George O. Patterson Article
This typewritten article was passed to me by Barbara Sullivan who received it from Lela Kremers of Mulbery AR. We do not know where it came from. It is believed this George may be related to our line of Patterson's. The John mentioned may be the brother to Hugh Sims, son of James W. The names and birthplaces do not however line up with what we have. Should anyone come up with anything, please post for everyone, or email me.
Central History of Arkansas
George O. Patterson
Arkansas has always been signally favored with a lass of men who have occupied her public offices and in those who have maintained the legat and moral status of the state through the protetction of life, property and liberty in the courts. In this later connection George O. Patterson is well known, being today a capable and successful attorney of Clarksville, who in his practice holds to the highest ethics of the profession. He was born in Clinton, Van Buren Co., Arkansas, March 6, 1872, and is the son of John R. and Lou J. (Greeson) Patteson, who were natives of Baltimore Maryland, and of Tennesse respectively, their marriage being celebrated, however in Clinton, Arkansas. The father was a son of J.H. Patteson also a native of Baltimore, Maryland, whence he removed to Tennessee and eventually became a pioneer resident of Arkansas, settling at Patterson Bluff, where he owned and conducted a large plantation. He likewise taught school at one time in connection with Albert Pike. He was a slave owner of the early days and became a soldier of the Confederate army at the time of the Civil War. When home on a furlough he was killed by bushwhackers and he had previously been wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove. The maternal grandfather of George O. Patteson was Mat H. Greeson, who was born in Tennessee and became a resident of Van Buren Co., Arkansas in 1856. He engaged in merchandising and also conducted a hotel. He, too, joined the confederate army and valiantly defended the cause in which he believed.
John R. Patterson came to Arkansas about the year 1856 and it was probably in the same year that his future wife became a resident of this state. He followed merchandising at Clinton and at Heber Springs and in 1897 removed to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. He owned mining interests in New Mexico and also followed merchandising in Oklahoma, continuing a resident of that state until his death. He was a self-made man and won a substantial measure of success through his close application to business, his unfaltering energy and thoroughly reliable methods. He, too was numbered among the Confederate veterans of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861 and serving until the close of hostilities. He participated in several important battles, was slightly wounded on one occasion and was mustered out wit the rank of Second Lieutenant, having served as a courier during the early part of his military experience. He even voted with the democratic party and he served as sheriff of Cleburne Co., Arkansas, for a period of six years, discharging his duties without fear or favor. He was one of the early representives of Masonry in this state and took the degrees of the Royal Arch Chapter. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and were active in the various branches of church work. They had a family of three children. Alice, who is the wife of J.K. Connor, a merchant of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; George O.; and J.H. who also carries on merchantile pursuits in Pauls Valley.
Liberial educational advantages were accorded George O. Patterson, who was educated in Quitman College, from which he was graduated in 1890. He came to Clarksville in 1893 and read law under J.E. Cravens and A.S. McKennon, being admited to the bar in 1894. He then entered upon practice in which he has continued to the present time, his ability increasing with the passing years, so that his success has been augmented as time has passed by and he now ranks with the ablest representatives of the profession in this part of the state. For ten years he practiced in connection with his former preceptor, A.S. McKennon, and has now for a number of years been a partner of H.H. Ragon. They have a large clientage of a distinctively representative character and the court records bear testimony to the many favorable verdicts which they have won. In his law practic Mr. Patterson represents a number of important corporations and is regarded as a strong advocate and safe counselor. His corporation practice connects him with two banks and various mining interests and he is also local attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He devotes most of his life to his law practice which is now very extensive and of a most important character and in additio he has coal interests which are large and profitable.
In 1901 Mr. Patterson was united in marriage to Miss Susie McConnell, a daughter of E.T. McConnell, an early resident of Clarksville, who has now retired from business and is numbered among the men of afiluence of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have become parents of two sons; George O., who is attending college in Clarksville; and Edward Hall, also a college student. Mr Patterson, is a democrat in his political views and served as a member of the constitutional convention of the state in 1918. While he has always taken an active part in politics he has never been a candidate for office, but his aid can be counted upon to further all plans and measures for the public good. He belongs to the State Bar Association and fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and Mrs. Patterson is particularly acive in the work of the church and its various societies. Wherever they are known--and they have a wide acquaintance throughout the state, they are held in the highest esteem and their interests, broad, varied and important, have brought them into prominent public relations.