The Only African American Automobile Company

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Charles Richard Patterson, born into slavery in Virginia, later escaped and settled in Greenfield, Ohio, where he developed a reputation for building high-quality carriages. In 1873, he formed a business partnership with another carriage maker, J.P. Lowe, and eventually became the sole proprietor of the company.

Why it matters

Patterson's story highlights the little-known history of African American entrepreneurship in the early automotive industry, a time when hundreds of small auto companies were emerging across America. His success as a Black business owner during the post-Civil War era is a testament to his skill, determination, and the abolitionist sympathies of the Greenfield community.

The details

After learning the blacksmith trade and carriage-making skills, Patterson formed a partnership with J.P. Lowe in 1873. Over time, Patterson became the sole owner of the carriage company, which was one of the first Black-owned automobile manufacturers in the country.

• Charles Richard Patterson was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation in 1833.
• Patterson settled in Greenfield, Ohio, in the 1840s, possibly after purchasing his family's freedom.
• In 1873, Patterson formed a business partnership with J.P. Lowe, a white carriage maker.
• Patterson eventually became the sole proprietor of the carriage company.