Fostoria.Org
NOTICE: This site will go offline July 1st, 2024.
Please contact support@noguska.com if you are interested in maintaining this site after July 2024.

Community Homepages

mar_6__1986.html

User Rating:  / 0
PoorBest 
Accommodations
Churches
Community Calendar
History
Schools
Social Groups
Web Links



1977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989

BERKELEY, CALIF.
March 6, 1986


Click

PIX #1 - Doe Library, Berkeley, Calif.

PIX #2 - Charles Doe Chief Justice Superior Court State of New Hampshire

PIX #3 - Col. Bartlett Doe Father of Charles F. Doe

PIX #4 - Armorial Bearings of George Do of Jesus College, Cambridge, England. Granted May 8, 1662.

PIX #5 - Armorial Bearings of Charles Doe, Esq., one of the Sheriffs of the City of London, England. Granted Sept. 15, 1664.

PIX #6 - Armorial Bearings of Thomas Doe of Sanghall, County Chester, England, and the decedants of his Grandfather. Granted Sept. 29, 1749.

The above illustrations show the coat-of-arms selected by three different mem- bers of the Doe family at different times. Readers will note that one of them spelled the family name "Do," which was not the most popular selection.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the second installment of a series pertaining to the Doe family in Fostoria whose roots go back to early America.)

Correction

In last week's article about the Doe family, I erred in saying that Roger J. Doe, Summit street, was a grandson of Roger E. on North Union. Robert J. is his son.

Also, I am told the Doe living in Findlay is Donald F.; the name of the Doe in Carey is Ruth Ann Turnbell, not Sturnbel; and Janet (Doe) Keeton, Alvada, is another of that family that was overlooked. Sorry.

THE START OF THE DOE GENEALOGY

The following is copied from the Doe book by Elmer E. Doe, showing the early delineation of the Doe Family, starting with Nicholas.

"Our first ancestor in New England, of whom we have record, was Nicholas, probably from England, although the writer found a great number of families who have handed down the tradition that the Does are of Scotch ancestry, which however is not the case, for the most painstaking research of works on the origin of names does not in a single instance give the name to be of Scotch origin.

NICHOLAS DOE START OF FAMILY

"The first records that we can find of Nicholas doe is where he witnessed the will of Thomas Walford at Portsmouth, NH on Nov. 15, 1666. The following was copied from the New England historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. VI, page 35; 'Nicholas Doe was received as an inhabitant in 1688, was taxed at Oyster River from 1666 to 1672.' Oyster River is now Durhan, NH.

Nicholas Doe, born about 1631, married Martha Thomas. He died at Oyster River, NH in 1691. They had three children: John, born Aug. 25, 1669; Samp- son, April 1, 1670 and Elizabeth, Feb. 7, 1673.

"A probate record of the settlement to the estate of Nicholas Doe was recorded June 4, 1706, State of New Hampshire."

The three coats of arms discovered by the author of the Doe book represent three radically different viewpoints of families for whom the design were made. The accompanying illustrations show the differences.

MANY OF DOES ACHIEVED FAME

I have never had an opportunity to study such an exhaustive compilation of genealogy. This one dealing with the Does, contains approximately 1000 names of Does, plus approximately the same number who were part of the family through marriage, and did not carry the name Doe.

Obviously, it was not possible to read the history of each family, but by ne- cessity I read many in putting together this article. And, I was impressed with the quality of character of the family. Many were engaged in farming, timber, tradesmen, business, clergy, teachers, bankers, government, ministers, doctors, etc.

CHIEF JUSTICE DOE SUPERIOR COURT, N.H.

See accompanying photograph, Chief Justice Charles Doe was born April 11, 1830 in Derry, N.H. Early in his childhood the family returned to their former residence in Somersworth (now Rollinsford), N.H., taking up abode in the old homestead of the Ricker family; a house built in 1796 as an old-time inn by Ebenezer Ricker.

After graduation from Dartmouth College in 1849, Charles Doe entered the office of Daniel M. Christie, Dover, and began the study of law. It was a place for serious unremitting work, where the length of the day was based upon no eight-hour plan, nor its ending upon the setting of the sun.

He began the practice of law at Dover in 1854, and continued there until he was appointed to the bench.

His father was one of the old warhorses of the democracy, and the son attached himself to the same part. He continued to be a strong adherent to the Demo- cratic party unti 1859, at which time he became an active speaker for Republi- can principles.

Charles Doe was appointed an associate justice of the Supreme Judical Court Sept. 23, 1859, at age 29. After being appointed to the bench, Judge Doe took up residence at Portsmouth. He lived there until his marriage in 1865, at which time he took up residence in the house at Rollinsford where he had spent his youth.

CHANGED PRACTICES OF TRIAL LAWYERS

Judge Doe was credited with many reforms which governed the practice of trial lawyers, especially pertaining to their cross examination of witnesses, and limiting their abusive practice. In that connection the life and practices of the judge are interesting for practicing lawyers, as well as laypeople.

Chief Justice Charles Doe died March 10, 1896, on a railroad platform, prior to boarding a train to attend a meeting.

Judge Doe was buried beside his first born son in Rollinsford, N.H., on the bank of the Piscataqua, on a natural elevation covered by a growth of pines, and far away from human habitation. A large boulder, on the face of which is inscribed the one word Doe, marks his burial spot. The Doe book describes the burial spot as "a peaceful spot in which to rest for one whose life was con- stant labor."

Chief Justice and Mrs. Charles Doe had nine children...four girls and five boys.

JUDGE DISLIKED OLD COURT CUSTOM

Here is a true, humorous story about the judge and the formality of escorting him to the court. It happened at Manchester when Daniel L. Stevens, a deputy sheriff, called at the Manchester House for escort duty: "Hello, Dan, what are you here for?" Mr. Stevens: "To escort your honor to the court room." Judge Doe: "Don't bother about me, Dan. I'll be over in a little while. If folks see us together they'll say, 'what bounty jumper is Dan running in now?'" And thus the old court practice was never itself again.

MILLIONAIRE DOE DONATED LIBRARY

Charles Franklin Doe, probably without dispute, was the wealthiest of all the Does included in the book. But, with all of his ability for business and acculmulation of wealth, Charles was a very shy man...so shy that he didn't like to be photographed, and none could be found for use in the book.

However, he left the magnificent Doe library, at Berkeley, Calif., shown by the accompanying photo.

He was born August 13, 1833, in Parsonsfield, Maine, and died Jan. 16, 1904, in San Francisco. He was the son of Col. Bartlett Doe and Mary Sanborn Doe, grandson of Deacon John Doe.

After a common school education at Parsonsfield and some time at the Seminary at Drakes Corner, Effingham, just over the New Hampshire border, he began to make his own way as a school teacher. The confined life of teaching affected his health for the worst, and he moved to Boston and learned the carpenter trade.

JOINED BROTHERS IN SAN FRANCISCO

In 1857, Charles went to San Francisco and became associated with his brothers John and Bartlett in the lumber business. Later, he formed his own company, and through foresight, frugality and perseverance, accumulated millions of dollars, ranking first among San Francisco capitalists.

Two years before his death in 1904, he drew up his will, leaving to the Uni- versity of California, 24 percent of his property..."in trust to be used in the construction and erection of a library building for its Academic Depart- ment, and the surplus not used, to be invested by the Regents, and the income, revenue and profit thereof to be used for purchase of books."

The bronze tablet on the library, naming doe as the donor of the building, was seen by Mrs. Carl Carson, Fostoria, who was a Doe before marriage. At the time of her visit, some alterations were being made in the building, and visitors were not allowed. When she informed the library attendants that she was part of the Doe family, she was given a tour of the facilities, which she described as beautiful.

Charles Franklin Doe never married. He built a house at the corner of Cali- fornia and Laguna Streets in San Francisco, where his niece, Mrs. Martha A. Swain kept house for him. The story of his somewhat secluded life, habits, likes and dislikes is a story in itself if there was space for it.

Since Doe the philanthropist left no photo of himself, the accompanying photo is of his father, Col. Bartlett Doe, for whom a biography will be presented in next week's article. (To Be Continued)

Top of page

 

 

Hosted by Noguska Computer Center Serving Fostoria's computer needs since 1973!

 

[Top]