Santa
Clara County
Biographies
WILLIAM PATRICK DOUGHERTY
Like the center of the population of our Union, the heart of its lumber belt has, during the first century, moved steadily westward from 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 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 interests 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. Dougherty 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 Mrs. Elizabeth Reene, 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.
Transcribed
3-24-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
Source:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Page 1111. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marilyn R.
Pankey.