Carl S. (Carl Safford) Patton

Born in 1866, Carl Safford Patton was an American clergyman and author whose books ranged from biblical scholarship to practical advice on sermon writing. Library and archive records connect him with works such as Sources of the Synoptic Gospels, The Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, and Two Minute Stories, showing the breadth of his writing interests.

Patton studied at Oberlin and later at Andover Theological Seminary, and he went on to serve as a Congregational minister. Contemporary records also place him at major churches in Columbus, Ohio, and Los Angeles, where he was known as a preacher as well as a writer.

He died in 1939. Today he is remembered mainly through the sermons and religious books he left behind, which reflect a clear, practical style aimed at both ministers and everyday readers.