William S. Dolan Biography


	This biography appears on pages 99-100 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIAM S. DOLAN. 

	William S. Dolan, of Milbank, is the proprietor and editor of the 
Grant County Review, which exercises a potent influence in shaping 
public opinion in that county. He is a man of affairs and is a leader 
in various movements seeking the community advancement. He was born in 
Watertown, Wisconsin, November 29, 1886, a son of Phillip and Anna 
(Murray) Dolan. His paternal grandfather, William Dolan, was born in 
Ireland but moved to Wisconsin when that state was still a pioneer 
district. He had previously been employed in the waterworks in New York 
city and was quite well-to-do. He became the owner of a farm, which he 
made one of the valuable properties of his locality. The maternal 
grandfather, James Murray, was also a native of Ireland and likewise 
became a pioneer settler of Wisconsin, where he followed agricultural 
pursuits. Phillip Dolan was born in New York city in 1841 and 
accompanied his parents to Wisconsin in 1856. Upon reaching mature 
years he purchased a farm and also entered land from the government in 
Dodge county. on which he resided for fifty-one years. He gained 
financial independence and is now living retired in Madelia, Minnesota. 
His wife, who was born, reared and married in Columbus, Wisconsin, died 
in 1887. To them were born three children: Mary and Clara, both 
unmarried; and William S., of this review. The father is a democrat in 
politics and his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. 

	William S. Dolan received his early education in the country 
schools of Wisconsin, later attended a convent school at Madelia, 
Minnesota, and prepared for the business world by taking a commercial 
course in St. Thomas College at St. Paul, graduating therefrom in 1906. 
He was employed as a bookkeeper for some time, but in December, 1906, 
when a young man of twenty years, removed to Milbank, South Dakota, and 
began to work on the Grant County Review. In 1911 he purchased the 
paper, which is published weekly and has a circulation of two thousand. 
It gives excellent local and general news service and is liberally 
patronized as an advertising medium by the business men of the county. 
Mr. Dolan also does a large job printing business, turning out 
excellent work in that line. 

	In 1913 Mr. Dolan married Miss Christina Olson, a daughter of O. 
A. Olson, a farmer residing in Grant county. Mr. Dolan is a leader in 
local democratic circles and personally and through the medium of his 
paper has done much to secure the success of his party in Grant county. 
He belongs to the Woodmen, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the 
Knights of Columbus, his affiliation with the last two orders 
indicating his membership in the Roman Catholic church. He understands 
all phases of newspaper work and has proved not only an excellent 
editor but a capable business manager. He has thoroughly identified his 
interests with those of Grant county and Milbank and has been 
instrumental in securing the progress of his community along a number 
of lines.