Sonoma-Placer-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Doran, William M. 1825 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 27, 2006, 7:00 pm

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Doran, William M. Born in Hardin county, Tennessee, January 13, 1825. Here he
received a common school education, and lived until seventeen years of age when
he proceeded to Fayette county, where he remained until the Fall of 1844, when
he left his parents and settled in Washington county, Mississippi, where he
engaged in farming until 1849, when he started via New Orleans to Gorgons, and
from here on foot across to Panama, a distance of twenty-two miles. After
remaining here five weeks, he boarded the sailing vessel "Kingston," and after a
voyage of fifty-five days landed in San Francisco, March 25, 1850. From here he
took passage on the steamer Eldorado for Sacramento, thence on foot with
blankets on his back he proceeded to Mud Springs in Placer county, a distance of
forty-five miles— making the trip in two days. Here he mined with fair luck, and
not wishing to pay thirty-two dollars per week for board he soon set up
housekeeping for himself. Paid two hundred dollars for a barrel of pork,
seventy-five cents per pound for flour, and everything else in proportion. He
soon left this point and went to Eldorado county, remained three months,
returned to Sacramento city, purchased teams and began teaming to Nevada city.
In Fall of '50 he turned out his teams, and followed mining. In March 1851 he
returned to Sacramento and found that twenty-five head of his horses and mules
had been stolen. After disposing of the balance of his stock he returned to the
mines, meeting with rather poor success, and about the first of Oct. returned to
Sacramento, thence to Dry Creek, Amador county, near Volcano, and mined with
good success until March, 1852, when he again returned to Sacramento, from here
to Sierra county. On Dec. 20th he was on his way back to Sacramento. He found
the city under water, and the city found him with only five dollars in his
pocket. But having an eye to business, he hired a boat at ten dollars per day,
and conveyed provisions to Sutter's fort, clearing forty dollars the first day.
On the third day he started for the mines: and after mining, prospecting, etc.,
in many different places until July, 1856, we find him in San Francisco where he
took the steamer "Golden Age," bound for the home of his childhood. Here he
remained until July 16, 1857, when he returned to California via New Orleans.
After mining in all the principal mines in this State and Idaho, in 1863 went to
Montana where he was successful; after traveling and prospecting for some time,
finally found a place where he took out ten thousand dollars in five weeks time.
He then returned to San Francisco, and in June, 1864, purchased his present
ranch on Bodega Bay which he now owns. Sep. 10, 1867, he returned east, and on
Dec. 12, 1867, married in Hardin county, Tennessee, Sarah J. Hawk, she being
born Oct. 12, 1843. He returned to this State in February and settled on his
ranch. In July, 1872, he and wife visited the east, and returned in October. In
1877 he purchased a home at Bodega Corners and retired from the farm. Mr. D. has
been fiat broke five different times, but being well charged with that spirit
that will not down, has succeeded and his efforts crowned. He now owns not only
his property in town, but a fine farm of six hundred and eighty acres under good
improvements. They have three living children: William J., born Jan. 13, 1869;
Josephine E., Oct. 16, 1870; George L., Jan. 15, 1877, and an infant child deceased.

Additional Comments:
Bodega Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by ALLEY, BOWEN & Co.,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

PACIFIC PRESS,
Oakland, Cal. Printers., Stereotypers and Binders.


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