The Pioneers, Joseph and Sarah True Doty

It's difficult to imagine the wilderness of Michigan in the late 1830's when my Doty ancestors settled there after a trek from New York, either by boat or by land.  Great-great grandfather, Joseph Doty Jr. was born in or near Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, New York, just northeast of Albany. on August 29, 1804.   

Around 1834, his obituary stated that he was converted and baptized into the Baptist faith.  Then on August 13, 1835, he married Sallie G. True.  Sallie/Sally was a native of Vermont, born on the 4th of July, 1814 in or near Hardwick, Caledonia County, Vermont.  However, she grew up near Covington, New York, which is just east of Buffalo, and that is where the couple were married.  Since county boundaries changed frequently in the early days, sometimes researchers list this as Genessee County and where Joseph was born as Albany County.  I am not sure if Joseph's family had relocated to Covington or that area when the couple met.

On April 15, 1837, Michigan Land Records show that Joseph Doty purchased 40 acres of land at the Land Office in Detroit.  The usual procedure in that day was that the purchaser would come and clear some of the land and perhaps build a shelter before bringing his family.  Several sources indicated that Joseph and Sally came to Raisinville Township in January of 1839.  The easiest way perhaps would have been to come from Buffalo over to Detroit, if the lake were not frozen.  In the Doty homestead, I have seen the very large chest brought by the family that probably held most of their worldly goods.

The 1840 census for Raisinville Township, Monroe County, Michigan just enumerated by name the heads of household.  It shows Joseph Doty (1 male, age 30-40), 1 female 20-30 (Sally), 1 female under 5 (daughter Emeline) and 1 female 30-40 and I am not sure who that would be.
In the 1850 Federal Census enumerated on July 17, 1850 for the same place, Joseph Doty Jr., aged 45, a farmer born in New York, had real estate worth $1000.  Sallie T Doty, 36, his wife, was joined by children: Emeline, 10; Sarah, 7; William E., 5; Charles, 3; and George W. 1.  John McGuire, 29, born in Ireland was a laborer on the farm, and he, too, owned real estate worth $200.

The next reference I could find for Joseph appeared in the Monroe Commercial newspaper on June 3, 1858 on page 3. 
 "Joseph Doty, Esq., of Raisinville has presented us with a dozen of the largest hen's eggs we have ever seen.  They weigh forty ounces, and the largest measures eight and seven-eighths inches around.  If that eggs-ample can be eggs-actly beat in this country, or by any other live man, we would like to have its eggs-istence eggs-pressed by an eggs-hibition of the same in our office, and we will eggs-change hats with the owner of the eggs-traordinary hen.  This is eggs-actly so, without any eggs-aggeration as may be verified on eggs-amination.  We feel eggs-hausted with this eggs-ertion."

On November 8, 1857, the church the Dotys attended was organized into a Baptist church with 9 members, among them Joseph Doty.
No women were listed as members, probably just because they were not voting members.

In the 1860 Census, it is evident that Joseph had had success as a farmer and land owner.  At 55, he now owned real estate worth $4000 and had $450 in personal worth.  Sally was 46 and daughter, Emeline was 20.  Sarah was 17, William -15, Charles -14, *George - 12, and now there was Hellen, 9.
Helen M. was also sometimes referred to as Maria later on. This census also indicated that Emeline was born in New York, but her birthday is the summer of 1840 and they came to Michigan in January 1839...unless Sally went home for the birth of her first child.          
Sadly, in 1865, son Charles died in the War Between the States in Huntsville, Alabama.  More on Charles later.
In the 1870 census, only two children were left at home with Joseph, now 65, and Sally, 55. George W., 22, and Hellen M., 19 were listed as servants, meaning, I assume, that they labored on the home place.
On June 20, 1874, Sally True Doty died of heart disease at the age of 61 years, 11 months and 15 days.  She was buried in the Doty Cemetery on the homestead property.

