Albert Morss Patten, general superintendent of the Topeka Railway Company, has accomplished much for one of his years. He comes of English ancestry, was born at Medford, Mass., Dec. 19, 1877, and is the son of the late Joseph M. Patten, well known in Topeka as a constructive railway man, who came to Topeka Aug. 15, 1888, to electrify the Topeka Rapid Transit railway, and was general manager of the company from that date to Sept. 1, 1890. He was then receiver of the same company from Sept. 1, 1890, to March 1, 1892, on which date the Topeka Railway Company was organized and he became its general manager, continuing in that position until failing health compelled him to resign on Aug. 1, 1903. Notwithstanding every effort was made to regain his health, he died on Oct. 25, 1905. He was a native of Newburyport, Mass., and was the son of Joseph and Susan Ingalls (Morss) Patten, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts and of English descent. The founder of the Patten family in America was William Patten, who emigrated from England in an early day. The mother of Albert M. Patten was Adeline Medora Cutter, a native of Medford, Mass., who died in Topeka, Kan., May 11, 1896. She was the daughter of Gershom and Lydia (Porter) Cutter, natives of Massachusetts, where Mr. Cutter owned and operated, in an early day, a water power grist mill on the Somerville turnpike near Medford.

When Albert M. Patten was a mere lad he accompanied his parents to Topeka, where he was educated in the city schools and at Washburn College. He began his independent career at the age of eighteen, by accepting the position of cashier of the Topeka Railway Company, on June 1, 1896, and has been associated with that company since that date. During his connection with this company his excellent services have been recognized by various promotions, first from cashier to purchasing agent on July 1, 1899, and on Aug. 1, 1903, when but twenty-five years of age, he was promoted to his present responsible position, that of general superintendent. Under his able management the entire system has been rebuilt and reëquipped so that today the people of Topeka enjoy street railway facilities regarded as the equal of any in the West. New lines have been built and old ones rebuilt and extended until the system now has about thirty-eight miles of track.

Mr. Patten was married, July 10, 1900, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Whitelock, of Topeka, but a native of Ottumwa, Iowa. She died on April 23, 1908, leaving one child, a daughter, Annie Elizabeth, who was born Feb. 7, 1908. Mr. Patten is prominent in the church and social life of Topeka, being a member of Grace Cathedral, and having attained to the Royal Arch and Knight Templar degrees in Masonry. He is also a member of the Elks, the Commercial and the Topeka clubs.