Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-11-27

his fatal illness. Upon reaching his
|son's home he was in greatly weak
ened condition, having contracted
pneumonia, which eliminated in his
death on the date above mentioned.
The remains were brought to his
home in Delhi, and the funeral held
on Thursday afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock
with large number of friends and
neighbors in attendance to pay trib-
ute to the memory Of one beloved
and esteemed. DR.. S. T. Foster pas
tor Of the Presbyterian church Of
Hopkinton, preached the funeral SER
mon; while DR.. E. E. Reed, president
Of Lenox college, read brief sketch
o. his life, and paid tender tribute
to life so we'll spent. Rev. w. S.:
Skinner, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal church. of Delhi, and DR.. j.
w. Parkhill, dean Of Lenox college,
assisted in the service. His six
grandsons-Prof. F. w. Doolittle and
Lawrence Doolittle OF Madison, Wis
consin, DR.. Russell C. Doolittle of
Des Moines, E. D. Williamson, John
Williamson, and Harl j. Williamson,
of Hopkinton-acted as, pail bearers,
and tenderly. bore the remains to
their final resting place in the family
lot in Delhi cemetery. w. P. Lord,
w. L. Campbell, u S. G. Keith, and
C. L. Main, a quartet from Hopkin-
ceased, rendered music at the SER
vices.
On October 4, 1851, Judge Doolittle
was united in marriage with Miss
Martha Cumber of Dubuque, and to
this union six children were born.
The surviving children are Mrs. Hat
tie Furman Of Delhi, DR.. John c. Doo-
little of Des Moines, at whose sani-
tarium his death occurred, and Mrs.
Frank E. Williamson of Hopkinton.
Those of his children who preceded
their father in death were w. F. Doc
little, who died in 1892; Mrs. Ollie
E. Phelps, who passed away In 1896;
and Mrs. Minnie A. Perry, whose
death occurred in 1901. Mrs. Doolit-
lie passed away October 26, 1876.
On November 25, 1880, Judge Doolit
tie was married a second time, choos-
ing as companion Mrs. Hannah G.
Harger Of Delhi, who survives.
Judge Doolittle was born in Dela-
ware County, New York, December
"a, 1925, and at the age Of ten years
he came with his parents to Monroe.
Michigan His education was meager
but was bless ssed with an earnest de-
sire to make his life count for some
thing for himself and his fellow-men.
At the age Of nineteen years he left
home and friends to make his owr
way in life, starting out without
much Of an education, or means, but
relied solely upon his own resources,
After he had acquainted himself with
the nursery business he came west,
and located at Delhi in the fall OF
1S49. Remaining only a short time
upon his first arrival at Delhi, he
returned in the spring of 1850, to
make his home in Delaware county
During his first year in this county
he worked for wages, fifty cents per
day being considered at that time as
good wages. It was during his first
years residence in Delaware county
that he started the Silver Lake
nursery, which soon became famous
over the entire state, and for some
time was considered as one Of the
largest and best nurseries in the
state Of Iowa.
Mr.. Doolittle had faith in the pos
sibilities OF the west, and as rapidly
as his earnings would permit he
would invest in cheap lands. His
judgment proved true, and eventually
he became one of the heaviest land
owners of eastern Iowa. He operat
ed for many years number of farms
near Delhi.
When the republican party was OF
ganized Judge Doolittle was activel,
engaged in politics in Delaware coun
ty. He was, one of the chrater mem
bers of the party in this county. Ev
cry movement which had for it's ain
the development of the county in an!