DOAK, William A., b 1855; 1905 Bio, Delta County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/montrose/bios/doakwa.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 3, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- William A. Doak William A. Doak, of Montrose county, comfortably located on his valuable and attractive ranch about five miles south of the county seat, a prominent and progressive stock man and rancher, may not improperly be said to have been born and bred to the stock industry. From his very cradle he has mingled with its promoters and employees, witnessed its exacting scenes, heard its picturesque and striking language and imbibed its spirit. He was born at Pleasanton, Texas, in 1855, the son of John M. and Mary (Zumwallt) Doak, and the second of their seven children. His father was a native of Mississippi and moved to Texas at the age of nineteen where he at once engaged in the stock business, with which he was actively and prominently connected until his death in 1889, at the age of sixty-four. He was also prominent in the local affairs of his county, taking an earnest interest in whatever tended to promote its welfare. Fraternally he was for a long time connected with the Masonic order and was a devoted follower of its teachings. With the ardor born of firmly established convictions, he espoused the cause of the Confederacy in the Civil war and throughout the sanguinary conflict backed his convictions with his sword. His wife was reared in Texas from childhood and they were married there. She is still living and makes her home at Pleasanton, having reached the age of sixty-eight years. Their son William was reared in his native state, and almost from the time when he was first able to sit a saddle was more or less busy in the care of his father's herds. He received a district-school education, remaining at home until he reached the age of eighteen. He then started a cattle business of his own in Texas, and from that time until the present he has been connected with the industry in various places. The first ten years of his independent operations in this line were passed in Texas. At the end of that period he disposed of his interests there and moved to Wyoming, and during the next four or five years conducted an extensive cattle business in that state with headquarters at Cheyenne. In 1887 he transferred his headquarters to Montrose, this state, and since then he has continued and enlarged his business in the same field. He bought the place on which he now lives, and all the improvements on it are the fruits of his enterprise and progressiveness. They include a fine brick dwelling and other necessary structures, all of good size and well arranged and provided. He also has a thrifty and profitable orchard, from which he has abundant yields of excellent fruit, and for the support of his cattle he raises large crops of grain and hay. His specialties in cattle are well-bred Durhams and Herefords, and of these he has herds which are among the best in this part of the state. An active, energetic and progressive man, it is inevitable that he should feel a deep and earnest interest in the welfare of his community, and with the public spirit and breadth of view for which he is much esteemed, it is equally as inevitable that he should show this interest by practical aid of every commendable enterprise in which that welfare is involved or may be promoted. He is an uncompromising Democrat in politics, not now and then, but every day in the year, and with ready aid to the cause of his party at all times; yet he has never sought or desired political office of any kind. He is also in full and serviceable sympathy with everything pertaining to the welfare of the business in which he is engaged, being an active member of the stock association and rendering faithful service to its movements at times in various official stations in its organization and government. On his ranch he has one great advantage over many cattle men in that he owns his water supply for irrigation and other purposes. In June, 1891, he married with Mrs. Mary (Ray) Robinson, widow of W.G. Robinson, who came to Colorado with her parents, Thomas and Eveline Ray, and settled near La Sal on the Utah state line. Her parents are now living at Paradox, Montrose county, where she was first married more than twenty years ago. By her first marriage she had two children, Walter and Ida Robinson, and by the second she has one, her son Roy Doak. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.