Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: PATTERSON, Thomas MacDonald (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 August 27, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 16, 18 photo p. 17 HON. THOMAS MacDONALD PATTERSON. The career of the late United States Senator Thomas MacDonald Patterson holds many lessons for those whose start in life is set among inauspicious surroundings, and who desire to attain distinction and honor. No doubt Thomas M. Patterson was naturally gifted, but it stands to his credit that he made the right use of the opportunities which presented themselves and employed them in a way which not only lifted him into an eminent position but cast honor upon his state. A brilliant lawyer and journalist, his name rose higher and grew deeper in the estimation and affection of the public until in 1901, as a fitting tribute to his qualities and the crowning point of his activities the greatest honor which his state had in its power to bestow was conferred upon him in his election to the United States senate. There his clear, logical judgment, his great legal learning and his oratorical powers found a suitable and fruitful field in which to employ his surpassing ability, in order to benefit the state which he represented, at the same time enhancing his reputation as a man who accomplished what he set out to do-and he could leave his labors in the national halls of congress with the clear conscience of having wrought for the best interests of his fellow-citizens-unstintingly, unflinchingly, giving unsparingly the best that was in him. Thomas M. Patterson was born November 4, 1839, in County Carlow, Ireland, a son of James and Margaret (Montjoy) Patterson. The family was a prominent one in the north of Ireland, where his grandfather, James Patterson, was accounted a man ot affairs, having acquired his earthly wealth as a stock dealer. He reared a family of five children and one of his sons, James, was a merchant and jeweler, first at Cavan, Ireland, and later in Liverpool, England. He married Margaret Montjoy and their son, the Senator, was of French Huguenot extraction on the mother's side. The middle name, MacDonald, was given Thomas Patterson in honor of a nephew of his grandmother, the former being a midshipman in the English navy, losing his life with Nelson at the famous battle of Trafalgar. The family, consisting of father, mother, the daughter Katherine and the sons, James and Thomas, came to the United States in 1849, when the latter was but ten years of age. Thomas M. Patterson in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools at Astoria, Long Island, until fourteen years of age, when he secured a clerical position in a department store conducted by Blackwell & Curtis at Astoria. In 1853 the family removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where Mr. Patterson learned the printer's trade, being for three years a member of the composing-room force of the Crawfordsville Review. From 1857 until 1861 he assisted his father in the Jewelry business and in the latter year he and his brother James enlisted under the Union flag. James Patterson was a member of the Eleventh Indiana Infantry, to which his brother also belonged, and was killed in the battle of Winchester. Desirous of securing higher educational advantages, Thomas Patterson entered Asbury College, now De Pauw University, in 1862, remaining there until 1863, when he became a student in Wabash College, taking the junior course. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by De Pauw University in later years. On leaving Wabash College he began the study of law with M. D. White at Crawfordsville, Indiana, and after his admission to the bar in 1867 became a partner of Judge J. R. Cowan, with whom he continued in practice about five years, or until he removed to Denver in December, 1872. Mr. Patterson was therefore numbered among the eminent pioneer lawyers of his state, which later conferred upon him such distinguished honor. Already he had become prominent as a. lawyer in Indiana and at once he entered upon a successful practice in this city, early demonstrating his legal qualifications. His Judicial temperament, his complete knowledge of the law, his logical mind, his thorough learning- all these qualities combined to make him an able member of the bar. At this period he was associated with Charles S. Thomas and they handled some of the most notable cases of that time, enjoying the full confidence and trust of the general public. It was in 1873 that Mr. Patterson was elected city attorney of Denver, and that he performed his duties ably and conscientiously is evident from the tact that he was reelected in 1874. He became at that time one of the leaders of the democratic party and was prominent in its councils. Mr. Patterson was a born leader and early in his career developed a genius for the control of men and events. He was more than a gifted public speaker, for he was a convincing orator who would carry his audiences with him and make them see his point of view. Hardly less brilliant was he as a writer. In his advocacy of anything that he believed to be right he was fearless and after having reached a decision as to what course to pursue he followed that course unerringly and always attained the desired results. Not only was he eminent as a party leader but he became a figure of historical significance, first in his state, then in the greater west, and later in the nation. In 1874 he was elected territorial delegate to congress, the first democrat chosen to that position in Colorado, and the honor must be accounted more signal because he had been a resident of the state for only a little more than two years. He labored unceasingly with democrats and republicans as the case demanded to promote the welfare of the territory and it was largely through his efforts that Colorado was admitted as a state in 1876. Mr. Patterson was