Sally's obituary appeared in the Monroe Commercial on July 9, 1874, p. 4:
"Mrs. Joseph Doty, of Raisinville, Monroe Co., died very suddenly on the evening of the 20th ult.  Though not feeling very well, yet she was around all day attending to her household duties, and had made arrangements to come into the city the next day (Sunday) to attend church.  She suffered some pain during the day and evening, but no one anticipated any serious results.  She retired in the evening about 9 o'clock and in two hours, (had) several minutes of loud and difficult breathing, which led her daughter to arouse the family, she was dead.
Mrs. Doty was born in Hardwick, Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 4th of July, 1814.  Most of her early life was spent in Covington, Genesee Co., N.Y., where she was married in 1835.  On the 1st of January, 1839, she and her husband came to Michigan, and settled on the farm in Raisinville, where they have continued to live until her death, a period of over 35 years.  She will be greatly missed, not only by her family and a large circle of friends and neighbors, but also by the Baptist Church in this city, of which she was a constituent member, and remained faithful until her death."

The 1876 atlas showed that by the time of this atlas, Joseph had sold the homestead farm to sons, George and William T.  If you look to the right of the apple tree marker on the map, their land is visible.

In a previous post, I mentioned that after Sally's death, Joseph moved in with son, George W. and his new wife, Alice Newcomer Doty.  Joseph passed away on January 15, 1878. 
His obituary appeared in the Monroe Commercial on January 18, 1878:
"Raisinville...Died.  On the morning of the 15th, Mr. Joseph Doty, aged seventy four.  Mr. Doty was born in Burns Township, Albany County, N.Y., August 29th, 1804.  Married Miss Sallie G. True, August 13, 1835.  Came to Michigan in January 1839, and settled in Raisinville, Monroe County, upon the farm which he owned until about three years ago when he sold it to his two sons.  He lived with one of his sons since the death of his wife, which occurred three years ago last June.  He was converted and baptized during the winter of 1834, and united with the Baptist denomination, where he continued a faithful member until his death.  He leaves two sons and three daughters, besides a large number of friends and neighbors who deeply feel their loss.  Funeral took place on the 16th when a large procession followed the remains to their final resting place in the Raisinville Cemetery, north side.  Services at White church by Rev. T.M. Shanafelt, formerly of Monroe city."

Later in the month, another article concerning Joseph's death appeared in the Monroe Commercial on January 25th:

"London News - It is with regret we learn of the death of Joseph Doty on Jan. 13th, 1878, and also regret that no word was sent that we might follow his remains to their resting place.  The father of your correspondent and Mr. Doty grew up together, each married and went west.  For 45 years they knew nothing of each other.  Dr. Jeffery, while journeying with his own conveyance to see one of his children who had married and gone further west, noticed two men in conversation, and reining up to inquire for London, heard the name of Joseph Doty mentioned and upon inquiry, found he would go within a few miles of him.  The next day found him intent upon a surprise.  Never shall we forget the joy each manifested at meeting, then and subsequently.  Two years ago, the Dr. crossed the river, and now Mr. Doty has gone to meet him.  Both lived to a good old age, neither beyond their usefulness.  Both were intent upon the Master's service."

In these days of email and instant messaging, we sometimes forget the lag in communication in the early days of our country!

I have never come across a photo of Joseph or Sally True Doty, but I feel like one probably exists in the missing Doty Bible which was filled with old tintypes in the back.  Oh, how I wish that Bible could be located! 

George Washington Doty

This photo hung in my parents' home for as long as I can remember.  Its last place of honor was in my mother's bedroom.  Even though she never knew her grandfather, she had great respect for him and her grandmother.  George Washington Doty, father of Dorothy Doty Ordway, was born in a log home that was on the homestead of his parents in Raisinville Township, Monroe County, Michigan.  George made his appearance in the midst of a Michigan winter, on January 15, 1848.

