Of Montgomery, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, was born April 30, 1885, at Marion. He is the son of William Burns and Margaret Bingham (Flack) Paterson, the former a native of Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, who came to America, lived at Greensboro, Marion and Montgomery.

Mr. Paterson attended the public schools of Montgomery and graduated from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute with the degree of B.S., 1905. Since his graduation he has been a member of the firm of Rosemont Gardens. He served as a member of the Montgomery County Board of Revenue, 1926 to 1930, was chairman of the Board from 1930 to 1932, and sheriff of the county from January 1935 to January 17, 1939. He was Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, 1939-1943, and State Director of Civilian Defense, 1943 to Jan. 20, 1947. He was adjutant of the Second Regiment, Alabama National Guard, 1908 to 1912, major and chief signal officer, 1912 to 1913, and captain, Headquarters, Fourth Alabama Infantry, 1914. He is a Presbyterian, Mason, Woodman and Praetorian.

Married: March 22, 1911, at Montgomery, Lucy Benton, daughter of Capt. Mark and Mollie Belle (Stone) Young of Speigner. Children: 1. John Haygood, Jr., m. Louise Starling.

Authorities:
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Official and Statistical Register, 1947, 36.