The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-07
PUBLIC And PRIVATE
MICHAEL DORAN's TWO CAREERS
HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
BOTH REALMS
IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

He Has Been SasaciOus, Far-Sight-
ed, Prudent and Able, and BE-
side Amassing a Fortune, He Has
Made Himself the Friend and
COnfdantes of Some of Amertca's
Foremost Men.
Ne man In Minnesota is more widely
or more favorably known probably,
either is his business or his polii, al
associations, than is Michael Doran;
whose business sagacity and political
acumen have earned for him the admira
ton of a wide business acquaintance
and the respect and friendship Of many
prominent Americans, including one of
the presidents of the United States
Still in the possession of full mental
and physical vigor although he has
passed the allotted span of three-sc. re
years and ten by more than a year, this
man, who has been for more than a gen.
Grafton one of the most successful bust
ness men in the state, is figure of more
than passing interest in community
which knows him as one of its most SUBJ
stantial citizens
michael DOrdn was porn NOV. l., 1871,
in County Meath. Ireland. His father
was James Doran, and his mothers
maiden name was Bridget Mcclure. His
opportunities in Ireland were few, c.
pecially in an educational way, but upon
coming to this country In 1850 he set
about fitting himself for his battle with
the world as few men at his age in these
times have to do. Landing in New
York he spent year on a farm in the
Empire state and then removed to Nor
walk. o., where he engaged to some
extent in farming, and later ran a gro
Gerry store.
In 1856 he determined to take up his
residence further west, and coming to
Minnesota he settled In LIE Sueur county,
locating on a tract of govern ment Ia nd
and engaging in farming. In 1860 he was
chosen by his fellow citizens as county
treasurer, a position which through re-
peated reflections he held for eight
years He also dealt In real estate and
acquired the reputation with his neigh
bors of being not only shrewd and far
seeing business man, but a trustW orthy
and faithful public servant. In 1870 he
engaged in the banking business at LIE
name being Snow & Doran. The firm
also owned a mill, grain elevate s and
other property. Soon after its organiza-
ton Mr.. Snow died, and Mr.. Doran man
aged the business alone for time. Sub
seQuently he formed a partnership with
Edison r. Smith and the business was
continued under the style of Doran &
Smith until March, 1891, when it was
dissolved by mutual consent. Mr.. Smith
continued in business at LIE Sueur. The
Bank of LIE Sueur, which they owned and
managed, had attained the position of
being one of the most trusted banks in
Southern Minnesota. Beside this bank
interest and his share in the Touring
mills and elevator, Mr.. Doran owned
three improved farms in LIE Sueur coun-
ty, about 1000 acres of wild land in the
same county and sundry village property
there, as we'll as property in and about
st. Paul.
During his business career at LIZ
Sueuer Mr.. Doran was always active II
politics, and he was chosen to the state
senate to represent LIE Sueur county iT
the fall of 1875. In this session of 187t
were a number of prominent men, among
them Lieut.. Gov. John B. Wakefield, still
a resident of Southern Minnesota; Igna-
thus Donnelly, former Lieut.. Gov. w. H
Yale, member of the present house o1
representatives.; the late Morton S. VII
kinson, then one of the most prominent
lawyers in the state; Milo White, after
wards the hero of the great congressional
fight at Kasson; Judge ]. L. Macdonald
the late R. B. Langdon, of Minneapolis
William Pitt Murray, c. H. Graves, O
Duluth; Knute Nelson, at presnt sena
manned in the state senate during tn,
Bessions of 1877, 1878 and 1879, and wa.
also elected for the sessions of 1888 an(
1885. The late Judge A. J. Edgerton, Jus
tce Daniel Buck, Of the present supreme
bench of the state, A. B. Robbins, P. H
Rahilly, Charles A. Pillsbury, forme
Congressman ]. n. Castle, J. B. and G. D
Gillian, the late Eugene NJ Wilson, o
Minneapolis; Judge Thomas Wilson, o
Winona; the late A. L. Sackett, of st
Peter; Lieut.. Gov. A. E. Rice, and Con
gresham S. G. Comstock, of Moorhead
were also among Mr.. Doran's senatorial
contemporaries. Indeed, Senator c.. B
Buchanan, now of Morrison county, thel
of Benton, is a link that binds him to tn
present senate. During his senatorial ser
vice he was a member of the committee
appointed to investigate the state insan
hospital at St. Peter, which was one O
the chief events in the administrative
history of the then comparatively youni
state.
Before severing his business association