This material is taken from articles in Rivers and Roads and Points in Between, a publication of the Woodruff County Historical Society.

The village of Patterson was first named Martin's Junction for Rufus Martin, construction engineer for the B. & B. Railroad. Mrs Alice Ramsey says that she is the only person now living in Patterson who was living there when Patterson was called Martin's Junction. In 1922 Martin's Junction became Jelks. It was named for "the old" Dr. Lem Jelks, uncle of Dr. L.A. Jelks of McCrory. Dr. Lem Jelks owned a lage farm north of the village. In 1929 the name was changed to Patterson in honor of Marshall Patterson who did much to help the town.