JOHN DOHERTY

JOHN DOHERTY was born in the county Donegal, Ireland, in 1836, and is a son of Owen and Hannah (Sweney) Doherty. Owen Doherty was married in his native country, where he was engaged in farming and contracting all his life. He and his wife were life-long members of the Catholic Church. John Doherty received but little education in youth in his native land, where he was mainly engaged in farming until he was nineteen years of age. In April, 1855, he landed in the United States, first going to West Virginia, where he was engaged in railroading for several months. He then removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he was engaged in flat-boating down the rivers to New Orleans until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he was employed in the ordnance department of the United States forces of Louisville, Ky., and immediately after the capture of Nashville, Tenn., by the Federals he was transferred to that city where he remained about three years. He then engaged in the liquor business at Nashville, remaining about one year. In the summer of 1865 he made a visit to Ireland, remaining until the fall of that year. In 1867 he engaged in the liquor trade at Mt. Vernon, Ky., where he remained about two years and then returned to Nashville, where he was engaged in the same business for a time. In the spring of 1870 he came to Rockport, Ohio County, where he has since been engaged in the liquor and grocery trade. He is also engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Doherty was also engaged in the coal business in Ohio County. He, Smith, Keith & Co. opened the Rockport Mines, now known as the Echol Mines, of which he yet owns a portion of the stock. In addition to the above, Mr. Doherty also owns valuable property in Rockport. He was married, May 29, 1882, to Maggie Doherty, a native of Louisville, Ky. They have one child — Owen, born February 8, 1885. Both are members of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Doherty is a Democrat.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895