The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
MAN WHO CORNERED THE CORN MARKET

From 1861 until 1863 he attended the
Northwestern Academy at Evanston, Ill.
His uncle. his mothers brother. Gov.
John L. Beveridge. of Illinois, lived at
Evanston, and with him the lad made his
home during the academy days. which
completed his schooling in books.
The boys father had died in 1853 and in
1910 he went 10 work in a general store
at Sandwich owned by the Culver Broth
ers. His first years wages we're S25 "a
month. out Of which he boarded and
clothed himself. The next year he re-
celved so a month, and during that year
saved $780, an achievement Of which he
is very proud to-day. He likes 20 talk
about that hundred dollars-it interests
him more than a corner in corn.
Two years in the general store and
then two years on farm at a monthly
wage OF $50 prepared young Patten FOR
his first city Job. In 1874 his uncle. Gov.
Beveridge. appointed him TO & place in
the State grain inspection department
where he remained four years and saved
$500 In 1878 he went 10 work for the
board OF trade firm Of G. p. Comstock
& Co, at a salary Of 81 a week and was
with the house until il failed four years
later Then he started in business with
his brother George and II. J. Coon, under
the firm name of Coon & Patten Brothers
The partnership continued eighteen
months. when il was reorganized as Pat
ten Bros and made a specially Of ship
ping grain 20 the Eastern trade Patten
Bros dissolved In 1897 owing 20 the III
health of George Patten, and James be-
came the principal owner and the general
manager Of the Middle Division Elevator
/ Company. a concern operating grain ele-
/ vators throughout Illinois. IN 1903 he
| became a partner in the house Of Bartlett
/ Frazier & Darlington, probably the iarg-
/ est grain commission house IN the world
where he is still active. on the first day
I Of July next this firm will change its
name 10 Bartlett & Patten. cease trading
/ IN stocks and cotton. and operate exclu.
sively In grains. The New York mem
/ bers OF the firm will retire. but there vii
still be retained IN the house some SIS. Co.,
/ 0l0 with which 20 do business.
James A. Patten Is considerably NOR,
/ than a mOney-maker. a successful opera
! tor Of corners IN grain-he IS a live. alert
| courteous. cheerful human being II,
/ travels in Europe when the spirit moves
| and the weather is dry In May. He fishe,
in Northern Wisconsin when the cry from
/ the wild is too strong for him 20 resist
1 He rides horseback, despite the fact ths
/ he owns a buzz wagon. He enjoys th'
| clubs. his fine library. and be has dabbleC
| in politics successfully.
! Ten years ago he served two terms al
alderman Of Evanston. the Chicag,
/ suburb where he makes his home. TheI
/ he ran for mayor on the Republican ticke
\ and served as chief magistrate Of tha
/ little city from 1901 70 1905. but durin,
\ this time be knew when corn was a goOS
/ thing 10 buy and frequently saw som,
/ profit in oats He is able 10 do severa
/ things at oncc-is James A. Patten-anc
/ his business sense is never dulled by hi.
| avocations.
/ Just now there IS some talk OF Pattel
as candidate to succeed Congressman
Foss. who In turn would Ike 10 dlspos
! sess Albert J. Hopkins Of his SenatOria
toga. II FOss does enter the Senatoria
race, the chances are that Patten viii III
| for Congress. and the odds are that h,
viii succeed, for he is popular in III,
/ Tenth Congressional district Of Illinois
where the Republican nomination mean
/ certain election.
Mr.. Patten Is a trustee OF Northwest
ern University. IN which he evinces
! great interest. The other day he CAV
$4,000 90 the university for the construc
/ ton Of a new gymnasium. He had sal
that the boys would not come 20 North
western because OF its deficiencies fl
athletics and suggested improvement. Hi
brother trustees could not figure out
plan 20 finance a new gymnasium scheme