History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

153

of the most admirable and efficient in the state today. Mr. Webster is
a graduate of the Literary and Law departments of the University of
Michigan. He was county superintendent of schools for a number of
years, has been a member of the board of supervisors and a member
of the board of public works of Pontiac, while for many years he was one
of the trustees of the schools of the city. At the present time, he is
secretary of the school board. Outside of his professional practice,
his interests have been mainly along educational lines, although his
services in other respects have been invaluable to the city.
JOHN H. PATTERSON
John H. Patterson, of the firm of Patterson & Patterson, one of the
most prominent law firms in Oakland county, Michigan, has been a
resident of Pontiac since first entering upon his professional career, and
of Oakland county all his life. Born at Holly, Oakland county, Michigan, in I865, he is the son of Hon. Thomas L. Patterson, a prominent
attorney and for many years judge of the probate court of Oakland
county. The firm name, Patterson & Patterson, has long been a familiar
one in Oakland county, and is almost a name with which to conjure in
the districts where best known, so capable and efficient have its members proved themselves as exponents of the law. When first organized,
the firm was composed of Judge Thomas L. Patterson, the father of
the subject, and James K. Patterson. Upon the decease of the latter,
his son, Samuel J., became the partner of John H. Patterson, thus continuing the firm name under a new personnel. Of the parentage of
Mr. Patterson, the brief mention made above is sufficient, as the life of
Judge Patterson is one of such importance and interest in the history
of Oakland county that specific place is given to a detailed setting forth,
of at least a portion of that life in this work.
John H. Patterson, after finishing the schools of Holly, took a high
school course in the public schools of Ann Arbor, preparatory to his
entering the University of Michigan at that place. He entered the
literary department of the University in 1883, continuing therein for
two years, at the same time attending the lectures in the law department. In 1885 he came to Pontiac and served as clerk of the probate
court, of which his father was then judge. He continued the study of
law under the able preceptorship of his father and of Thomas J. Davis,
the latter then an attorney of Pontiac, but in later years of Duluth,
Minnesota. In I887, upon examination before the circuit court at
Pontiac, he was admitted to the bar, and was subsequently admitted to
practice. before the United States courts. In I901 he formed a partnership with his cousin, Samuel J. Patterson with whom he has since been
associated.
By reason of his early connection with the probate court, Mr. Patterson had gained a valuable experience in its practice, and since that
time has had much to do in the handling and ultimate settlement of
estates and in general probate practice. His clientele numbers among
it some of the most substantial business firms and individuals in the
county, and he has won an enviable reputation among the profession