Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-16
Sketch of His Career

Jonathan Prentiss Dollivcr was born
ginia. (now West virginia). Feb. g.
1858. a son of the late James j. Dolli-
yer, for forty years n minister In tho
Methodist Episcopal church. principal
Virginia. The elder Doliiver was at
fectionately called Father Dolliver by
his many friends, and was known as
a hard working man and devout
christian He was native OF New
York, having been born in Saratoga
county, Nov %. 1916. He was of New
England stock. his ancestors being fish
ermen along the Massac achusetts coast.
state Of New Jersey. and when a young
man he cmigrated TO Ohio. where he
went into business as n country NOR
chant He was called TO the Metho-
dist ministry in 1S41. and during the
remainder of his life he was actively
engaged In church work.
In 1856 Father Dolliver was married
TO Eliza ]. Brown. daughter of Robert
Brown. of near Kingwood. Preston
county West Virginia. Five children
blessed this union. Jonathan Prentiss
Dolliver being the second child. The
others are Robert II Dolliver Metho-
dist minister. born in 1856, now a resi-
dent OF Rochelle. III: Victor f. Dolli-
yer, born In 1861. a lawyer and resi-
dent of Fort Dodge to the time OF his
death about four years ago: Miss Mar
garet Gay Dolllver. OF Fort Dodge
and Mrs Mary II. Graham wife of i.
r. Graham. OF Evanston. Ill.
Jonathan r Dolliver was Graduat cd
from the University of West Virginia.
with the class of 1875. his brother Rob
ert f.. Dolliver. being n member of the
same class The summer following his
graduation Mr. Dolliver went to Sand
wich. H.. where he taught country
school the following winter Tho fol-
lowing spring hc returned to his home
in West Virginia. where he entered the
law office OF his uncle John J. Brown
of Morgantown. He studied law dur
ing the summer and IN the winter he
returned To Illinois. where he was prin-
cpal Of the high school at Sandwich
one year In 1878 Jonathan and Vic
tor Dolliver invested all their savings
in law books and moved to Fort Dodge
whore they opened n law office. Their
financial backing was small but they
We're energetic and self and
by hard work and perseverance they
succeeded in building up a practice They
experienced tho usual struggles of the
young lawyers In strange territory
but they soon gained the confidence Of
the people and il was not long before
they were recognized as worthy of gem
crc patronage.
Enters Politics in 1884.
Jonathan soon gained a local reputa
ton as an orator and he was soon
called upon to speak in surrounding
counties. He first came into proml-
nence as n speaker In 1854. during the
presidential campaign Dr. Charles
Beardsley, Of Burlington, chairman OF
the state republican committee. had
formed the acquaintance Of the brilli
ant young man from Virginia, and II
was at his suggestion that Dolliver was
Of the state convention in Des Moines
Delivers speech at Des Moines
lifted him from the obscurity Of
country law office into national promi-
nence. Mr.. Dolliver was called east
and bore n conspicuous part in that
memorable campaign. travelling for
time and speaking with James c.
Blaine the republican nominee for the
pres idency in that year. In every cam
paign since then Mr.. Dolliver has as
sisted his party wherever he was
most needed. Experience and study
only appealed to the sentiment and
aroused the judgment OF partisans. but
convinced the judgment OF the honest