My Genealogy Hound

JOHN Y. DOAK, the subject of this brief sketch, is a representative farmer of Republican City, Harlan county, is a native of Scotland and a descendant of Scotch ancestry from time immemorial. He is one of a family of ten childern born to William and Mary (Young) Doak, of whom only six are now living, these being three sons and three daughters. The father is living, he and his sons being residents of Nebraska, while the daughters are married and settled in the old country. The mother died December 31, 1870.

The subject of this notice was born near the town of Bath, in Ayrshire, November 21, 1848. He was reared in his native place, growing up on his father’s farm and receiving in his youth a good education and being trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to his country and calling. After the death of his mother and the marriage of his sisters, the family became broken up, and the old home losing many of its attractions for him, he decided to leave his native place and seek his fortune in the new world. He came to America in November, 1878, or rather in December, taking sail from Scotland November 29th. He made his first stop in this country at New Orleans; but remained there only a short time, going thence to San Antonio, Tex., at which place and in that vicinity he remained for about two and a half years, engased at work on the railroad. Returning East a short distance, he stopped in Alabama about six months, where he also worked on the railroad. He then came to Nebraska, and, purchasing a farm in the Republican valley a year after he arrived, he settled on it and went to farming. He has continued farming since. His place lies about a mile and a half east of Republican City in Harlan county, and under his intelligent supervision has become one of the handsomest little places in that locality. When he took it there was only about ten acres of breaking done on it and no improvements had been made. He has put the entire place under fence, has eighty acres cultivated and well stocked, and has erected comfortable buildings. Mr. Doak is a steady-going man, attends strictly to his own business, is industrious and economical, and everything on his place gives evidence of intelligent management. He has taken much interest in the affairs of his community, being foremost in advocating all measures for the general prosperity and public good, and has served as road supervisor in his township and as director of his school district. He has no children himself, being unmarried; but he exhibits much interest in education notwithstanding, believing that public virtue lies in public intelligence. He has never dabbled any in politics, being content to follow the even tenor of his way, finding therein his greatest pleasure as well as highest reward. He votes the democratic ticket and usually stands squarely for the men and measures of his party. Having been reared in the Presbyterian church, he adheres to the faith of his fathers, exhibiting in his daily walk and conversation the practical value of those great truths which he at the foundation of all religion, regardless of sects.

Personally, Mr. Doak is pleasant. He is kind and accommodating, a good neighbor and a splendid citizen. The people of his township are proud of him, as they have every reason to be.