The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-09
Founder of Big Tobacco.
Industry Stricken
on Sunday.
MADE HIS WAY UP
FRO M OBSCURITYs
Had Brilliant Record as Confed-
crate Soldier, Army Surgeon,
Farmer. Manufacturer, Bank
President and Prominent
Citizen Throughout
Long Life.

cF. ttCnard Archibald Patterson
FOUNDER of the T. "A. Patterson To-
oacco COMPANY. and for a generation
tne leader In the tobacco Industry In
virginia, died last night at 1885 o'clock
at MS residence. "Reveille,r in Henrica
county. in the eighty seventh year Of
mis- age. The arrangements for tho I
funeral have not been completed
IhoHsi' suffering the infirmisies OF
age. Dr. Patterson had been In his
usual health until Sunday, when pneu-
nlonia developed and all day yesterday
MS condition was considered critical !
in the extreme. GI5
he was twice married, four children
surviving by the first marriage. as
follows: Richard Fuller, Archibald
Williams. James Thomas and Malvern
courtney Patterson. and two by tina
second marriage: Elizabeth GARRETT
and warren Pernet Patterson 81
A Self-1Iade Man.
DIR. Patterson was born in Caroline
county. Va. March Is, 1926, and had
poasted of being a typical selt-mada
man, having made his way from an
obscure country boy. without assist
ance, to the head of one of tho larSes.
manufacturing enterprises lii Rica-
mond. He was the second son of
Ihomas and Susan G. Patterson, who
In 1894 moved from Caroline TO Hon
u
now a part of the Westhampton Park
property. about seven miles west of
ltichmond. His father died the fol-
lowing year, leaving his wife and four
children in very moderate circum4
stances. Lack of time aa well as
means dcbarred DR.. Patterson from
early educa tional advantages, but he
TOOK advantage OF the ncishboring
old fsld'' school. and subsequently,. nv
private study prepared for Richmond
GoiirEc, avhi.re ne attended, one ses-
sion. Al the age OF twenty he entered
the medical department. OF Hampden-
Sidney College. now the Medical Col.
leEe OF Virginia, reading IN tho otIlce
of DIR. a. c. Wortham
In Confederate Army,
lie graduated in medicine In tS4S
and began the practice OF medicine
at Manakin. in Goochland county.
TWO years later his uncle. James
Thomas. Jr.. of Richmond. offered him
a position as factory manager. and
after once rejecting tho offer, Dr.
Patterson abandoned his profession
aud entered the tobacco business in
Richmond In 1852 on q salary of ST.
600 per annum. He married In 1851
Miss Margaret l.. Courtney, oc
lIcnrico county.
In 1853 DIR. Paterson started bust
ness on his own account forming
partnership with Thomas c. Williams.
under the firm name of Patterson &
Williams. Each of the partnera at
forwards attained SUCCESS as tobac-
co manufacturers, nfd each amassed
AN extensive fortune. In 1851 Dr.
Patterson abandoned his business and
enlisted in the Confederate Army as
a private soldier In infantry service.
The following year he was commits
stoned as surgeon OF tho Fifty-stxth
Virginia Regiment. which position he
held until the close OF the war. Re-
turning from tho army almost desti-
tute. he fcr a time conducted his
mothers farm in IIcnrico county, this
being his only source of income at r.
time when labor conditions were
paraly2ed. He gathered ice from two
large ponds al Wcsthampton and sold
it In ltichmond TO supplement his
small income, sometimes giving his
services 20 his nciShbors as a ply
scian without fee. His frat wife
died in 1866. leaving four sons. In
1868 DR.. Patterson married Miss Bet
tie y. Duval. a daughter of DIR. j. B.
Duva!, of Madison Fla, formerly OF
tlcnrico county.
Rc-Entcrs Tobacco Business.
In 500 nr. Patterson rc-entered tho
tobacco business. resuming manu-
facturc under the firm name OF II. A.
Patterson x Co. with James Thomas.
Jr.. and Thomas G. Williams as silent
partners and his brands have since
been sold around the world. His con-
trihution Of capital was money that
had been saved FOR him by foreign
agents on EXPORT goods shipped to
,'cn previous to the war, tho pro-
cccls from sales having bcrn allowed
TO remain ~ their hands until peace
WAS .lta1E