dolbowt
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
THOMAS J. DOLBOW, who is engaged
in the real estate, loans and insurance business in Washtucna, was born
in Griggsville, Illinois, March 31, 1862. He was the son of William
an Ruth (Spence) Dolbow, the father a native of Illinois, born in the same
house as was the subject of our sketch, and the mother a native of Ohio.
The father died in Griggsville in 1896, and the mother in Little Rock,
Arkansas, in 1874. They were parents of five children, Thomas J.,
Jennie, Lillie, Maggie, and Fred. Mr. Dolbow's mother was of German-English
descent and his father's people came originally from Germany.
At the age of ten years Thomas Dolbow began
life independent of all his kindred, and at twelve he hired to a man for
whom he worked nine years. At twenty-one he went to Minnesota, where
he worked as a farm hand and later as a special collector for the Singer
Sewing Machine Company. He remained with this company for two years,
then entered the employ of the Deering Harvesting Machinery Company, with
which he remained three years. He then returned to Illinois, farmed
two years, after which he engaged in the hardware and farm implements business
in Minnesota. By this time he had amassed a snug fortune, but through
the dishonesty of a business partner he lost twenty-seven thousand dollars
and was compelled to abandon his business. He then engaged as an
organizer of lodges of the Modern Woodmen and was thus employed two years.
He came to Washington and to Washtucna in July, 1898. He engaged
in the grain buying business for two years, then entered his present business.
He came to the town with just five hundred and thirty-five dollars, but
he is now one of the well-to-do men of Adams county. He purchased
a section of land during the year of his advent into the county and two
years later sold it at a profit of seven thousand dollars. He then
purchased three and one-half sections of land which he now owns.
He also owns two acres of city property where he lives in one of the best
homes in the town, besides some property in Warrenton, Oregon.
In 1889 Mr. Dolbow was married to Nettie Emery,
daughter of J. L. and Margaret (McCalister) Emery, the father a native
of Ohio and the mother of Scotland. Mrs. Dolbow's brothers and sisters
are Lizzie, deceased, Mary, Margaret, and George, now deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dolbow have been born four
children, Bertha, George, Floyd and Vera.
Mr. Dolbow is a Republican, and at the hands
of his party he has served his county as deputy sheriff. He is now
a member of the town council. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Rebekahs, and the M. W. A. His wife also is a Rebekah, and both are
members of the Congregational church.
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