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Louis Van Patten

Louis Corydon Van Patten was the second son of David and Lois Young Van Patten. He was born in Centralia, Kansas on November 16, 1874. His father had enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 16, serving first in the 8th N.Y. Artillery then transferring to the 17th Infantry until the end of the Civil War. He was mustered out in the Grand Review of 1865 at Washington, D.C. The peace of farming appealed to him so he traveled west to Kansas where he spent the next 30 years farming near Centralia. It was there his two sons, Herbert and Louis, learned farming.

Louis graduated from Centralia schools, tried many jobs, attended Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas, was becoming restless and attracted by tales of the far west, he jumped on a train in 1897, hopping off somewhere in Central Washington where friends said there was harvest work. His schooling made him eligible for teaching and soon he was asked to become the first Superintendent of Schools in Adams County. It was while he was working in that office he met Grace Salisbury Perry when she applied to him for a job. She was a member of the first graduating class of Cheney Normal. They married in Cheney in 1902 after which they worked and taught together in various Eastern Washington schools. Louis Van Patten graduated from Cheney Normal during this time of association with the education profession. At the same time his interest in farming methods was increasing. He acted as an unofficial county agent, traveling the farms to spread the gospel of returning the stubble to the soil, keeping the top soil in lumps to conserve moisture. This was to become his consuming passion.

In 1915 the first of their two children was born -- Louise Candace, followed by Perry Herbert in 1917. Perry died in the service of his country (U.S. Air Corps test pilot) in 1941 at Dayton, Ohio.

About 1907 the rotary rod weeder was invented by Cleve and Kyle Wolfe. They formed a company in which several influential Cheney men bought shares and in 1912 hired Louis Van Patten to manage the manufacturing company known as the Cheney Weeder Co. Dry land farming needed the underground weeder to produce a maximum crop. Stubble and similar materials were returned to the land, providing nitrogen and allowing the soil to breathe. Louis Van Patten had found his life's work. The inspiration lay in those early hard times experienced on the Kansas farm where many times the dust blew and nothing grew, just as it did in the '30's. Louis had memories of many lean years due to drought, cyclones, weeds, damage to stock and machinery.

Not only was Louis Van Patten dedicated to his work but took time to be equally attentive to his community and in city government in particular. He was a member of the City Council for many years, was chosen by Mayor Clawson in 1913 to act as Park Commissioner and when Mr. Clawson resigned on July 15, 1913 was appointed to finish out that term as Mayor.

Times were depressing in 1913 with many needy families everywhere, including locally. The compassion and concern of the Mayor and council resulted in appointment of a committee to secure provisions for families of Cheney in distress. At the December 13th meeting of the council a report was read stating food, clothing and fuel and been distributed to the best possible advantage.

The citizens had every confidence in Mayor Van Patten's ability and relied on his sound judgment to lead city government in a safe, competent manner. He presented a practical, sufficient budget for the year of 1914 in the total amount of $7,450.00 which was passed by the city council. An interesting comparison of wages 75 years ago and now can be shown in the following budget:

• City Marshal $900.00
• City Attorney $300.00
• City Clerk $300.00
• City Treasurer $180.00
• City Health Officer $120.00
• City Fire Chief $120.00
• City Water Sup't $600.00
• City Pump Man $600.00
• Extra help (all city duties) $600.00

Repairs, supplies, etc. and all other expenses were in keeping with the above salaries and accounted for the rest of the budget.

All was harmonious between the city governing body and citizens except for one incident which took place during Mayor Van Patten's administration and in which he was deeply involved. As was so often the case, a larger water supply was needed. The solution was to dig another well, with the resulting controversy over whether it should be a deep or shallow one. The Mayor envisioned continued growth in the population of the city and stood firm for a deep well. Others felt a shallow one would serve the community adequately,--- that population had reached its peak and the extra money for a deep well as opposed to a shallow one was a foolish waste of taxpayer's money. Feelings ran high; at one point an attempt to bribe the Mayor into changing his mind (the only time in his life such a tactic was used directly), greatly offended him. In repeating the anecdote in later years he would chuckle and declare, "Not only was it demeaning personally, but the small size of the bribe made it even worse!"

For almost 50 years Louis Van Patten managed the Cheney Weeder Co., working constantly to improve farming methods. During World War II our soldiers saw the weeders in Tunisia, stenciled with the company's name and address. Although destined only for that country carloads of the implements were seen in Russia, where inferior copies soon appeared.

The post war years saw nation-wide struggle to recover from the traumatic months which had gone before. Recovery called for strong leadership in all phases of government. Again, Louis Van Patten was called upon to take the reins of the City. 1944-1948 was his second term as Mayor.

Consideration of housing for returning war veterans anxious to enter college was one of the first orders of business. Many contacts and months of paper work resulted in government surplus prefabricated units and trailer houses being hauled in for use of veterans. The units were attached together to form one large dormitory for single veterans and placed on campus space west of Monroe Hall. This was named Hudson Hall. The trailer houses were grouped near-by between Hudson and Monroe Halls. It housed married veterans and their families, creating a small village-type plan of housing known as Trailerville.

On September 19, 1944 the city administration voted to raise the wages for all city work from .75 cents to .85 cents an hour, retroactive to the first of that month.

The first water chlorination system was purchased for the sum of $350.00. Discussions began on the probability of having a public swimming pool in the city. If plans materialized, a wading pool and bath house would also be built.

In the spring of 1945 Mrs. W.J. Sutton presented the City with land for a park to be dedicated to her late husband and to be called Sutton Park. Mayor Van Patten accepted the gift on behalf of the City and proposed a triangle of land adjoining the property, also owned by Mrs. Sutton, be purchased at the price of $200.00. A warranty deed to the land was received by the City on May 15, 1945. This park has been improved through the years since that date and has brought pleasure to countless families and groups. It now has a Gazebo reminiscent of early days where summer concerts can be held.

James Crawford was appointed Police Chief for the year of 1946 at the rate of $200.00 a month. He furnished his own car for catching speeders; the City paid for equipping his car with red light and siren, also paying the insurance on the vehicle. John T. Van Brunt was hired as night Marshal at $150.00 a month.

Under Mayor Van Patten's common sense approach to problems both Cheney Weeder and the City of Cheney thrived and prospered. In 1960 he retired, leaving Cheney with his wife Grace to go to California where his daughter Louise Van Patten Hooey resided. Grace died in Palo Alto that same year. Louis lived there with his daughter until his death in 1969.

Now, 20 years later, Louise wrote of her father, "I'm glad he isn't here to see the wheat farms today. No more fence rows for the pheasants to nest in; no more wild roses along the roadside. It's all irrigation and chemicals now. But he was always an optimist. He'd be out there telling them if they wanted any soil left they'd have to go back to organic farming!"

Several paragraphs in this biography are as written by Louise V.P. Hooey, who graciously gave permission to use her words.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.