William Rochester Doolittle (1824-1893)

DOOLITTLE, WARD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/17/2011 at 17:49:59

From Story County Watchman January 5, 1894

Story City Herald: ....Mr. W. R. Doolittle, for many years an old and respected citizen of this community, died in the insane asylum at Mt. Pleasant, where he had been for the past three or four years, on Tuesday, December 26th, 1893. Funeral services are to be held this afternoon at 1 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Day, at the residence, after which the remains will be buried in the Sheffield cemetery.

In the same paper:

OBITUARY.--Wm. R. Doolittle was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., April 14th, 1824, died at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Dec. 26, 1893. In 1833 he with his parents removed to Licking Co., Ohio, where he resided till 1848 when he removed to Crawford Co., Illinois. In 1849 he was united in marriage to Miss E. F. Ward who survives him. Ten children: six boys and four girls were the fruits of this union, of whom nine are now living respected citizens of Story and adjacent counties. In 1856 he came to Story Co., and settled in Lafayette township and has since been an honored citizen of this commonwealth.

The writer of this first knew the subject of this sketch in the autumn of 1855 whne this locality was almost in a state of nature and the hardships and joys of pioneering such as the present generation know not of.

Wm. R. Doolittle was a man of pronounced opinions. He did not hesitate to call things by their right names, but while he was radical in his views of what he believed to be right, he was a kindly and tender hearted man, loving his family sincerely and his principles also, he was besides a generous and kind hearted neighbor, in sickness and adversity among his poorer neighbors, (and God knows we were all poor in those early days) he was always among the first to respond in caring for the sick and destitute. I know whereof I am writing for I have been the recipient of his kindness.

So we leave him: May we all have as good a record for the final summing up, having in mind "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these little ones ye have done unto me."

He was laid to rest December 29th, 1893 in the Sheffield cemetery, Rev. L. N. Day conducting the services.

W.