I. L. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Isaac Lee "Ike" Patterson, (September 17, 1859 – December 21, 1929) was the 18th Governor
of Oregon
from 1927 to 1929. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
from 1918 to 1922, and was a farmer in the Willamette Valley
.
estate in rural Benton County, Oregon
. His parents, Francis A. and Caroline (née Tatum) were emigrants to the Oregon Territory, having made the overland trip from their previous home of Bellevue, Illinois
. Until he reached the age of 18, he worked his father's farm. He later attended Monmouth's
Christian College
, for one year. Patterson supported himself as a grocery clerk in Independence
, later earning his way into a position there as a business partner. His participation in the grocery store would last for 22 years. On May 12, 1886 he married the former Mary Elizabeth Woodworth, and they would have two children.
representing Marion County
. At the time, he was one of the youngest State Legislators ever elected, having been sworn in at age 32. President William McKinley
appointed Patterson to the post of Collector of Customs, Portland District in 1898, and was reappointed by Theodore Roosevelt
in 1902, serving there until 1906.
In 1899, Patterson sold off his share in the grocery store, and purchased a 300 acres (1.2 km²) ranch in rural Polk County
. The farm would prove profitable, and paved the way for Patterson's later venture into a successful wool and hide business in Portland.
After serving out his term as Collector of Customs, Patterson managed his business affairs and kept working politically inside the Republican Party. In 1918, the citizens of Benton and Polk Counties elected him to represent their district, returning him to the State Senate. In the Senate, he moved his way up and served as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Presidential campaign in Oregon.
His profile statewide rose, and this secured him the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1926. He would go on to defeat Walter M. Pierce
in that year's general election.
Using President Coolidge as an inspiration, Governor Patterson would govern the state in a financially conservative manner; streamlining agencies of the state and vetoing legislation which would threaten balancing the state's finances. By 1920, the state balanced its budget for the first time in its history. His administration notably continued improving state roads and highways, established the state's system of higher education, and directed the state prison system to house adult and juvenile criminals separately.
He was considered a popular and well-respected figure by rivals and supporters alike, but suddenly died in office of pneumonia
on December 21, 1929.
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
from 1927 to 1929. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
from 1918 to 1922, and was a farmer in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
.
Early life
Patterson was born on September 17, 1859 on his family's Kings ValleyKings Valley, Oregon
Kings Valley is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the Luckiamute River and Oregon Route 223....
estate in rural Benton County, Oregon
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
. His parents, Francis A. and Caroline (née Tatum) were emigrants to the Oregon Territory, having made the overland trip from their previous home of Bellevue, Illinois
Bellevue, Illinois
Bellevue is a village in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,887 at the 2000 census. Bellevue is a suburb of Peoria and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. Until he reached the age of 18, he worked his father's farm. He later attended Monmouth's
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
Christian College
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
, for one year. Patterson supported himself as a grocery clerk in Independence
Independence, Oregon
Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on the west bank of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 51, and east of nearby Monmouth. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, later earning his way into a position there as a business partner. His participation in the grocery store would last for 22 years. On May 12, 1886 he married the former Mary Elizabeth Woodworth, and they would have two children.
Entry into politics
In 1898, Patterson entered politics, gaining election to a seat in the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
representing Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
. At the time, he was one of the youngest State Legislators ever elected, having been sworn in at age 32. President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
appointed Patterson to the post of Collector of Customs, Portland District in 1898, and was reappointed by Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in 1902, serving there until 1906.
In 1899, Patterson sold off his share in the grocery store, and purchased a 300 acres (1.2 km²) ranch in rural Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
. The farm would prove profitable, and paved the way for Patterson's later venture into a successful wool and hide business in Portland.
After serving out his term as Collector of Customs, Patterson managed his business affairs and kept working politically inside the Republican Party. In 1918, the citizens of Benton and Polk Counties elected him to represent their district, returning him to the State Senate. In the Senate, he moved his way up and served as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Governorship
Patterson attempted to secure the Republican nomination for Governor in 1922, coming in a distant third in the primary in a five-man race. Despite this poor showing, Patterson had strong ties with the party's old guard. He won the Chairmanship of the Oregon State Republican Party Central Committee in 1924, going on to chair Calvin Coolidge'sCalvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
Presidential campaign in Oregon.
His profile statewide rose, and this secured him the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1926. He would go on to defeat Walter M. Pierce
Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
in that year's general election.
Using President Coolidge as an inspiration, Governor Patterson would govern the state in a financially conservative manner; streamlining agencies of the state and vetoing legislation which would threaten balancing the state's finances. By 1920, the state balanced its budget for the first time in its history. His administration notably continued improving state roads and highways, established the state's system of higher education, and directed the state prison system to house adult and juvenile criminals separately.
He was considered a popular and well-respected figure by rivals and supporters alike, but suddenly died in office of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on December 21, 1929.
Sources
- Klooster, Karl. Round the Roses II: More Past Portland Perspectives, pg. 126, 1992 ISBN 0-9619847-1-6
External links
- Oregon State Archives: I.L. Patterson Administration-Photo and some public speeches of Governor I.L. Patterson.
- Oregon State Library