cultivated and improved
land, pleasantly situated near Alexandria. He has for several
years been engaged in mercantile business; four years ago became
interest in a drug house, the firm name being R. M. Bone & Co.
Mr. Patterson is a man of enterprise and ability, to which the
accumulation of most of his possessions are due. He is a
charitable and worthy citizen and an ardent Democrat, casting his
first presidential vote for H. Greeley in 1872. He is a Mason.
Himself and family, with the exception of one child, are members
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Copyright 1999, by Virginia Freeman Taylor
All Rights Reserved