Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
James P. Dougherty
One of the practical, progressive and enterprising farmers of Wayne county is James Purnell Dougherty, who resides in Harrison township. On the farm which is now his home, in a house still standing near his present residence, he was born, August 3. 1837, his parents being Zadok and Mary (Williards) Dougherty. The father was born in Delaware in 1790, and was of Irish and English descent. He served for one year in the war of 1812, and in 1818 removed to Indiana, working as a wheelwright in Jacksonburg, Harrison township, until 1826, when he purchased a farm west of the village—the land now owned by our subject. Here he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred November 20, 1853. His wife, who was born December 24, 1804, died March 11, 1894. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are still living: Zerelda, widow of Levi Hood; John S., James P. and William H. Those deceased are Anna Maria, Elizabeth and Eliza.
Under the parental roof Mr. Dougherty was reared to manhood, and to the public schools of his native village he is indebted for the educational privileges which were afforded him. When the country became involved in civil war, he offered his services to the government, August 6, 1862, becoming a member of Company B, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, in which he enlisted for three years. He served on detached duty through Kentucky and Tennessee, also belonged to the advance guard of the first federal troops that entered the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, and in 1864 joined Stoneman at Tunnel Hill, Georgia, continuing with that command to Atlanta. While on a scouting expedition under General Stoneman, he was captured with a majority of his regiment and confined in Andersonville prison for six weeks. His brother, John Shaffer Dougherty, was with him in the same company, but they were separated at this point and sent to different places. John was exchanged March 30, 1865, then sent to Jefferson Barracks Hospital, Missouri, and on to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was discharged June 10, 1865. James F. Dougherty was exchanged February 28, 1865, reported to his command at Pulaski, Tennessee, and was there discharged June 16, 1865. He suffered severely from his prison life, and has never entirely recovered his old-time strength. Since his return home he has engaged continuously in agricultural pursuits, and until recently has been associated in business with his brother John, they being the most extensive tobacco-growers in Harrison township.
On the 1st of December, 1875, Mr. Dougherty was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Fike) Miller, of Jacksonburg, Indiana. Her father, a wagonmaker by trade, is a native of Germany, and her mother of Trenton, Ohio. They have four children: Mrs. Dougherty, Henry, Charles, and Katie, wife of William Wilson. Our subject is socially connected with Jackson Lodge, No. 552, I. O. O. F., and M. D. Leason Post, No. 453, G. A. R. He is also a member of the Disciples' church, and gives his support to all moral, enducational. social or material interests which he believes will benefit the community. He is a man of sterling worth and justly merits the high regard in which he is held.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899