Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 685.

JOHN DOUGHERTY, dealer in hay and lumber at Bluffton, is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born on a farm near Greenville March 17, 1849. His parents, William and Margaret (Studabaker) Dougherty, had a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, he being the third son. He was reared to agricultural pursuits on his fatherÂ’s farm, and was educated in the common schools of his neighborhood, which he attended during the winter terms until reaching the age of sixteen years, after which he taught school for five months. In December, 1868, he came to Wells County, and found employment on the farm of D. D. Studabaker until September, 1869. He then entered the store of James Kain, of Bluffton, as clerk. In May, 1870, he was engaged as bookkeeper by the manufacturing firm of Linn & Studabaker, and in the fall of 1871 he became associated with James Crosbie, B. F. Willy David Drummond, and was engaged in pork packing, and buying and shipping grain and live stock, under the firm name of Crosbie, Willy & Co., until September, 1872, when the business was discontinued. He then with others engaged in the produce business, and later engaged in the livery business at Bluffton, which he carried on until 1874. In that year he began dealing in lumber at Bluffton with Calvin Whitney, with whom he was associated under the firm name of Whitney & Dougherty, until November, 1883, when the firm name was changed to John Dougherty & Co. Mr. Dougherty has been twice married. September 27, 1871, he married Mattie E. Best, who lived near Huntington, Indiana. She died at Minneapolis, Minnesota, while on a visit, September 10, 1877, leaving a son named Charles B., who was born at Bluffton, October 2, 1872. Mr. Dougherty was again married December 15, 1880, to Dora E. Owen, a daughter of Seymour and Dollie (Gilson) Owen, of Norwalk, Ohio. This union has been blessed with one child, Owen Gilson, who was born at Bluffton, December 29, 1886. They have an adopted daughter named Maud Cecil Irvin, who has lived with them since February, 1882, being at that time four years of age. Mr. Dougherty is a member of the Methodist church, as was also his first wife. His present wife is a member of the Episcopal church of Norwalk, Ohio.