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McDOWELL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Chris & Kerry
cmac4330@chesapeake.net
December 1, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg.62
SAMUEL W. PATTERSON was one of the first officials on the ground in the
development of the coal property of the Bottom Creek Coal & Coke Company at
Vivian in McDowell County. He has lived there since December, 1891, and has
become a successful and widely known coal operator in that section of the state.
Mr. Patterson was born in Elk County, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1863, son of
Thomas N. and Rachel (Spencer) Patterson. The Pattersons were a family of Irish,
Scotch and English origin, while the Spencers were English. Mr. Patterson comes
of several branches of substantial New England stock, including the Howland and
Denison families. He is a member of the John Howland Society. His parents were
both born in Pennsylvania, his father at Mauch-Chunk. Thomas N. Patterson took
up the profession of medicine, but soon abandoned it to engage in coal mining,
and later became manager for J. C. Haydon at Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania, then one of the largest operators in Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Samuel W. Patterson graduated from high school in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania, and at the age of sixteen entered his father's office. There he
acquired a thorough knowledge of the coal industry, being afforded every
opportunity to familiarize himself with the business and technical branches of
the business. His uncle, William Spencer, had acquired an interest in coal
lands in West Virginia. With this interest as the basis there was organized in
1891 at Pottsville Pennsylvania, the Bottom Creek Coal & Coke Company. The
company selected and sent as its practical representatives to the field William
Spencer and Samuel W. Patterson, the latter as secretary and treasurer of the
company. Later he became president and general manager. The Norfolk & Western
Railroad was then constructing its main line west into this section, but at the
time Mr. Patterson had to walk from what is now Kyle to Vivian, the location of
the Bottom Creek Company's property. He has been here ever since and has had
active supervision of all phases of the development of the property. He is
still at his post of duty as mine manager. With his brother, George S., he
organized the Sycamore Coal Company of Cinderella, Mingo County, West Virginia,
and is president of that company, and is also vice president of the Majestic
Collieries Company, Majestic, Kentucky.
In 1903 at Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Patterson married Miss Mary Cleveland,
daughter of Charles W. and M. Isabel (Torrey) Cleveland, both representing old
families of Pennsylvania and New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have one
son, Thomas Cleveland.
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