Ellmore Patterson
Encyclopedia
Ellmore C. Patterson was founder of Warner-Patterson Company and an amateur sports promoter.
, where he started to work for the Vive Camera Company, a local firm owned by a Mr. Atwater, who had developed an early box-type of camera. By 1897, Ellmore Patterson had become the general manager of the company.
In 1902, Patterson joined the staff of Colliers Magazine rising quickly between 1904 and 1916 to Western Manager, Advertising Manager, Vice President, and then General Manager. In these positions, Patterson became widely known throughout the United States in the advertising business, as the first to guarantee circulation in weekly magazines and a pioneer in educating readers to interpret advertising.
In 1903, he had married Harriet Wales of Minneapolis, Minnesota
, with whom he had four children. His eldest son, Ellmore Patterson, Jr., eventually became chairman of the board and chief executive officer of J.P. Morgan & Co. and the Morgan Guaranty Trust.
In 1916, he co-founded the Warner-Patterson Co., a manufacturer of automobile accessories. While with that company, he invented a shaded lens for automobile headlights. He retired in 1936, but remained chairman of the company's board until his death.
Keenly interested in amateur sports of all kinds, he, with Walter Camp
, picked All-American football teams for a number of years. In his local area, he taught boxing to boys in neighboring La Grange, Illinois
at the La Grange Athletic Association and organzied the Western Spring Cadets, a drill squad. Paralleling his business interests in automobiles, he promoted automobile and auto racing. He made the first non-stop automobile trip from Chicago to New York City. Patterson employed the famous race car driver Ralph DePalma
, who won the Chicago Automobile Club Races at Elgin and the 500-mile Indianapolis Classic in 1915 with a special Mercedes automobile that Patterson had imported.
Just six weeks after his wife's death in 1946, Patterson was killed in Western Springs, Illinois
, when the high speed Burlington Railroad Zepher struck him, while he was crossing the tracks near his home.
Business career
Ellmore Patterson and his brother Howard Patterson came to the Chicago area about 1885 and worked for Burton S. White in the restaurant and catering business. In 1890, the brothers started a Chicago lunchroom called the Rochester Bakery. In 1893, Ellmore moved to Western Springs, IllinoisWestern Springs, Illinois
Western Springs is a suburb of Chicago located in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 12,493. It is twinned with Rugeley, United Kingdom....
, where he started to work for the Vive Camera Company, a local firm owned by a Mr. Atwater, who had developed an early box-type of camera. By 1897, Ellmore Patterson had become the general manager of the company.
In 1902, Patterson joined the staff of Colliers Magazine rising quickly between 1904 and 1916 to Western Manager, Advertising Manager, Vice President, and then General Manager. In these positions, Patterson became widely known throughout the United States in the advertising business, as the first to guarantee circulation in weekly magazines and a pioneer in educating readers to interpret advertising.
In 1903, he had married Harriet Wales of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, with whom he had four children. His eldest son, Ellmore Patterson, Jr., eventually became chairman of the board and chief executive officer of J.P. Morgan & Co. and the Morgan Guaranty Trust.
In 1916, he co-founded the Warner-Patterson Co., a manufacturer of automobile accessories. While with that company, he invented a shaded lens for automobile headlights. He retired in 1936, but remained chairman of the company's board until his death.
Keenly interested in amateur sports of all kinds, he, with Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
, picked All-American football teams for a number of years. In his local area, he taught boxing to boys in neighboring La Grange, Illinois
La Grange, Illinois
La Grange, a suburb of Chicago, is a village in Cook County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 15,608 at the 2000 census.-History:...
at the La Grange Athletic Association and organzied the Western Spring Cadets, a drill squad. Paralleling his business interests in automobiles, he promoted automobile and auto racing. He made the first non-stop automobile trip from Chicago to New York City. Patterson employed the famous race car driver Ralph DePalma
Ralph DePalma
Ralph De Palma was an Italian-American racecar driving champion, most notably winner of the 1915 Indianapolis 500. His entry at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame estimates that he won about 2000 races...
, who won the Chicago Automobile Club Races at Elgin and the 500-mile Indianapolis Classic in 1915 with a special Mercedes automobile that Patterson had imported.
Just six weeks after his wife's death in 1946, Patterson was killed in Western Springs, Illinois
Western Springs, Illinois
Western Springs is a suburb of Chicago located in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 12,493. It is twinned with Rugeley, United Kingdom....
, when the high speed Burlington Railroad Zepher struck him, while he was crossing the tracks near his home.