HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis
Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, 
Vol. III, pp. 1249-50-51. [Full page photograph of Mr. Doolan included with
bio.]
[Shelby County]

WILLIAM L. DOOLAN has indicated both in his devotion to study of the
science of jurisprudence and his success in the practical work of his
profession that he is well deserving of the unmistakable prestige he has
gained as one of the well fortified and representative younger members of
the bar of his native state, and he is established in practice as an
attorney and counselor at law in the city of Louisville, where his careful
observance of the unwritten code of professional ethics has gained for him
the high regard of his confreres at the bar.
     Mr. Doolan was born on a farm in Shelby county, Kentucky, on the 22d
day of January, 1876, and is a son of Professor Thomas J. and Rowena E.
(Weakley) Doolan.  The father was born in county Cork, Ireland, on the 15th
of March, 1841, and he died at his home in Shelby county, Kentucky, on the
13th of March, 1899, only two days prior to the time when he would have
celebrated his fifty-eighth birthday.  He was a child at the time of the
family emigration from the Emerald Isle to America, and he was reared to
maturity in Shelby county, Kentucky, where his father located soon after
coming to the United States.  He came into the world with the heritage of
fine physical powers and alert mentality, and his ambition was early
quickened to action, as he easily proved his leadership in his classes in
the schools of Shelbyville, after completing the curriculum of which he
entered Georgetown College, in which he was graduated as a member of the
class of 1860.  He forthwith put his scholastic acquirements to practical
use by turning his attention to the pedagogic profession, in which he was
destined to attain noteworthy success and his reputation.  In the autumn of
1860 he began teaching in the Weakley neighborhood, a few miles southeast
of Shelbyville, and several months later he opened a select school at
Christianburg, in the same country; this he conducted with marked success.
In 1861 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Rowena Elizabeth Weakley, the
only daughter of the late Calvin S. and Mary Weakley, honored citizens
of Shelby county.  Mrs. Doolan was well fitted, through culture, assiduous
industry and excellent judgment, to be a true helpmeet to her devoted and
honored husband, and their relations were ever of the most idyllic order,
characterized by mutual love and sympathy as well as by thorough
intellectual companionship untouched by intolerance.  She entered the
school room with him and for many years they were associated in the
conducting of one of the most thorough and profitable schools in Shelby
county.  Early in his pedagogic career Professor Doolan was prevailed upon
to establish a school of high order at Finchville, that county, and this
institution soon became a source of just pride in that section of the
state.  The splendid intellectual and administrative ability of Professor
Doolan and his gracious wife attracted to their school many pupils from
distant points in the state, and these were accommodated in the home of
Professor Doolan and those of other families of the community, where the
influences and surroundings were of the most beneficent order.  Both the
professor and his wife showed remarkable power in arousing and maintaining
the interest of the pupils, with the result that the latter made
substantial and rapid advancement, according to their instructions, the
utmost affection and esteem.  Professor Doolan was a most excellent
teacher, painstaking and loyal in his profession, and mention also may be
made of the fact that he and his devoted coadjutor exercised in a quiet
way a most constant interest in the moral and religious training of their
pupils, whose characters were thus moulded and established.  Many of the
best men and women of Kentucky and many men who have attained prominence
in the various vocations of life, received their original inspiration and
guidance in the Doolan school.  In the latter years of his life Professor
Doolan gave up his work as a teacher and devoted his time and energies to
the management of his well improved landed estate in Shelby county, where
he gained precedence and success as a progressive agriculturist and
stock-grower.  As the result of his mature judgment and careful
administration of his affairs he was duly prospered, thus being able to
leave a goodly estate to his family.
     In addition to his professional affairs Professor Doolan was entrusted
with much business extraneous thereto and involving public trust.  For
four years he was president of the Shelby County Agricultural society, to
whose annual fairs he brought a degree of prosperity theretofore attained.
He served many years as deputy clerk of Shelby county and was called upon
to write many deeds, wills and other official documents.  Often he was
called upon to examine and give his opinion concerning legal matters and
measures touching the general welfare of the community.  He was an expert
surveyor and in this capacity his services were much in demand in locating
disputed lines and corners, in dividing landed estates and in general
surveying work.  His counsel was sought in connection with almost every
subject in which the farmers of his section were interested, and his
opinions concerning the popular topics and the issues of the day had great
weight with his neighbors.  He had splendid powers of ratiocination, and
viewed all practical matters in their true proportions, thus reaching
conclusions by safe methods of reasoning.
     Early in life Professor Doolan united with the Shelbyville Baptist
church, and none had a deeper reverence for the spiritual verities than
did he.  His life was one of definite consecration, and for many years
prior to his death he had served as deacon and moderator of the Buck Creek
Baptist church, besides which he was for nineteen years incumbent of the
office of clerk of the Shelby County Baptist Association.  He loved the
Bible and was a deep student of the same, so that he was able to expound
its teachings with surety and reverence.  At the time when he was summoned
to the life eternal one of his intimate friends wrote the following
sentiments, which are well worthy of perpetuation in this sketch: "He was
rich in his experience of grace, as was readily seen from his public
prayers--how humbly he confessed human unworthiness, and how earnestly he
plead for mercy through the merits of a crucified Savior.  It saddens my
heart to know that no more will we hear his familiar voice in prayer, no
more will we listed to his exposition of Scripture in the Sunday-school,
no more will we receive his counsel in the church meeting and no more will
we greet him in the congregation of the saints.  Farewell, beloved brother,
until we meet in that city whose builder and maker is God."
     The memory of Professor Doolan shall long be held in reverence in the
community that so long represented his home and in which his hold upon
popular confidence and affection was ever inviolable.  His widow still
resides on the old homestead, which is endeared to her by the gracious
memories and associations of the past, and in the loss of her loved
companion she finds much of solace in the affectionate regard of her
children and of a circle of friends that is limited only by that of her
acquaintances.  She also is a devout and zealous member of the Baptist
church, with which her children likewise are identified, thus showing their
appreciation of the precepts and teachings of their devoted parents.
Professor Doolan is survived by five sons and four daughters, whose names
are here given: Esten, John C., Leonard W., William L., Ernest, Elma,
Sallie, Lillie and Rowena.
     William Lee Doolan, whose name initiates this review, was reared to
the discipline of the home farm and was prepared for college in Shelby
Academy, the school owned and conducted by his father.  For two years he
was a student in Hardin Collegiate Institute, at Elizabethtown, this state,
and he completed his literary education in Washington & Lee University,
at Lexington, Virginia.  In 1900 he was graduated from the law department
of Louisville University, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of
Laws.  He was forthwith admitted to the bar of his native state and opened
an office in the Kenyon building, in Louisville, where he has since
maintained his headquarters, the while he has so demonstrated his powers
and his integrity of purpose as to gain success of unequivocal order in his
exacting profession.  Though never incumbent of political office Mr. Doolan
is aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party,
and both he and his wife are active members of the Highland Baptist church,
in their home city.
     On the 16th of June, 1898, Mr. Doolan was united in marriage to Miss
Nellie Brown, daughter of Horace G. Brown, of Roanoke, Virginia, and they
have two children--William Lee, Jr., born October 27, 1899, and Thomas
Jefferson, born September 4, 1901.

Doolan Weakley Brown
=
Georgetown-Scott-KY Jefferson-KY VA Ireland
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/shelby/doolan.wl.txt