Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 502
GEORGE J. DUGAN

George J. DUGAN, the subject of this short biographical sketch, although he was a resident of this county for a comparatively short time only, gained a wide acquaintance during his residence and practice of law at Woodbine and during his recent race for the office of prosecuting attorney. In no profession are there greater opportunities for advancement and public service than in the law, and on the other hand no profession demands more in the way of preparation, a more unflagging application or more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. For the successful practice of this profession, the subject of this sketch seems to have been especially endowed, and while still a young man in years, has made excellent progress with the promise of still greater success in time to come.

George J. DUGAN was born in Dallas county, this state, on June 10, 1886, a son of James and Margaret (MARKEY) DUGAN, the father a native of County Louth, Ireland, and the mother born in the state of Wisconsin, near the town of Sullivan. The elder DUGAN was brought to this country by his parents when a child of but four or five years and the family first located in Canada. There they remained for only a short time, when they came into the states and settled in New York near the city of Buffalo. There they remained for a few years, later going into Wisconsin and settling near the town of Sullivan. It was while here James DUGAN met the young woman who later became his bride. They remained in that same neighborhood for two years after their marriage and then come to this state in 1872 and purchased a farm located near Dallas Center in Dallas county. There they remained for twenty-one years, at the end of which time they disposed of their first farm and purchased another in the same county, but located north of the town of Minburn. In that location they remained until the year 1900 when they disposed of their land and took up their residence in the town of Rippey in Greene county. They had passed many years of active life and hard labor and were ready to pass the remainder of their lives in quiet repose and the enjoyment of family ties. This they were permitted to enjoy for about fourteen years and on May 6, 1914, the father passed from this earthly existence, followed two days later by the devoted wife who had shared his life for so many years, and on the 10th of May the double funeral services were read and both were laid to rest.

James and Margaret (MARKEY) DUGAN were the parents of eleven children, Mary, their first-born, passing away at the tender age of one year. Katherine, the second child, is the wife of F. M. Moore and resides in Greene county near the town of Jefferson. Thomas E. is located in Rippey, where he deals in real estate. Anna, the fourth child, also died at the age of one year. James A., who is also a real estate dealer, is located at Grass Range, Montana, and John L. resides in Rippey, this state, as does also William F. John is a mail carrier, covering a rural district near his town. Nellie A. resides in Spokane, Washington, and is the wife of G. H. CASH, a traveling representative for the Studebaker wagon company. Harry S. is located at Perry, this state, where he is engaged in the practice of law, and C. Walter, the youngest of this interesting family, is located at Jefferson, this state, where he is engaged in delivering the government mails. George J., the immediate subject of this sketch, is the tenth child in order of birth, was until recently engaged in the practice of law at Woodbine, this county, but is now associated with his brother, H. S., in practice at Perry.

Mr. DUGAN received his elementary school training in the schools of his home district in Dallas county, later attending high school at Rippey, graduating therefrom in 1904. For two years he taught school and prepared himself to enter Drake University at Des Moines, where for one year he received instruction in liberal arts, later taking up the study of law at the same institution. He was graduated therefrom in 1910, admitted to the bar the same year and immediately took up the practice of his chosen profession, being associated with his brother, Harry S., at Perry. This association, under the firm name of DUGAN & DUGAN, continued for about one year, when George J. wished to change his location and decided upon Grand Junction, this state. There he remained for about a year, spending the summer of 1912 in Minnesota, and in the fall of that year he came to this county and opened up his offices in Woodbine, where he soon created a reputation as a wide-awake and enterprising young man and won many friends. In 1914 he was the Democratic nominee for county attorney in Harrison county, and although the county is strongly Republican, he lost by only about three hundred votes.

On September 9, 1908, Mr. DUGAN was united in marriage with Ezma HARNED, who was born in Greene county, Iowa, January 6, 1889, the daughter of Frank J. and Anna (BOWERS) HARNED, the former of whom is the present county treasurer of Greene county. To this union has been born one child, Doris, who first saw the light of day on May 10, 1914.

While at college Mr. DUGAN made something of an enviable reputation as an orator and a debater who could marshal all the facts of a certain proposition and present them with convincing force. He also was active in college athletics and was captain of the college baseball nine the year of his graduation. Both Mr. and Mrs. DUGAN are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and interested in the welfare of that society. Mr. DUGAN recently sold his law practice in Woodbine and returned to Perry, this state, to re-engage in practice in association with his brother, H. S. DUGAN, the present county attorney of Dallas county, under firm name of DUGAN & DUGAN, the younger brother to be deputy county attorney.

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