John J. Patterson
Encyclopedia
John James Patterson was a businessman and United States Senator from South Carolina
. Born in Waterloo, Pennsylvania, he grew up there and attended the public schools, and then attended Jefferson College
in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
. During the 1850s he engaged in newspaper and banking businesses in Pennsylvania; he was publisher of the Juniata Sentinel
in 1852 and became editor and part owner of the Harrisburg Telegraph
in 1853. He first entered politics in 1854 when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, in which he served until 1856.
In 1861, when the Civil War began, he joined the United States Army
and served as a captain in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Meanwhile, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
in 1862, but was unsuccessful.
After the war Patterson moved to Columbia, South Carolina
and engaged in railroad construction. He again entered politics and in 1873 was elected by the South Carolina Legislature to the U.S. Senate as a Republican. He was criticized by many in South Carolina for being a carpetbagger
. Patterson was the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor from 1875 to 1877 and a member of the committee on territories from 1877 to 1879. By the time his term ended in 1879, Reconstruction had ended and the Democrats had taken nearly all power in South Carolina, so Patterson had no hope of reelection. He continued to live in Washington, D.C.
after leaving the Senate and engaged in financial enterprises.
He once said "there are still years of good stealing in South Carolina"
In 1886 he moved to Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
where he lived until his death. He continued to be active in business, particularly in running a company that installed electric lightbulbs. He is buried in the Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Born in Waterloo, Pennsylvania, he grew up there and attended the public schools, and then attended Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
. During the 1850s he engaged in newspaper and banking businesses in Pennsylvania; he was publisher of the Juniata Sentinel
Juniata County, Pennsylvania
Juniata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 24,636. Juniata County was created on March 2, 1831, from part of Mifflin County and named for the Juniata River. Its county seat is Mifflintown....
in 1852 and became editor and part owner of the Harrisburg Telegraph
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
in 1853. He first entered politics in 1854 when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, in which he served until 1856.
In 1861, when the Civil War began, he joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served as a captain in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Meanwhile, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1862, but was unsuccessful.
After the war Patterson moved to Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
and engaged in railroad construction. He again entered politics and in 1873 was elected by the South Carolina Legislature to the U.S. Senate as a Republican. He was criticized by many in South Carolina for being a carpetbagger
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
. Patterson was the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor from 1875 to 1877 and a member of the committee on territories from 1877 to 1879. By the time his term ended in 1879, Reconstruction had ended and the Democrats had taken nearly all power in South Carolina, so Patterson had no hope of reelection. He continued to live in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
after leaving the Senate and engaged in financial enterprises.
He once said "there are still years of good stealing in South Carolina"
In 1886 he moved to Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Mifflintown is a borough in and the county seat of Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 861 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mifflintown is located at ....
where he lived until his death. He continued to be active in business, particularly in running a company that installed electric lightbulbs. He is buried in the Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery.