Samuel H. Doughman

DOUGHMAN, HIGGINS, GITCHELL, COOPER

Posted By: Sheri Hubbell (email)
Date: 1/28/2003 at 18:55:06

In a history of the leading business men of Marion county, Samuel H. Doughman deserves prominent mention, for he was a leading figure in agricultural and financial circles. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of five hundred acres of valuable Iowa farm land, and at all times his business methods were such as would bear close investigation and scrutiny. His worth of character won for him high regard and his death was therefore the occasion of deep and and widespread regret when on the 11th day of October 1911, he passed away. He was born in Shelby county, Indiana, August 29, 1838, a son of John T. and Abbie (Higgins) Doughman. The family came to Iowa in 1848, casting in their lot with the early residents of Marion county. The father purchased land where the town of Tracy now stands and upon this farm he and his wife spent their remaining days. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he was never and office seeker or office holder. He lived peaceable with his fellowmen, cooperated in movements for the public good and at all times made an unassailable record as a man and a citizen. Samuel H. Doughman was a little lad of but ten summers when the family came to Iowa. He attended the disctrict schools and through the period of his boyhood and youth worked with his father upon the home farm. Later he continued to assist in its further development until he reached the age of thirty years, but in the meantime responded to the country's call for for troops, enlisting at Oskaloosa in August, 1862, as a member of Company E Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infactry, and serving until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Oskaloosa with the rank of second sergeant. He was wounded at Jenkins Ferry but always escaped capture and altogether made a most creditable record.
Upon his return home, Mr. Doughman resumed farming and in 1868 he completed arrangements for having a home of his own in his marriage on the 18th of October of that year to Sarah Cooper, a daughter of Charles and Maria (Gitchell)Cooper, of Ohio, who arrived here in 1851 and settled on the Knoxville road, four miles west of Tracy. Mr. Cooper entered a quarter section of land and thereon engaged in farming to the time of his death, which occured in 1886. He had long survived his wife, who passed awayin 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Doughman became the parents of four children, as follows: Rose, who is the wife of Nelson Ruple, of this county; John T.; Annie, who gave her hand in marriage to Charles Johnson; and Fannie, the wife of William Graham, of Twin Falls, Idaho.
Following his marriage Mr. Doughman purchased two hundred and seventy acres of partially improved land and to his holdings add from time to time until he became the owner of more than five hundred acres. He was one of the leading agriculturists of Clay township and employed the most progressive methods in tilling the soil, caring for the crops. Extending his efforts in other directions, he became one of the organizers of the Iowa Savings Bank at Tracy and was elected the second president of the institution, filling that position until his death. His early political allegiance was given to the democratic party but later, on account of his pronounced views on the temperance question, he became a staunch prohibitionist. He was a charter member of Bellefountaine Lodge, No. 163, A.F. & A.M., and remained one of its consistent and highly respected respresentatives until his demise. The following s an excerpt for "Resolutions of Respect: submitted by the committe of Bellefountaine Lodge:
"Resolved, That in the death of Brother Doughman the lodge has lost a member who was well versed in its work, having been a memeber from its inception and having filled all the important offices with much credit and earnestness***That the community has lost a useful citizen, the church an ardent supported, a man who has perhaps contributed more than any other in the ocmmunity to charitable and educational purpose."
Mr. Doughman was a consistent Christian man, holding membership in the Medthodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. Doughman still belongs. His life was temperate in all things and his record is a credit to the community. He was devoted to his home and to this church and high and honorable principals and ideals guided him in every relation. Those who knew him, and he had and extensive acquaintance, esteemed him highly and those who came wthin the closer circle of comradeship were glad to call him friend.

Source: History Of Marion County, Iowa And Its People,
The S.J. Clark Publishing Company, 1915