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NAVIGATION
Michigan
Histories
Barry County
Biographies
Online Biographies
Illinois
Histories
Also see [Railway Officials in America 1906]
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ALANSON P. HOLLY, although not a pioneer in the township of Woodland, was one of its most enterprising men and
citizens, being truly what is called a self-made man. He was born in the township of Whitehall, Washington Co.,
N. Y., June 7, 1817. His father, Birdsill Holly, was a carpenter by trade, and Alanson, early giving evidence of
a natural taste for mechanics, was apprenticed at the machinist trade and soon became one of the best, and worked
as foreman in the shop of Abel Downs for twenty years. He then went to Lockport, N. Y., and worked for his brother-who
was the inventor of the Holly water-works-in the Holly Manufacturing Company's shops.
In August, 1866, Alanson, together with his family, moved to Woodland, where he bought a tract of land, but for
eight years traveled for the Holly Manufacturing Company; at the expiration of that time he returned to his farm
in Woodland, and continued farming operations until his death, which occurred May 15, 1879. Mr. Holly's wife, whom
he married Oct. 13, 1840, was a Miss Harriet Stowell, a native of Bainbridge, Chenango Co., N. Y., and the second
in a family of ten children. To this union were born five children, Ira A., born March 27, 1843; Susan J., born
Feb. 22, 1845; William Perry, Jan. 8, 1847; Fred Henry, born June 28, 1850; and Burt S., born Nov. 10, 1857. Ira
A. Holly is settled in Burlington, Iowa, the others in different parts of Michigan, the mother and one son living
on the second farm purchased by Mr. Holly, the one he first purchased when he came to Michigan being one half mile
east of the centre, where he resided two years. A view of their present home we give upon another page of this
work.
FROM:
History of Allegan and Berry Counties, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of Their Men and Pioneers.
D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia 1880
Press of J. B. Lippincoff & Co., Philadelphia.
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