John Dougherty (1846-1927)

DOUGHERTY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/16/2023 at 15:22:18

John Dougherty
(June 20, 1846 - October 11, 1927)

One of the leading and representative citizens of Lake Creek Township is John Dougherty, who was born in Ireland on the
20th of June, 1846, and was ten years old when he came to the United States with his parents, Cornelius and Mary (Sheahan)
Dougherty. The family first located in New York state, but afterward removed to New Jersey, where the father engaged in farming for some years. His last days, however, were spent in Chicago, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He was an upright, reliable and industrious man and commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. His wife departed this life in Champaign County, Illinois, at the age of sixty-four years. They have four children, of whom three are now living; Patrick having died at the age of fifty years. The surviving children are Mrs. Ellen Crawford, of Peoria, Illinois: John, of this review; and Mrs. Hannah Manning, of Urbana, Illinois. John Dougherty grew to manhood in New Jersey, and obtained his education in the public schools of that state. He began his business career as a railroad man, being in the employ of the Camden & Amboy Railroad Company at South Amboy, New Jersey, for two years, and from there went to Chicago in April, 1865, making his home in
that city for the same length of time. While residing there he was employed as heater's helper in the rolling mills. He next moved to Champaign County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for twenty years, and while there bought forty acres of land, which was the first real estate he ever owned. In March 1889, Mr. Dougherty came to Calhoun County, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Lake Creek Township, where he now resides, and has since added to it a tract of forty acres, making a fine farm of two hundred acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and improved with good and substantial buildings. He also operates other land, having farmed as high as five hundred acres, and at the present time raises about one hundred acres of corn and the same amount of small grain, besides hay. He keeps about thirty head of cattle and prefers the short-horn breed.
Mr. Dougherty was married on the 10th of October. 1870, to Miss Mary A. Wright, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Rebecca Wright, the former also a native of Ohio, and the latter of Kentucky. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, is now deceased, but her mother is still living and now makes her home in Calhoun County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty have a family of nine children, namely: Charles F., John A., Nellie, James Oliver, Ira, Bert, Grace, Mamie and Clara. By his ballot Mr. Dougherty supports the Republican party and its principles, and he takes an active interest in public affairs as every true American citizen should. He enjoys the well-earned distinction of being what the public terms a “self-made man” and an analyzation of his character reveals the fact that enterprise, well directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essential features in his prosperity. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.536]