For George's parents, Joseph and Sarah True Doty, it was their fifth child and third son.  George would live his entire life on this farm as one of the more well-known farmers of the area.  He would also become a stalwart worker in the church and his community.

In the 1850 census of Raisinville, Monroe County, Michigan, little George W., at 2 years old, was surrounded by his family: father Joseph, 45; mother Sally, 36; and siblings, Emeline, 10; Sarah, 7; William T., 5; and Charles 3.  With them, lived an Irish farm hand, John McGuire, who was 29. 

The 1860 census showed the addition of sister, Hellen, who would be the last child in the family.

In 1864, brother Charles was old enough to join up with the Union Army and that's what he did.  He was young and ready to fight, and soon was sent south.  He did not return.  It must have been heartbreaking for the family to lose this young boy who was only 17 or 18 at his enlistment.  George W. was approximately a year younger than Charles, so it would have been an especially hard blow for him.  This photo shows George at around 16 years old circa 1864.

George continued to work on the family farm as the 1870 census indicates.  In that census, only George and Hellen are left at home and both are referred to as "servants," - in this case, it just means they were laborers on the home place.  On the June 1874 list of teachers in Monroe County, George was listed as a teacher at the Raisinville School.  One source said he taught several terms, and I'm sure he was needed more and more on the farm as his parents aged.

On November 5, 1874, George W. Doty married Alice S. Newcomer.   Alice was a neighborhood girl, growing up right down the road from George.  Mom's cousin, Don, wrote once in a letter that the family lore said George and Alice eloped, ladder to the window and all.  According to the marriage record, George was 26 and Alice only 17.

George's mother died in July 1874, and so it is thought the couple moved in with George's father, Joseph.  According to cousin Don, this was hard on young Alice, as Joseph was difficult to handle and sometimes he hit the spirits, making him harder to control.  About a year later, George and his brother, William, acquired the farm from their father.

Joseph died in 1878, and by 1880 George and Alice welcomed their first child, Susan Bertia.  Three years later, a sister arrived - Ada A. (Alice?)  This photo, probably taken circa 1886, shows George and Alice, with Susan in the back and little Ada in front.

Seven years later, in 1890, Guy J. joined the family, followed quickly by Harry Russel, thirteen months later.

This photo is nicely labeled, showing Guy on the left, Ada in back, Susie on the right and little Harry in front.  I would estimate this photo as taken 1893-1894.

When Alice was 37, her youngest son, George Lewis, was born in 1895, followed by her youngest daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth in 1899 when she was 42.

In this photo, taken around 1905 or 1906, I would guess, the whole family gathered.  Back Row, L to R: Harry, Susie, Guy, Ada and Front Row, L to R: George Jr, George W., Dorothy, Alice

Unfortunately, George's health began to decline and he died on March 4, 1910, leaving all of the children at home except for Susie who had married by that time.  The official cause of death was Bright's disease which was an all-purpose term at the time for anything related to kidney failure, usually accompanied by edema and high blood pressure.  It could have been related to the heart or diabetes, but that was not determined.  In those days, the only treatments available were laxatives and diuretics and diagnoses were not very specific.

George was well thought of in his community as evidenced by the obituaries that followed in the local papers.
The first appeared on March 17, 1910 in the Record-Commercial, Monroe, Michigan:
"George Washington Doty, 62 years old, a prominent farmer and Sunday school worker of Raisinville township, died Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at his home, death being due to a complication of troubles.  A widow and six children survive him.  Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:00 from the house, thence at the Evangelical church at Raisinville; interment at Lasalle."

