BIO: Joseph A. DOLL, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 641 & 642. _____________________________________________________________ JOSEPH A. DOLL, owner and proprietor of the South Fork Farm, containing forty- five acres, situated in Huston township, Clearfield county, Pa., two and one- half miles west of Penfield, was born in Alsace Loraine, now Germany, September 4, 1847. he is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Leitzick) Doll, natives of the same place, where they spent their lives, the father being a farmer. They had seven children: Frank, Jacob, Joseph A., George, Alice, John and Mary. The first twenty years of his life Mr. Doll spent on his father's farm, after which he spent five years in the German army, being a member of the 4th Marines. During the French and German war he was stationed with his company on an important island near the African border. At the close of this war that continued for three years he was honorably discharged and was paid the sum of $1,600, covering the five years of service during which he had proved a brave and obedient soldier. After a short visit home, in 1873 he came to America, the journey consuming twenty-four days at that time. He located first at Williamsport, Pa., where he worked in a lumber yard for some months and then came to Clearfield county and worked for one year on the grading of the Pennsylvania road-bed. Mr. Doll then decided to engage in farming and rented land near his present farm in Huston township, from William Woodward, where he remained for five years. He then purchased his first five acres of his South Fork farm, from Edward Bunday, and to the original purchase continued to add from time to time, buying from John DuBois. He erected all the buildings and otherwise improved the place. His land is well watered by Bennetts Branch Creek, that runs through the farm, which is also crossed by the B. & S. Railroad. Mr. Doll was married April 31, 1877, to Miss Margaret Barner, who was born in Clearfield county, a daughter of Gebhardt Barner. Mr. and Mrs. Doll have three children: Frank, Edward and Arthur, who assist in managing and operating the farm. Politically Mr. Doll is a Democrat and is serving in his ninth year as road supervisor, having been elected and re-elected without solicitation on his part. He is identified with the local Grange. With his family he belongs to the Roman Catholic church. He is one of Huston township's most respected citizens.