Biography of Robert Lee Dugan

ROBERT LEE DUGAN. In the handling of ready-to-wear
garments for both men and women, as well as furnishing
goods of the most select lines, Mr. Dugan has established
one of the most modern and attractive mercantile empori-
ums in the City of Princeton, and the effectiveness of its
service is shown in the substantial and appreciative pat-
ronage accorded.

Mr. Dugan was born at Greeneville, Greene County, Ten-
nessee, May 16, 1878, and is a son of Douglas and Sally
(Buck) Dugan, both natives of Virginia. The father was
engaged in the livery and transfer business at Greeneville,
Tennessee, at the time of his death, when he was only
thirty-five years of age and when his son Robert L. was
a lad of eleven years.

Robert L. Dugan gained his early education in the pub-
lic schools of his native place, and he was little more than
a boy when he took a position as clerk for the Colonial
Coal & Coke Company at Dorchester, Virginia. Two years
later he entered the employ of the Louisville Coal & Coke
Company at Goodwill, West Virginia, and after a year of
service in this connection he passed a year in the employ
of the Hiawatha Coal & Coke Company. He then came to
Princeton and opened a general store, the stock of which
included hardware and groceries, as well as dry goods and
other general lines. After conducting this enterprise four
years Mr. Dugan gave about seven years to the manage-
ment of the dry-goods store which he here established.
After selling this latter store and business he returned to
Tennessee, where he purchased a farm and resumed his ac-
tive alliance with the basic industry under the influence of
which he had been reared. At the end of one year he found
that he had mistaken his predilection for farming as a
vocation, and he sold the farm property and returned to
Princeton, where on the 16th of January, 1920, he opened
his present fine mercantile establishment, the success of the
business being conserved alike by his personal popularity
in the community and the general recognition of the fact
that the best of service is ever assured when he is at the
head of a business enterprise. In September, 1921, E. S.
McNear became interested in the business, but Mr. Dugan
continues its executive head and resourceful and progres-
sive manager.

Mr. Dugan is affiliated with the Blue Lodge, Chapter and
Commandery bodies of York Rite Masonry, and also with
the Mystic Shrine, is a loyal and valued member of the
Princeton Business Men's Club, and he and his wife hold
membership in the Missionary Baptist Church.

At Goodwill, this state, in 1905, was solemnized the mar-
riage of Mr. Dugan and Miss Mittie B. Brazie, daughter of
A. W. and Mittie Brazie. Mr. and Mrs. Dugan have no
children. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Dugan was one
of the old-time stage drivers in Virginia.

From The History of West Virginia, Old and New, page 43

Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>

****************************************************************

USGENWEB NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied
for personal use only.

****************************************************************