************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer JOHN R. AND MELISSA J. (TRUESDELL) DOUGHERTY This gentleman, the son of James and Sarah (Loomis) Dougherty, was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., on the 17th of December, 1842. His father was a native of Ireland, and came, alone, to the United States at the age of fourteen; his mother was a native of Scotland, and died when the son was young. The mother of John R. was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y. John R. Dougherty came to Michigan with his mother in 1857, and located near Lyons, Ionia Co. He remained at home until he was twenty years old, supporting his mother by working on a farm during the summers, and attended school winters. Her death occurred July 19, 1876. In August, 1862, Mr. Dougherty enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Infantry, and served his country three years. He was with Burnside in all his campaigns, and took part in the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, Md., Fredericksburg, Va., Blue Springs, East Tenn., Petersburg, Va., etc. He was promoted to first lieutenant in May, 1865. For one year after his "coming home from the war" he worked by the month on a farm, and then engaged in the grocery and provision business in the village of Lyons. This was in 1867. In 1868 he purchased an unimproved farm, which is now in excellent condition and a source of pride to its owner. In 1862 he married Melissa J. Truesdell, of Broome Co., N. Y. She was the daughter of Samuel and Perthina Truesdell, who were early settlers in that region. Her grandfather Jabish Truesdell, served seven years in the Revolutionary army. Mr. Dougherty is now the senior member of the banking firm of John R. Dougherty & Co., and also of the mercantile firm of Dougherty & Gleason, at Lyons, Mich., and is one of the most promising among the younger citizens of the town. In about fourteen years he has won his way from a position of dependence to one of independence. This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia: D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881. Page 260. Lyons.