Dougherty

The family name is spelled multiple ways including Dougherty, Daugherty, Doherty, Dougharty, Doghartie, Dogerty, O'Dougherty and O'Doherty. John and Susan Dougherty emigrated from County Cork, Ireland between 1844 and 1848 during the "Great Famine" or "Irish Potato Famine".

1.0 - John Dougherty (1816 - 1855)

John Dougherty married Susan Gilbreath in 1837 in Ireland. They lived in County Cork, Ireland until emigrating to New York City, New York. John and Susan had the following children:

• • Mary Ann (Dougherty) Bishop

  • Michael Dougherty

• James Dougherty

  • Catherine Dougherty

John was a dealer in Indigo and possibly had a store in New York, New York. John died on July 2, 1855 in New York at the age of 39 leaving Susan and the children with little resources. Susan attempted to continue in the Indigo business.

Indigo dye was extracted from plants. Blue dyes particularly Indigo were once rare and the demand for its distinctive blue color was high.

The Children's Aid Society of New York took custody of the children on January 6, 1856. Susan had left the home ten days earlier, but never returned. Susan could not be located, so the children became wards of the state.

The two oldest children, Mary and Michael, were "bound out" to J. W. Hibbard a farmer in Washington County, Illinois. James was bound out to James Coulter, also a farmer in Washington County, Illinois. The Hibbard and Coulter families lived in the same township in Washington County. The youngest child, Catherine, was adopted by an unknown family.

During the mid to late 1800s, thousands of abandoned or orphaned children roamed the streets of New York. Orphanages were overflowing. To alleviate this issue, abandoned and orphaned children were "bound out" on orphan trains. The orphan trains carried children to the agricultural areas of the country. The intent was to place the children with a family to learn a trade and basic literacy in return for their labor.

2.0 - James Dougherty (1848 est. - 1928) [John]

James Dougherty is believed to have been born in New York in 1848. His father died when he was about 6 years old and his mother abandoned him and his siblings later that year. Due to these hardships, James didn't know his birth date or year. James would later adopt October 31 as his birthday.

In 1857 James was "bound out" to the James Coulter family who farmed in Washington County, Illinois. He was about 9. On July 4, 1863 James joined the Army to serve in the Civil War. He would have been only 14 or 15 years old at the time, although he claimed to be 17.

James was a Drummer for the Union Army serving in the 111th Illinois Infantry, Company B. A newspaper ad stated that James "served with Sherman as one of the Sheepskin Battery, from Chattanooga, Tenn., through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia to the Grand Review in Washington, D.C."

The 111th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service on September 18, 1862 consisting of 930 men. The 111th Illinois initially served under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant. Command was then given to Major General Stephen A. Hurlbut before being transferred to Major General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1863.

Under General Sherman the 111th Illinois was involved in some of the most critical battles and controversial practices of the Civil War. General Sherman took Atlanta, Georgia in 1864 in the Atlanta Campaign. From Atlanta General Sherman's army headed for Savannah, Georgia in Sherman's March to the Sea. Along the way, Sherman's army destroyed infrastructure using "scorched earth" warfare. Sherman took Savannah on Christmas Day 1864. From Savannah Sherman turned North in the Carolinas Campaign that included the capture and controversial burning of Columbia, South Carolina. This was followed by the surrender of the last major Confederate army at Bennett Place, North Carolina on April 26, 1865 (two weeks after Robert E. Lee surrendered in Virginia). Sherman continued thru Richmond, Virginia and was in Washington, D.C. by May 23, 1865 to participate in the Grand Review of the Armies, a celebration of the Union victory.

A Union Army artillery battery consisted of six cannons and about 100 men. A sponge made of sheepskin was used to swab the cannon of fire and sparks prior to reloading with powder. This is presumably what the "Sheepskin Battery" is in reference to.

On May 31, 1865 James was transferred to the 48th Illinois Infantry. James mustered out of the Army on August 13, 1865 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Later in life James would suffer from several nervous system disorders. These issues were apparently due to the traumatic experiences that he was subjected to as a youth. James filed several pension claims that were granted including "paralysis of his left side". The Battle at Resaca, Georgia was specifically mentioned as a cause. During the Battle of Resaca, James helped remove the wounded from the battlefield. Following the battle, James suffered a nervous reaction.

The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign lasting from May 13-15, 1864. The battle resulted in 6,100 casualties; 3,500 Union soldiers and 2,600 Confederate soldiers.

James married Martha (Coulter) McMillen on January 3, 1868. Martha is the niece of James Coulter, the man who raised James Dougherty. Martha was the widow of William McMillen a Union soldier who died of pneumonia during the Civil War.

Martha was born on September 1, 1838 in Washington County, Illinois the daughter of Robert Stuart Coulter and Isabelle (Wylie) Coulter. In a five year period from 1858-1863 Martha lost her oldest two children and her first husband.

James and Martha had the following children: McMillen children: - Robert S. McMillen - Alfred H. McMillen - Mary Elizabeth (McMillen) Smith Dougherty children: - Charles Phillip Dougherty - William Stuart Dougherty - Arthur Louis "Lou" Dougherty - Francis Gilbreath "Frank" Dougherty - Isabel Katheryn "Izzy" (Dougherty) Nelson Zeigler - Alice Susan Dougherty - Mary Biship "Teeney" Dougherty - James Ernest "Ernie" Dougherty

James and Martha moved to Kearney County, Nebraska in the late 1870s. James homesteaded the southeast 1/4 of section 22 T5N R16W receiving title on June 13, 1884.

The Homestead Act of 1862 established a three-fold homestead acquisition process: filing an application, improving the land, and filing for deed of title. Any U.S. citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. Government could file an application and lay claim to 160 acres of surveyed Government land. For the next 5 years, the homesteader had to live on the land and improve it by building a 12-by-14 dwelling and growing crops. After 5 years, the homesteader could file for his patent (or deed of title) by submitting proof of residency and the required improvements.

In 1885 James, Martha and family moved to Rooks County, Kansas settling in Corning Township. By 1904 James and Martha had accumulated 1,845 acres of Rooks County land.

In 1892 James started a Real Estate, Notary Public and Insurance service in Plainville, Kansas. An auction of his farm equipment was held on October 12, 1892 and James and Martha moved to Plainville. James had offices in the Green building, the Bank of Plainville, then his own building on Mill Street. The business continued until at least 1901.

James ran for several public positions including County Commissioner for the First District in Rooks County (1890), Justice of the Peace in Paradise Township (1891), Police Judge in Plainville (1894), and Probate Judge of Rooks County (1894).

In 1906 James was elected Probate Judge of Rooks County. James was re-elected twice, serving from 1907-12. James and Martha lived in Stockton, Kansas while James served as Probate Judge. They then moved to Codell, Kansas. In February of 1918 James and Martha moved to Natoma, Kansas where they spent their remaining years.

In 1921 James ran for Mayor of Natoma.

James was an active member of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) serving as Post Commander in both Motor and Plainville.

Martha died August 8, 1924 in Natoma at the age of 85. James died December 12, 1928 in Natoma. James would have been about 80. James and Martha are buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Rooks County, Kansas.

(b) Charles - William - May - Arthur - Francis

(f) James - Mary - James E - Isabel - Martha

3.0 - Francis Gilbreath Dougherty (1873 - 1928) [John > James]

Francis Gilbreath Dougherty was born October 18, 1873 in Illinois. The family moved to Kearney County, Nebraska when "Frank" was a young boy then to Rooks County, Kansas when he was about 11. Frank married Ida Johanna Camp in 1894. Ida is the daughter of Martin Christian Camp and J. Amelia (Miller) Camp.

Frank and Ida had the following children: - Harry Francis Dougherty - Charles Elton "Tad" Dougherty - Deceased Infant - Erma Marie (Dougherty) Day - Thelma (Dougherty) Miles Conrad - Ila Darlene (Dougherty) McConnell Tanner

Frank purchased a farm in Rooks County from his father, James Dougherty. The SE 1/4 of Section 18 T9S R16W was purchased in 1902. The SW 1/4 of Section 18 T9S R16W in 1905. The land is on the northwest corner of V Road and 26 Road. In 1909, Frank built a large barn on his farm that was the major landmark for the next seventy years. This land was later purchased by James and Erma (Dougherty) Day.

In October of 1913 Ida traveled to Kansas City to seek treatment for a goiter. The goiter was surgically removed and Ida was recovering when her condition worsened. Ida died on October 27, 1913 at the age of 36 from complications of the surgery.

With five children to care for, ages 4 to 19, Frank married a "mail-order bride" in June of 1914. Lula (Hunter) Hensley was a widow from North Carolina with a teenage son. The blended family was a challenge for everyone.

Frank was in and out of the hospital the last five years of his life. He died on January 25, 1928 at the age of 54 in Kansas City. Frank and Ida are buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Rooks County, Kansas.

Lula died in 1974. She is buried in Highland Cemetery in Minneapolis, Kansas.

4.0 - Erma Marie (Dougherty) Day (1904 - 1990) [John > James > Francis Galbraith]

Erma Marie Dougherty married James Robert Day.