John Doll
Missoula County 
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

John Doll has been a resident of Montana since 1886 and 
has been identified with the blacksmith and wagon making 
business in the state since that time.  Since 1888 he has 
been the proprietor of a shop of his own in Missoula and 
in the passing years he has built up an extensive and 
lucrative business.  He is an expert wagon maker having 
been apprenticed to the trade in his young manhood and 
he learned his trade from beginning to end.  The 
establishment which he conducts today is second to 
none in the state in its equipment and in the class of 
work it produces.

Born in Germany, February 23, 1863, Mr. Doll is the son 
of Stephen and Luzia (Schoanberg) Doll.  The father was 
born and reared in Germany and there passed his entire 
life.  He was a blacksmith and farmer and was 
comparatively well to do.  He died in 1890 at the 
age of seventy three and is survived by his widow.  
John Doll, the subject of this review was the only 
one of the family to come to America.  As a boy he 
attended school in his early years, and he also 
learned the finishing work in the stone cutting 
trade.  When he was thirteen he was earning about 
$2.00 per week, which he always turned over to his 
parents.  In addition to this work he helped his 
father about the farm and in the shop.  When he 
was nineteen he came to America and first settled 
in Minnesota.  It was there he learned the 
blacksmith trade.  For three years he was 
apprenticed to one Gerhard Richter, receiving 
for his labors the first year $75.00; the 
second year, $125.00 and the third year he received 
$20.00 a month and at the end of that year he left 
Minneapolis and went to Spokane Washington.  There 
he secured employment at his trade in the 
construction department of the new railroad 
then being built from Marshall Junction to the 
Palouse country.  He worked with this firm for 
several months and in 1886 came to Montana, where 
he has continued ever since without a break.  Mr. 
Doll first settled at Thompson Falls in Sanders 
County where he was employed at his trade for 
about one year.  He then came to Missoula and 
after a few months work on a salary basis he 
resolved to try his fortunes in the business 
in which he was so well trained.  Thus was 
launched the present business which John Doll 
so ably conducts.  He stared on a small scale 
but as the town reached out the blacksmith shop 
and wagon factory has broadened until today it is 
one of the finest establishments of its kind in 
the state.

Mr. Doll is fitly recognized as one of the solid men 
of Missoula today and his judgment is accorded 
generous credence in business circles of the city.  
On March 6, 1901 he was united in marriage with 
Miss Cora M. Lincoln, daughter of Lemuel and Jennie 
T. Lincoln of Missoula.  Two daughters were born to 
them: Jennie May, deceased and Cora Winona.  The 
family home is at 610 West Spruce Street while his 
place of business is located at 221 West Cedar Street.