The Monroe Democrat followed the next day, March 18, 1910, with this notice:
"Mr. George Washington Doty, a well known and well liked man throughout the county, died at his home up the river at three o'clock on Monday afternoon.  He had been ailing for eight years and had reached the age of 62 years, 8 months and 2 days.  Born in Raisinville township, January 15, 1848, on the farm where he has resided and died.  Mr. Doty took a prominent part in civic and church affairs of his community, was a member of the Evangelical church for 26 years and in that society, having been Sunday school superintendent for 12 years, president of the County Sunday School Association for the same length of time, also class leader for several years and a trustee of the church at the time of his death.  Mr. Doty proved himself a noble Christian character the whole of his life and showed remarkable fortitude in the suffering accompanying his last illness.  His wife, who was Miss Alice Newcomer and to who he was married on November 5th, 1874, mourns him with their six children, Mrs. William Kemmerling, of Monroe; Misses Ada A. and Dorothy E., and sons Harry R., Guy, George.  There are also two grandchildren, a brother, Mr. T. Doty of Raisinville, and a sister, Mrs. W. H. McIntire, of Eldorado, Kan.  The funeral was held on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the East Raisinville church attended by a large number of followers."

The next week, the Record-Commercial printed a lengthy obituary, dated March 24, 1910, accompanied by the first photo shown in this post:

"Death has again laid claim to another prominent Monroe County man in the person of  George Washington Doty who was born in Raisinville township, Jan. 15, 1848 and died at 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, Monday, March 14, 1910, sixty-two years old.  Mr. Doty has resided on the same farm all his life.  His parents, Joseph and Sarah Doty, came to Raisinville township from Albany Co., N.Y., in 1839, he having purchased the farm of 133 acres Jan. 18, 1837, which comprised all of P.C. 533, the original farm being over 4 miles long and for which he paid $900.  Part of this claim has remained in the Doty family for over 73 years. 

The Doty line extends back to the good old Puritan stock.  George Doty had inherited many of the sturdy traits of these early pioneers and up to about eight years ago scarcely knew a sick day.  Since that time, however, his health has gradually given way and what relief could be given was only temporary.  In his younger days he taught school for several terms till his whole time was required on the farm. 

He was a man of excellent habits, an exemplary Christian and citizen.  He united with the East Raisinville Ev. church over 26 years ago and during that time has held almost every office that the church could bestow.  He was superintendent of the Sunday school for six years and his deep interest and success in S.S. work brought him before the county to such an extent that he was elected President of the Monroe County Sunday School Association, which office he faithfully discharged for twelve years.  He was urged to continue when the last convention was held in Monroe last fall, but owing to the condition of his health, was compelled to decline. 

He was united in marriage Nov. 5, 1874, to Alice Newcomer, who survives him with their six children: Mrs. W. L. Kemmerling of Monroe; Ada A., Guy J., Harry R., George L. and Dorothy E., at home.  Also two grandchildren, one brother, Wm. T. Doty of Raisinville, and one sister, Mrs. W. H. McIntyre, of ElDorado, Kas.  One brother and two sisters have preceded him.  The funeral was held Thursday, March 17, at 2 p.m. at the East Raisinville Ev. church and conducted by his pastor, Rev. G. Knechtel, of Ida.  The large concourse of people which attended the last sad rites testified of his far-reaching friendship.  Interment in the Woodland cemetery, Monroe."

And, finally, the Evangelical-Messenger, which was a weekly newspaper published by the Evangelical Association, published this obituary on April 13, 1910:

"George Washington Doty was born in Monroe Co., Mich., Jan. 15, 1848, and died March 14, 1910.  He was united in marraige with Alice Newcomer, in 1874, who with their six children, survives him.  As a convert, he united with our church at East Raisinville over 26 years ago.  He held various offices, being especially prominent in Sunday school work.  He was president of Monroe County Sunday School Association.  He was an earnest Christian.  G. Knechtel."

G. Knechtel, who submitted this article, was George's pastor.  The Ev. Church eventually merged with the United Brethern in Christ and was known as the E.U.B.  The E.U.B. eventually merged with the Methodist church and became the United Methodist denomination. 

From these, I can surmise that grandmother Dorothy Doty was brought up in the church and during her youth, her father experienced poor health.  The trauma of losing her father at the age of ten would have been difficult to endure.