William Dooley

DOOLEY, CRAIG, DOWNING, DULIN, WEBSTER

Posted By: Mike Dooley (email)
Date: 12/6/2001 at 20:26:20

WILLIAM DOOLEY
Wm. Dooley was born in Cloughmore King's Co., Ireland, in 1832 and departed this life at his home November 21, 1922, aged 90 years.
His boyhood days were spent in Ireland, his mother having died when he was quite young. He came to America in 1848. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Craig in Dayton, Ohio October 1, 1855. To this union were born 9 children, four sons and five daughters.
His wife passed away May 5, 1898. He is survived by three sons and two daughters: Rev. John A. of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Sophia Downing of Spokane, Wash.; Wm. J. of Keosauqua, Iowa; Mrs. Isabel Dulin and Edward of Selma, Iowa. Fifteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren also survive.
He came to America alone when but a boy of 16 years, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing boat requiring 30 days to make the trip.
In 1864 he drove an ox team across the plains, going to California with the Webster train which left Keosauqua in May of that year. He returned in 1867 going by way of the Isthmus of Panama to New York, that being a quicker and cheaper route to Iowa.
The same year he bought and moved to the farm near Selma which has continuously been his home since that time.
He has been wonderfully blessed with strength and health, never having called in a doctor but twice, his last sickness lasting about 36 hours.
He believed in and practiced during his life the traits of industry, truthfulness, honesty and sobriety. All the children except one were present at the funeral which was held in the M.E. church at Selma at 11:00 a.m., November 24, 1922, conducted by Rev. Wm. Heger. [burial in Passmore Cemetery.]