BIO: Alexander PATERSON, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 824 & 825.
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  ALEXANDER PATERSON, secretary and treasurer of the Paterson Clay Products 
Company, a very important business enterprise of Clearfield, Pa., has been 
identified with the interests of this borough and near-by villages for about 
thirty-seven years.  He was born at Airdrie, Scotland, December 19, 1857, and is 
a son of John and Marion (Dunlop) Paterson, both of whom are deceased.  He came 
from Scotland to this country in 1874, and settled at Woodland, Clearfield 
county, as an employee of the Woodland Fire Brick Company; his duties being 
those of bookkeeper and draughtsman.  In 1882 he went to Dickinson College, 
Carlisle, Pa., graduating from there in June, 1886.  Previous to leaving for 
Dickinson College and during his stay there he gave attention to the study of 
the law under the guidance of the Hon. J. B. McEnally of Clearfield, with whom 
he became registered as a law student in 1884.  In January, 1887, he was 
admitted to the bar of Clearfield county.  For four years he served as official 
stenographer in the courts of Clearfield county, and for one year was a member 
of the law firm of Kelley & Paterson.
  In 1889 he became president of the Wallaceton Fire Brick Company and in 1899 
became the sole proprietor of the works, which he continued to operate until 
1902 when they became the property of the Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.; he 
became a director of that company and secretary and treasurer of the Isaac Reese 
& Sons Co., a group of works also belonging to the Harbison-Walker Refractories 
Co.  In 1904 he concluded to return to the practice of the law, and the firm of 
McEnally & Paterson was formed, which continued until the organization of the 
Paterson Clay Products Co., when he withdrew in order to give his sole attention 
to the brick business.  He is at present attending to the business of this 
company.
  In 1887 he married Miss Mary Wynn, a daughter of William H. and Margaret 
(Ross) Wynn, and eight children were born to them, three of whom passed away in 
childhood.  The survivors are Richard, Robert Bruce, Alexander, John and Ruth.
  Richard is in the junior class at Western University, Pittsburg; Bruce is in 
the sophomore class at Dickinson college, the others are attending the 
Clearfield schools.
  He is a trustee of Dickinson college; he and his wife and two of the children 
are members of the Presbyterian church of Clearfield, of which church he is an 
elder.  In politics he is a Republican and has served as chairman and secretary 
of the Clearfield Republican County Committee.  Almost since he became of age he 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Clearfield Lodge and 
Chapter, Moshannon Commandery, Williamsport Consistory, and Jaffa Temple.  He is 
a member of the Clearfield lodge of I. O. O. F., which he joined as soon as he 
became of age.  He is a member of the St. Andrew's society of Philadelphia, and 
is an associate member of the Engineers' society of Pennsylvania.  He is also 
treasurer of the Historical Society of Clearfield county.