Like the center of the population of our
Union, the heart of its lumber belt has, during the last century, moved
steadily westward from the then unbroken forests of Maine, through the
wooded regions of the south, and of the Great lakes, to the Pacific
coast, where, in the three states, California, Oregon and Washington,
is a at least one-third of the supply of the standing timber of the
United States. In the development of this gigantic industry upon
which the present and future prosperity of California so largely
depends, William Patrick Dougherty, for many years one of the
leading
citizens of San Jose, was an important factor, and well deserved the
title given him, the "Lumber King of the Santa Clara valley."
A native of Ireland, William Patrick Dougherty was born in 1832.
Accompanying his parents to America when a child, he was reared and
educated in Edina, Mo. Coming to the Pacific coast a few years
after attaining his majority he settled in California, in 1858 taking
up his residence in Santa Clara county. Beginning his business
career as a lumberman, he was engaged in getting out timber on the
Santa Cruz mountains for a year, and was so successful in his venture
that he saved enough money to warrant him in buying a farm.
Purchasing the Naglee estate, in San Jose, he settled down as a
ranchman, and from 1859 until 1864 carried on general farming.
Finding lumbering much more profitable and congenial as an occupation,
he then resumed his former occupation. With characteristic
enterprise and forethought he bought large tracts of standing timber,
erected sawmills, and in the course of time, by wise management,
founded an immense business in his particular line of industry.
As his business increased he was enabled to obtain concessions from the
railroad companies, and as president of the
Santa Clara Valley Mill
Company he had practical control of the lumber interest of this
county
for many years. He subsequently founded the Dougherty Lumber Company,
which is still in existence, being one of the leading lumber
corporations of the state.
A man of great executive and financial ability, Mr. Doughterty became
identified with other business organizations of importance and
prominence, becoming controlling owner of the
San Jose Brick
Company,
of which he was manager for many years, and was also a director, and
the
vice- president of the
Hotel
Vendome Company. He was charitable,
and generous almost to a fault, contributing liberally towards all
enterprises of a beneficial nature, and being ever among the foremost
to
advance the welfare of the city or county. He was everywhere esteemed
and respected, and his death, which occurred at his home, No. 460 North
First street, San Jose, March 18, 1894, was deeply deplored as a public
loss.
In 1861 Mr. Dougherty married Jane O'Connor. She died in 1882,
leaving three children, William Patrick, James and Mr. Elizabeth Renee
of San Jose. In 1890 Mr. Dougherty married for his second wife
Miss Anna Fenton, the wedding being one of the leading social events
of
that season in San Jose. Of this union two children were born,
namely; Leonore, born in 1891; and Bradley, born in 1893. Mrs.
Dougherty has continued the management of her husband's business and
business affairs ever since his death, and has met with eminent
success. She is a woman of culture and refinement, possessing
great force of character and a large stock of sound sense and practical
ability.
History of the
State of California of Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California- Guinn, 1904, page 1111
transcribed by cdf
Further research for this family can be done via the San Jose
Historical Museum-
They have these records on file-
NOTE- the San Jose directory of 1870 lists:
DOUGHERTY, W.P. (Dougherty & Co)
lumber dealer, 428 First and cor San Fernando and Fourth, dwl 546 Market
JAMES DOUGHERTY
Bio-Coast Counties
SURNAMES: BRADLEY, HARRIS, MORAN
From the time of the death of his
brother, W P Dougherty, up to the time of his own death, which occurred
July 27, 1900, James Dougherty acted as president and manager of the
Dougherty Lumber Company, giving his name and attention to the
management of all the mills with which the company was connected. As a
man of enterprise and unusual business ability, of strict business
methods and an unswerving integrity, Mr. Doughterty was thoroughly
respected and esteemed in Santa Clara county and held in the highest
appreciation for the many qualities which distinguished his
citizenship. He made and retained many friends. He was generous
and was ever willing to aid and assist worthy people and worthy
enterprises calculated to benefit the common good and welfare of the
people. Born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1842, he was the son of
Patrick Doughterty, who was likewise a native of the Emerald Isle.
Patrick Dougherty was a man of unusual enterprise as was proven by the
success which he achieved after becoming a resident of the Untied
States in 1849. He located at Edina, Mo., and at the time of his
death was the owner of seven hundred acres of land, which is conceded
to be a large estate in the middle west. His wife, former Mary
Bradley, a native of Ireland, also died in their Missouri home.
For more complete details concerning the life of Patrick Doughterty the
reader is referred to the sketch of W P Dougherty, which appears on
another page of this volume. (see
above) The children of this family were reared to ways
of usefulness in the practical training received on the paternal
farm, interspersing home duties with an attendance of the common school
in the vicinity. In 1861 James Doughterty enlisted in the Union
army in the Twenty-first Missouri regiment and served four years, after
which he returned to Missouri and made his home in that state until
1870. Deciding to locate in the more congenial climate of
California, he came in the last named year and settled on Zayante
river, in the Santa Cruz mountains, and engaged in the lumber business
with his brother. He acted as foreman of the three mills located
at Doughterty Mills, and later became president of the company and
general manager of all the mills. He conducted the business in an
eminently satisfactory manner and constantly increased the capacity of
the mills. H was widely respected for the sound business
principles which characterized his management. He took a personal
interest in every man in his employ and thus secured to himself and the
company the very best service from all who were connected with the
business.
In San Jose in 1874 Mr. Dougherty was united in marriage with Catherine
Harris, a native of Ireland, whose father, John Harris, was a
stockraiser and dairyman of County Leitrim, Ireland, his native
place. He made that his home until his death at the age of
forty-three years, after a successful career in his chosen
occupation. His wife, formerly Mary Moran, was also born in
County Leitrim, where her death occurred. Mrs. Doughterty came to
the United States in 1872 and located with a sister and brother in San
Jose. To Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty were born two children, Mary E.
and William J.J., both of whom are at home with their mother, who
resides at N0. 389 North Fifth street, San Jose. In his political
convictions Mr. Doughterty was a stanch adherent of the principles
advocated in the platform of the Democratic party, and religiously
belonged to the Roman Catholic church.
History of the
State of California of Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California- Guinn, 1904, page 1141
transcribed by cdf
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
BIOGRAPHY PROJECT
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY