Patterson was born in Springfield, Missouri on September 15, 1876.^[1] He attended public and private schools, Drury College, (Springfield) and the University of Missouri in Columbia.^[1] He graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1897, was admitted to the bar later that year, and commenced practice in Springfield.^[1]

From 1903 to 1907, Patterson served as prosecuting attorney of Greene County.^[1] In 1912, Patterson was appointed to the Missouri Republican State Committee, and he served until 1920.^[1]

Patterson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1920 and served in the 67th Congress, March 4, 1921 to March 3, 1923.^[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1922 and resumed the practice of law in Springfield.^[1] He was a presidential elector in 1924.^[2]

From 1925 to 1929, Patterson resided in Kansas City, Missouri and was United States district attorney for the western district of Missouri.^[1] He resigned in February 1929 in preparation to assume the seat in the United States Senate to which he was elected in November 1928.^[1]

Patterson won the general election in November 1928.^[1] He took his Senate seat the following year and served one term, March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935.^[1] While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining (72nd Congress).^[3] His chief legislative accomplishment was sponsorship of the Lindbergh Law, which enabled federal authorities to investigate kidnappings if the victims were transported across state lines.^[1]

Patterson served during the Great Depression, which was largely blamed on Republican economic policies.^[1] He consistently opposed the New Deal remedies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which made him unpopular in Missouri.^[1] As a result, Patterson was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in the 1934 election, losing the general election to the Democratic nominee, Harry S. Truman.^[1]

After leaving the Senate, Patterson resumed the practice of law in Springfield.^[4] For several years, Patterson was a member of the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission.^[5]

Patterson suffered a stroke in July 1954.^[4] His health deteriorated and he died in Springfield on October 22, 1954.^[4] He was buried at Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield.^[6]

Patterson was married to Ada Holman of Springfield (1877–1957).^[7] They were the parents of two children, Paul (1902–1924)^[8] and Hadley (1908–1958).^[9]

Books edit

• Barrett, Paul W.; Barrett, Mary H. (1988). Young Brothers Massacre. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-0650-3.
• Christensen, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kremer, Gary, eds. (1999). Dictionary of Missouri Biography. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-6016-1.
• Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.
• Toberman, Walter H. (1951). Official Manual of the State of Missouri. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Secretary of State.
• U.S. Senate Committee on Mines and Mining (1932). Hearing Record: To Create a Bituminous Coal Commission. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

Newspapers edit

• "Funeral Service for Paul Patterson Sunday Afternoon". Springfield Republican. Springfield, MO. November 22, 1924 – via Newspapers.com.
• "GOP Leader's Widow Dead". Springfield Leader-Press. Springfield, MO. October 25, 1957 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Hadley Patterson Dies at Hospital After Long Illness". Springfield News-Leader. Springfield, MO. May 2, 1958 – via Newspapers.com.

• United States Congress. "Roscoe C. Patterson (id: P000127)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Roscoe C. Patterson at Find a Grave
• Gallery of Past U.S. Attorneys for the Western District of Missouri at United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri