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.

398

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

self or his family, and the plant is doing a large business, which is
steadily increasing under his management and direction.
The plant covers four acres with floor space of thirty-three thousand
square feet, the building being a one-story concrete affair. It has ten
thousand feet of additional space in its power house and storage sheds.
The products of the Patterson Manufacturing Company are farm
wagons, bob-sleds, cultivators, land rollers, combination stock racks,
garden wheelbarrows, stone boats, and all kinds of gray iron castings.
The annual sales of the plant aggregate $65,000 and the annual payroll
is $25,000, with about an equal amount paid locally for material. Its
products find ready market in practically every state in the Union, from
coast to coast, and the concern is known for one of the highly successful
enterprises of Oakland county.
THIE~ CHURCHIEs
Holly first enjoyed the preaching of the Gospel by a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal church in the spring of I856, when Rev. Ira W.
Donaldson officiated in that capacity. A class was organized on April
I, 1857, by Rev. Thomas Wakelin, then in charge of the Grand Blanc
circuit. Seven members comprised the class, as follows: William R.
Kendall, Sara E. Kendall, Fidelia P. Wightman, Elizabeth Wakelin,
Sophia C. Bird, Ira Wightman and Abynia Warren. In 1859 a substantial frame building was erected, which is still in use. In September,
I870, the spire was struck by lightning, and when it was repaired a large
bell was put in place, which was first rung for service on New Year's
day, I871. In the Holly charge are societies at Groveland, Goodrich
and Atlas. The pastors who have served since the organization of the
church here are as follows: Rev. Ira Donaldson, 1856; Thomas Wakelin, 1857; Isaac Crawford, 1858; John W. Crippen, I86o; Isaac C.
Cochran, I86i; L. C. York, 1863; William Taylor, 1869; Orlando Sanborn, i874; S. 1. Kimmel, 1875; William C. Way, 1878; N. G. Lyons,
1880-83; E. B. Bancroft, 1884-85; J. C. Wortley, 1886-88; C. L. Adams,
1887-90; D. Casler, I890-93; J. D. Halliday, I893-96; C. C. Turner,
1896; C. H. Rutledge, 1897; J. R. Beach, 1898-1901; F.. Dodds,
I901-04; A. A. Lancaster, 1904-05; F. J. Walker, 1905; E. F. Johnson,
I906; J. T. M. Stephens, I909, the latter being the present incumbent.
The first Presbyterian church of Holly was organized in the schoolhouse on Saginaw street, on July 7, 1859, with the following members:
Mr. and Mrs. William Stiff; Clarissa Stiff; William Johnson Stiff; H.
H. Palmer and Lucy Palmer, his wife, and Thomas and Martha Hadley.
The first pastor was Rev. George Winter. The Sunday-school was
organized in January, 1862, with a membership of thirty. Their first
superintendent was A. 1P. Waldo, and Mrs. Plum; Thomas, John, Margaret and William Hadley were the teachers. The church was built in
I86I, and occupied for the first time on January I, 1862. In 1877 the
membership of the society was about one hundred and fifty. Following the ministry of Rev. George Winter, who served for one year, there
have been the incumbents named hereafter: Rev. Thomas Wright,
I860-62; Rev. W. P. \astell, I862-65; Rev. George \Vinter, i865-66;