DOUGHERTY, William, died 1883

DOUGHERTY, DAUGHERTY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/18/2011 at 13:55:14

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, November 7, 1883
Page 2, Columns 3 & 4

DEATH OF CAPT. DOUGHERTY.

In the insane department of the County Farm, October 24th, there died a man whose name should be remembered in Jefferson County history. His name was William DOUGHERTY. He was born in Bedford County, Virginia, and was in the 90th year of his age when death claimed him. At an early age he removed to Adair County, Kentucky, with his father's family and grew to manhood there. In 1837 DOUGHERTY, with two sisters, removed from Kentucky to Iowa, coming with the Gilmers and others, R. T. Gilmer, now of this city, being one of the party. They settled in the southeast part of the county, and DOUGHERTY often boasted in later years that he had the first chickens that ever crowed in Jefferson County. The family lived for several years the usual life of pioneers. In 1840 they removed to Cedar Township, Mr. DOUGHERTY securing 120 acres of land near the present home of R. A. Dougherty. From that year until 1845 (sic - 1855?) the brother and sisters lived together, but death took one sister and then the other died the year following. Mr. DOUGHERTY then lived alone for several years, and for a time had different families in the house with him.

Mr. DOUGHERTY was a patriotic man, loved the life of a soldier and had a taste for the excitement of war. Early in 1859, when the first intimations of the great rebellion came to our people, he organized a militia company in Cedar Township. The necessary arms -- old Harper's Ferry muskets -- were secured from the state, and R. A. Dougherty's house was used as an armory. In this company were a number of the best soldiers Jefferson County sent to the front. Steve Gorsuch, afterwards a lieutenant in Co. E, 2d Iowa, was one, and among the others were Francis Stanford, Wm. Pattison, Cle. and William Long, all but the first named of these dying in defense of their country. Regular drills of this company were had, and the boys were well versed in the use of arms when the first call for troops was made by President Lincoln. About that time Capt. DOUGHERTY was ordered to turn his arms over to the state, and they were brought to Fairfield and afterwards used by the Home Guards. When the first war meeting was held in Fairfield, and Co. E, 2d Iowa enlisted, Capt. DOUGHERTY was one of the first men to offer his services to his country. Because of his years and his bad eyesight he was rejected. He lived, however, to rejoice at all successes of the Union troops, and to see that gigantic rebellion trampled in the dust. To have been captain of the first militia organization in Jefferson County -- and one of the first in Iowa -- in anticipation of this great war, was no small honor, and it was one of Mr. DOUGHERTY's most pleasant recollections.

About 1860 Capt. DOUGHERTY made his home with Robt. A. Dougherty, an old neighbor, but no relation to him. Here he lived until shortly before his death. And during all these years he was not outside the lines of Jefferson County, perhaps, save one time, in 1864, when he made a trip to Indiana. In 1865 he was stricken with apoplexy.... In September Mr. Dougherty, very reluctantly, was compelled to send him to the County Farm, where he died a few weeks later. When informed of his death, Mr. Dougherty took the remains to Round Prairie Township, and the aged soldier was buried by the side of the two sisters who came with him to Iowa. Scarcely an old settler is there but has a good word and kindly recollection of Captain William DOUGHERTY. He was a good citizen, a kind hearted man, a good friend and an agreeable neighbor.

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Note: Buried in Gilmer Cemetery, however his name is spelled DAUGHERTY on his gravestone and that of Ann and Permelia DAUGHERTY, presumably his two sisters, who died in 1855 and 1856 respectively.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, November 7, 1883
Page 3, Column 5

R. T. Gilmer tells that Captain Wm. DOUGHERTY, whose death is noticed elsewhere, organized and drilled in Round Prairie township (sic) at an early day what was probably the first militia company organized in this county -- and possibly the first in Iowa. DOUGHERTY's Cedar Township company was called the Jefferson Guards.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.