nominated for both terms of the forty-fourth congress and retired in 1878 in order to resume the private practice of law. Great impetus was given the mining Industry by the discoveries at Leadville, Aspen and elsewhere and this naturally was productive of extensive litigation. He was prominently connected with many of the leading law suits and thereby increased his practice, his undoubted ability inducing many to seek his services. In 1888 he ran for governor but was not elected. Senator Patterson was a delegate to the national democratic conventions of 1876, 1880, 1888 and 1892 and a member of the national democratic committee from 1874 to 1880. He was a member of the committee on resolutions in the national democratic convention of 1892 and presented the minority report (in which no other joined) favoring a declaration for the free coinage of silver. It was voted down by a large majority but was adopted by the convention of 1896. He was a delegate to the national populist conventions of 1896 and 1900 and in the latter was chosen for the distinguished honor of permanent chairman. In 1892 he repudiated the nomination of Grover Cleveland and was instrumental in carrying Colorado for Mr. Weaver. In 1896 he was elected presidential elector and held that office until 1899. The legal field, however, was not the only one in which Senator Patterson achieved prominence. In 1890 he became the proprietor of the Rocky Mountain News and later of the Denver Times, the News representing the morning and the Times the evening editions of these publications. It may be said that the seed for his great success as a journalist was sown in the little country newspaper office in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he learned the printer's trade, for there he first experienced the fascination connected with newspaper publication. Later on he disposed of his Interest in the Times and still later sold his proprietary interest in the News. His editorial work gave clear evidence of his versatility and ability as a deep thinker and fluent writer and to his great credit may it be said that he used his talents always in the advocacy of the rights of the masses against corporate control and aggrandizement. His editorials were as sweeping and masterly as the speeches he delivered in the national conventions of the democratic and populist parties. During Ills campaign tours, leading him through many states when advocating the election of Mr. Bryan, he delivered many brilliant philippics in behalf of the people against the enslavement of the money power. His speeches scintillated with poignant facts, incontrovertible shafts of logic and delicious humor. In 1901 he received the united support of the democrats, populists and several republicans for United States senator, all the votes of the legislature except nine being cast for him. Most valuable were his services to the state during the six years in which he sat in the upper chamber oŁ congress in Washington. It is a record of battles which he fought faithfully and earnestly in behalf of the people and it is well known that he was always the champion of their rights and principles. It is but natural that a man of Senator Patterson's stamp, with his strenuous manner of advocating and maintaining his views, should engender political enmity, yet nothing swerved him from his duty as he saw it-even his political opponents united in paying to him personally the highest respect, appreciating his absolute sincerity. In Watertown, New York, in 1863, Thomas Patterson wedded Miss Catherine A. C. Grafton, a daughter of Dr. Samuel H. Grafton and a grandniece of Alexander Campbell, founder of the Christian church. Mrs. Patterson was as prominent in social circles of the state and capital as was the Senator in official life. She was connected with many movements undertaken in behalf of moral uplift, intellectual development and welfare principles. She was also deeply interested in church work and many were her charitable acts and kind deeds. She passed away July 16, 1902, and her demise, as well as that of two sons and two daughters, cast deep gloom over the remaining household, dimming the many successes that crowned the Senator's brilliant career. On August 23, 1916, Senator Patterson expired and with his death closed a life which had been one of action, full of achievement and full of honor. Many were the tributes paid to the departed statesman and the sorrow felt on the occasion of his demise was sincere throughout the state. Beginning life's work in a minor clerical capacity in a little country town in Indiana, he attained to one of the greatest political honors in the nation, representing his state for seven years in the highest legislative body of the world. Moreover, he was not respected and esteemed for those achievements alone, but was judged by his qualities of character and heart, which underlaid and guided all his actions,-and was found not wanting. He was one of the people and remained a sincere champion of the people to the last. Therefore the inhabitants of the state of Colorado sincerely loved him and cherish his memory as that of a great and honest man who stood for their interests. The surviving daughter of Senator Patterson is Mrs. Richard C. Campbell, of Denver. Both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell occupy an enviable position in the social circles of the capital and are ever ready to cooperate in measures undertaken for the extension and enhancement of their city along any line, or the moral and material betterment of the people at large. To them were born three children: Thomas Patterson Campbell, who has followed the call of his country and is now serving as a lieutenant in the aviation service; Richard C. Campbell. Jr., recently a member of the Students' Army Training .Corps at Dartmouth College and of the class of '21, who died at Dartmouth. October 5, 1918; and Katharine Grafton Campbell.