Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Doig, Thomas 1826 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2007, 11:35 pm Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890 THOMAS DOIG. New Lenox Township probably has not a more enterprising, liberal or public- spirited man within its limits than he with whose name we initiate this sketch. He is a life-long farmer by occupation, but notwithstanding the cares and labors involved in looking properly after a large tract of land, he has always taken time to keep himself informed in regard to the various enterprises calculated to benefit his community, and to these has given his uniform support. His well-tilled fields yield abundantly the choicest crops of Northern Illinois, and he cultivates them with the latest improved machinery. He has a neat and substantial farm dwelling, and the various outbuildings required for the proper prosecution of his calling. Thomas Doig traces his ancestry to one of the best nationalities on the face of the globe, being the son of Andrew Doig, who was born September 21, 1797, on the river Tay, in the city of Dundee, in Forfarshire, Scotland. The latter when reaching manhood married Miss Isabella Fife, a native of his own shire, the wedding occurring in October, 1805, at Dundee. The father set out for America in 1830, and located at Philadelphia, Pa., where he was joined by his family two years later, and they lived there several years. He followed his trade of a stonecutter, was a skilled workman, and was employed in the erection of Girard College, the Exchange Building, and other important edifices in the city of Brotherly Love. Early in the '40s the parents of our subject removed to Washington, D. C, where Andrew Doig continued his former business, also being concerned in the erection of various public buildings, including the postoffice, and he put up the self-supporting hanging stairs, a piece of architecture difficult to accomplish, and which has been gazed upon by admiring thousands. He was also employed on the Capitol Building and other important structures, remaining there until 1847. That year he decided to seek his fortunes in the West, and coming to Will County settled in Homer Township, and securing a tract of land changed his occupation to that of a farmer. He built up a comfortable home and lived there until after the death of the mother, who passed away May 4, 1861. Mr. Doig survived his estimable partner for a period of twenty-six years, departing this life at the home of his son Alexander, on Maple Street, New Lenox Township, February 17, 1887. To the parents of our subject there was born a family of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Mary Ann died in Philadelphia in girlhood; Elizabeth became the wife of William Ferguson and died in Chicago, Ill.; Thomas resides on Maple Street in New Lenox Township; Andrew is a miller by trade and lives in McHenry County; Jessie died in Philadelphia when quite young; James is farming in the State of Kansas; Isabella is the wife of Stanton Lynk, of New Lenox Township; William died at Hadley, in Homer Township, when a youth of sixteen years; Alexander is farming in New Lenox Township; John H. prosecutes agriculture in the same township. The subject of this notice was the third child of his parents and is also a native of Dundee, Scotland, born March 3, 1826. He came to America with his mother in 1832, and at the early age of twelve years started out to earn his own living, being employed in a butcher shop in Philadelphia until a youth of eighteen. He then accompanied the family to Washington, D. C, where he was employed at bricklaying three years. We next find him in Baltimore, Md., where he was similarly employed until 1849. In the fall of that year he came to this county, locating in Homer Township, but in 1850 joined the caravan moving toward the Pacific Slope, and until Januaiy, 1853, was engaged in hunting for the yellow ore. He was fairly successful, but decided to return to Homer Township, and a year later settled on Maple Street in New Lenox Township. In May, 1854, he removed to his present farm, where he has since resided and given his entire attention to its improvement and cultivation. He has one hundred and seventy-two acres of good land with modern improvements. Thomas Doig was married in Chicago, Ill., May 5, 1854, to Mrs. Ann M. (Lynk) Van Duser. This lady was born in Columbia Township, N. Y., November 17, 1820, and is a daughter of Z. W. and Sallie (Harder) Lynk, mention of whom is made in the sketch of Stanton Lynk, on another page in this Album. Her first husband was Gilbert Van Duser, who died on Maple Street, New Lenox Township, April 2, 1853. Of this union there were born two children: Sarah C, the wife of Alexander Doig, of New Lenox Township, and John I. who died here in April, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Doig are the parents of four children, viz: Isabella, who died in childhood; Annie, the wife of George L. Francis, of New Lenox Township; Irene, who died young, and Thomas J., who is farming in New Lenox Township. Mr. Doig is a stanch Democrat, politically, and has taken an active part in the councils of his party, holding various positions of trust and responsibility, and representing his township in the County Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Doig is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family hold a good social position in the community, and are contributing their full quota toward the promotion of its best interests. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/doig1315nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb