Dolan, Mike 1867-1938

DOLAN

Posted By: Marcia Van Voorst, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2013 at 11:23:14

Source: Hawarden Independent
Death of a Former Resident
Mike Dolan passed away Jan. 4 at Silverton, Oregon
Mike Dolan of Silverton Ore., former well known resident of Hawarden, passed away at his home Tuesday,January 4, following a brief illness of a few days. While Mr. Dolan lived in Hawarden he was employed at the Northwestern roundhouse but he moved to Silverton in 1906. Mrs. Dolan is a sister of Mrs. Vina Wheeler of this city. When Mr. Dolan first moved to Silverton he was employed as foreman in a lumber mill but for the past ten years he served as custodian at the Silverton city park. The following clipping was taken from a Portland Ore., paper:
Mike Dolan, who passed away at the family home early Tuesday morning after a few days illness, was favorably known to pleasure seekers from far and near who came to Silverton for a day's relaxation during the summer months, and he will be greatly missed as host to the public at Silverton city park where he had served for more than ten years.
Dolan's guests, numbering into the many thousands, felt as though he was their friend after meeting him on the job. He was never to busy to get an extra table for the picnic dinner or to keep the park stoves roaring for hot coffee and warm dishes. He watched the swings and play equipment for the kiddies to make sure all was safe for them.
Sauntering around among his guests, meeting them with a smile, he kept the place immaculately clean of small trash by spearing it with a barbed staff, and leaving it in the garbage cans. Of the discarded clothing that was never claimed at the end of the season, Mike saw to it that needy families were benefited by this. In response to a post card request, Dolan would make table and space reservations placing a slip of paper with the name of the group written, weighted down with a small stone and the meant the table was ready for the visitors.
In policing the park Dolan was firm but kindly in his rule. He orders were never questioned.
Of the groups coming regularly to the park for their day's outing, his favorites were the young people from the Chemawa Indian school, as they never forgot to leave the dressing rooms neat and the grounds clean with a friendly visit included.
On his daily visits around town Dolan was always welcomed heartily and his absence will be keenly felt.
Mrs. Dolan and one daughter, Mrs. A. E. Wrightman (Ella Dolan) are his immediate survivors.
Rev. Frank W. Zook, pastor of the Christian church of which Dolan was a faithful member, will officiate at the funeral services Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, that will be held from the Ekman funeral home. Friends are invited.
Dolan was born at Shullsburg, Wis., July 13, 1867, and passed away January 4 at 5:40 in the morning. He had resided in Silverton for many years, coming here from Hawarden, Iowa. He received the rights of Christian baptism April 17, 1927, under the ministry of Rev. James A. Bennett, who was the pastor of the local Christian church at that time. He was a conscientious Christian, taking an active part in the progress of the church.