Alphaeus Patterson

Alphaeus Patterson (March 15, 1856 – November 4, 1931) was a politician and business man from Alberta, Canada. He was born in Kemptville, Ontario.^[1]

Business

Patterson founded a company with William Rae known as The Argonaut Company Ltd. in 1909 Patterson became President and Rae became the secretary-treasure. The company was primarily responsible for developing the site on Bear Creek that became modern Grande Prairie.^[2]

In 1911 Patterson erected the first Store building in Grande Prairie the business was known as Paterson & Son as he ran the store and a post office from the same building with his son Jack O. Patterson.^[3]

Politics

Patterson was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1913 Alberta general election. He ran in a hotly 3 way contested race defeating former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) William Bredin and against his former business partner and future MLA William Rae. He served 1 term in the Assembly as a member of the official opposition and did not run for re-election.

Patterson is the first member elected to the Alberta Legislature who lived in Grande Prairie, Alberta.^[4] He died in 1931 in North Saanich, British Columbia.

Honors

Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire - Alphaeus Patterson chapter which operated in Grande Prairie from 1921 to 1997 was named in his honor.^[4]

Grande Prairie College grants the I.O.D.E. Alphaeus Patterson Chapter Science Scholarship.^[5]

References

http://southpeacearchives.org/imperial-order-of-the-daughters-of-the-empire-fonds/

External links

• Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing