History of Adam Patterson (1840-1891)

Adam Patterson
Adam Patterson was born in Brock, Canada, March 13, 1840, and died in Muskegon County, Mich., June 17, 1891. The half-century that spanned these dates was filled with deeds of kindness and generosity, and when the end came it was felt by all with whom he had business of social relations that the community had suffered an irreparable loss. This brief record of his life will be perused with interest by those with whom he was associated in days gone by, and will also furnish an example for the emulation of the rising generation.
The parents of our subject, Alexander and Mary Patterson, were natives of Scotland, and in 1837 emigrated to America, settling in Canada, where they resided about twenty years. They then removed to Michigan and located in Berlin, Ottawa County. After a residence there of another twenty years, they sold out their farming interests and removed to Grand Rapids, where Mr. Patterson resided, practically retired from active business, until his death. Of ten children, our subject is the fourth in respect to age. He remained at home until about the age of twenty-two years old, assisting his father on the farm and at the same time acquiring a common-school education. He then engaged in farming in Polkton Township, Ottawa County, and followed this occupation about two years.
Removing from Polkton Township to Ravenna, Mr. Patterson embarked in the milling and lumber business, and for about two years had an extensive trade in that line. Then selling out his interests in that place, he located at Titiute and erected a large mill for the manufacture of lumber and shingles. He did a thriving business here for about one year, then sold out and removed to Ravenna, where he remained for one summer. Thence he went to Casenovia and purchased the Edward Hayward mill, where his usual success attended him during his two year's stay. His restless ambition, however, induced him to again dispose of his property, after which he located in Half Moon Lake. After one year spent at that place, he went the Bailey and built one of the largest mills in northern Michigan, which he conducted for two years. Later he resided at Nunica, Ottawa County, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of shingles on Rogue River.
After having spent twelve months in the last-named place, Mr. Patterson disposed of his interests there and removed to Girard, Kan., where he engaged in farming. Like so many others who settled in the Sunflower State at that time, he soon discovered that farming operations there proved very unsuccessful, owing to the hot winds and the destructiveness of grasshoppers. As a result of these causes, he met with the entire loss of all of his property, and after a two-years sojourn in Kansas returned to Michigan. In this State he located on a farm ten miles east of Grand Rapids, where he remained about one year, going from there to a farm in Moorland Township. Upon property purchased in this township he conducted agricultural operations on an extensive scale, and in connection with his farming interests he built and conducted a large lumber and shingle mill.
Mr. Patterson possessed indomitable pluck and energy, and we find him in 1877, less than two year after his return from Kansas, with his fortune so far retrieved that he was the owner of a fine farm and a large milling interest. His business here proved very successful and he made this his permanent home. He was married July 19, 1865, to Lovisa, daughter of John W. and Elizabeth Tibbitts, natives of New York. The marriage resulted in the birth of three children, one of whom, Ethel May, is deceased. Ella Frances and Elmer Franklin are twins, the former being the wife of Thomas Workman, of Moorland Township; the son married Mary McMillan and makes his home in Moorland Township. In the summer of 1891, Mr. Patterson returned from an extended tour through the South, where he had looked up a new location for milling operations. He was making arrangements to return to the South, when a brief and unexpected illness resulted in his death. He possessed many sterling and generous qualities, and his friendly and social disposition made him quite popular among his acquaintances.

Source: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mimuskeg/MuskBio21.html