Hancock County IL Archives Biographies.....Dory, Victor May 7, 1827 - 
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Sandy Morrey sandymorrey@yahoo.com November 13, 2009, 7:11 pm

Source: Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois
Author: Unknown

VICTOR DORY was for many years promi- 
nently connected with the mercantile inter- 
ests of Warsaw, but is now living a retired 
life, having placed his business in the hands of 
his sons, who are now conducting it under the 
name of Dory Brothers. He is a man of deter- 
mined effort, enterprising and energetic, and in his 
undertakings he won a well-merited success. As 
he is so widely and favorably known in this com- 
munity, we feel assured that this record of his 
life will prove of interest to many of our readers.

Mr. Dory was born in the department of the 
Moselle, France, May 7, 1827, and is a son of John 
and Barbara (Laluette) Dory. He remained on 
his father's farm during the days of his boyhood 
and youth, but in 1848, having attained his ma- 
jority, he left the old home and sailed for America. 
He took passage on the vessel "Pyramid," which 
after a voyage of fifty-three days, dropped anchor 
in the harbor of New Orleans. Mr. Dory then 
had a cousin living in the Crescent City, who ad- 
vised him to go North on account of the cholera 
which raged in the Southern States. On the fol- 
lowing day, therefore, he took passage on the 
"Southern" for a trip up the Mississippi. Three 
days later cholera broke out on board the ship, and 
each evening the boat would go to land to bury 
the victims of that disease, numbering from ten to 
sixteen in a single day. One entire family of 
seven members died, save a boy of fifteen. Mr. 
Dory was taken with the cholera at Louisville, 
the fifth day after his arrival in this country, and 
for six weeks he was unable to walk. He then 
went to Bloomington, Ind., where his brother 
Sylvester was living, and with him remained for 
three years. 

In 1852, Mr. Dory and his brother came to 
Warsaw, and, purchasing a stock of goods, opened 
a store on the present site of the store now con- 
trolled by Dory Brothers. There he carried on 
business continuously until his retirement, with 
the exception of two years spent in his native 
land. In 1858, on account of impaired health he re- 
turned to France, where he spent two years, again 
coming to Warsaw in 1860. In 1872, his brother 
Sylvester left this place and went to Louisville, 
Ky. Later, he removed to Dakota, where he now 
resides. 

On the 9th of April, 1866, Mr. Dory wedded 
Miss Mary A. Festor, of St. Louis, who was of 
French extraction. They became the parents of 
eleven children, five of whom are yet living, 
namely: Firmin, Albert, Victor, Estella and Ce- 
celia. They have given their children all liberal 
educational advantages and thus fitted them for 
the practical and responsible duties of life. The 
children now deceased are Victor S., who died 
May 8, 1869; Amy, who died June 19, 1884; 
Vitaline A., who died August 27, 1886; Eugene, 
who died September 12, 1886, at the age of eigh- 
teen; Joseph, who died September 17, 1890; and 
August, who died September 24, 1892. 

Mr. Dory is a member of the Catholic Church, 
and is one of its earnest and ardent supporters, do- 
ing all in his power for its promotion and upbuild- 
ing. When he came to the West he spent some 
time in looking over the country, visited Quincy, 
Keokuk, Burlington and Warsaw, and finally de- 
cided to locate at the last-named, for it then seemed 
to present excellent advantages and gave evidence 
of rapid growth. Although the town has not be- 
come as large as some of the others, Mr. Dory 
need have no occasion to regret his choice of it as 
a home, for he has here found friends and pros- 
perity. 

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