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    Peninsula Genealogical Society- Door Co., WI


 DOOLAN, Bartholomew

"COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE COUNTIES OF
BROWN, KEWAUNEE, AND DOOR WISCONSIN"-1895, P. 240-241

updated 4 Jan 2010


The PGS received an e-mail from Barbara BINGHAM, great-great granddaughter of Bartholomew DOOLAN requesting his biography from the "COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE COUNTIES OF BROWN, KEWAUNEE, AND DOOR, WI"-1895, found on Pages 240-241.  That volume was a biographical subscription book where people wrote and paid to have their biographies included.

 

The following is the biography for Bartholomew DOOLAN as it appeared in the volume.

 


 

Bartholomew DOOLAN, a thrifty and wealthy young farmer, of Morrison township, Brown county, is a native of Massachusetts, born September 7, 1846.

  John and Julia (NOONAN) DOOLAN, his parents, native of Ireland, were the parents of five children, namely:  Mary, Michael, Bartholomew, Ellen and John.  The father was a farmer, and, with his wife and his eldest (then his only) child, came to the United States in 1832, landing at New York after having passed seven long weeks on the ocean.  From New York the family went to New England, and lived there for a period of eleven years, principally in Rhode Island, also residing for a few years in Massachusetts.  In 1849 John and his family reached Wisconsin, and settled in Franklin township, Manitowoc county, where he bought 304 acres of land in its primitive condition, from which he, in due course of time, hewed out a farm that was the pride of the township.  Their first dwelling was a log cabin, 16 x 24 feet in size, in which they lived twelve years, after which they erected a comfortable frame dwelling.  The first schoolhouse was erected after the family had been in the township five years, and in this Bartholomew received his education.  The father died May 15, 1877, the mother in 1882, and the remains of both were interred in Franklin.

  Bartholomew DOOLAN did good and faithful service in assisting his father in clearing up and tilling the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, with the exception of a short time passed in working in the woods.  Employing his time thereafter on his own account until he had reached the age of twenty-five, he married, September 19, 1871,  Miss Sarah WATT, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (O'CONNELL) WATT, natives of Ireland who came to America in 1845, and after their marriage here settled in Maple Grove, Manitowoc county, Wis., and reared six children-Anna, Sarah, Michael, Thomas, Mary and John.  After his marriage Bartholomew and his wife came to Morrison township, Brown county, and here Mr. DOOLAN bought eighty acres of wild land, on which they erected their present home, with Indians, wolves, bear and deer for their companions and neighbors.  Here was begun that life of toil and hardship developed only in pioneer life, but which resulted in after years in the possession of all the comforts and conveniences of civilization.  The eighty-acre tract was increased to a farm of 200 acres, and the old log house, which is still standing, was their habitation fully twelve years, but their present residence, erected about 1884, is a modern frame, with every desirable convenience and comfort.  But the acquirement of all this has required toil, economy, and the willing efforts of man and wife and the cheerful aid of the elder children.  The children, eleven in number, were born in the following order:  John, July 4, 1872;  Thomas, July 27, 1874;  Mary, October 4, 1876;  Agnes J., January 21, 1879;  Sarah E., May 28, 1881; Helen A., May 14, 1883;  Frances B., September 11, 1884;  Catherine G., November 17, 1885;  Margaret, March 19, 1888;  Lucy L., November 17, 1890; and Theresa, October 3, 1892.  Of these, Frances B. died September 15, 1884; the others are all living at home, with the exception of Thomas, who is attending a business college at Manitowoc.  The family are all strict members of the catholic Church, with the exception, of course, of the younger members, who have been baptized in that faith.  Mr. DOOLAN has served as trustee of his Church, and, as a Democrat, is serving as school clerk of his township, but he takes no special interest in politics.

  Mr. DOOLAN and his family rank among the best and most respectable citizens of Morrison township, and it is such as he, with strong muscles, willing disposition, industrious habits and law-abiding principles, that have made the township and county what they are.

 

 

 


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