John Dollard (1853-1943)

Thanks to a reader’s query last week our post concerned James Heffernan (1825-1891) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore who emigrated, married, raised a family, farmed and died in Glenmore, Brown County, Wisconsin. We wondered if James named Glenmore, Wisconsin after his native parish in Co. Kilkenny. Happily, this query stirred the curiosity of Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, the Local History Specialist, of the Brown County Library who found the answer and identified other Glenmore emigrants. Special thanks to Jeff Gilderson-Duwe for going the extra mile!

The library has an unpublished manuscript concerning the origins of Brown County place names. In this manuscript Mr. Gilderson-Duwe found the following statement, “The name [Glenmore] was given by John Dollard of De Pere, County Supervisor, for a place near his birthplace in Ireland.”

Mr. Gilderson-Duwe also provided a biographical sketch of John Dollard from an 1885 Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley Counties of Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago [Wisconsin]: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families (J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago). With that title it had to be a heavy tome and best seller. The biographical sketch of John Dollard is found on pages 373 and 374 as follows, the sub-titles below are not in the original text:

Emigration to the Wisconsin Wilderness

Patrick E. and John Dollard, well known progressive farmers of De Pere township, Brown County, were born on the farm where they yet make their home, the former in August 1851, the later in August 1854.

Their father, John Dollard, was born June 5, 1801, in County Kilkenny, Ireland, where he married Bridget Heffernan, and while in Ireland two children were born to them, viz,: Kate, now the wife of Joseph Whalen, postmaster at South Milwaukee, Wis., and Ellen, Mrs. Michael Murray, of St. Paul, Minn. About 1850 John Dollard set out with his family, for America, and sailing from Waterford, landed at Quebec after a long voyage. His brother Patrick was a priest in Kingston, Canada, and there the family remained while John proceeded farther west, seeking a home for them.

After journeying over the State of Michigan, he crossed Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wis., and thence came on foot to Green Bay, a distance of thirty-five miles, through the wood, during which trip he met the first wolves he had ever seen, and other wild animals were also numerous. The only road was the one over which the United States mail was carried, and frequently there was nothing to guide him and point out the way except blazed trees. After looking over the land around Green Bay, Mr. Dollard selected a tract of 160 acres, in Section 31, De Pere Township, Brown County, for which he paid five hundred dollars. [From this biography it appears that John Dollard travelled alone, yet we believe that his brother-in-law James Heffernan (1825-1891) also came to the area circa 1850.]

Taming the Wisconsin Wilderness

The place was uncleared and totally unimproved, and Mr. Dollard made a few rude preparations for his family before returning to Canada and bringing them to their new home in the midst of the forest. The first cabin stood about twenty rods from the spot where the present substantial brick residence was built in 1885.

The father commenced the work of clearing the farm, an arduous task, and more especially so as during the first year he had no beasts of burden, and he hauled 100,000 feet of lumber to a point on East river, with a hired team of cattle, before he became the owner of a pair of oxen. The first crops raised on the farm consisted of oats and potatoes, and for some time their only farming implement was a hoe. On this place, Mr. Dollard passed the remainder of his life, dying January 30, 1888; he was buried in De Pere cemetery.

Civic Roles

In his political affiliations he was a staunch Democrat, and he held almost every office in the gift of the township. He was chairman of the township, and, of the county board; was the first township superintendent of schools elected under the new school laws, and continued to hold the office until it was abolished, being thus the only man to serve in that position in De Pere township. In whatever capacity he acted, his service was ever marked by the highest ability and integrity and satisfactory discharge of his duties.

He was a self-made man in the strictest sense, having won abundant success from a small beginning, by hard work and energy and application to his business. In his early life he had received a thorough education attending school until he was twenty-four years old, and few, if any, farmers of his time and section were his equals in this respect. From the time of his settlement he resided continually on the same farm, and saw it transformed from a wilderness abounding with wild animals to the fertile and productive tract it now is, taking, also, an active and prominent part in every movement of interest or benefit to his township generally, and was always ready and willing to assist any worthy enterprise.

Popular Settler

He was widely and favourably known all over the county, and had considerable influence in his community, his advice being sought on many questions. He also took a leading interest in Church matters, and was treasurer and trustee of St. Francis Catholic Church, of which he and his wife were both members. Mrs. Dollard survived her husband until April 22, 1891, when she was laid to rest by his side in De Pere cemetery. [It is not clear how a publication published in 1888 recorded an 1891 death].

Patrick E. and John Dollard were reared on the home farm, and received an education in the common schools of the home district. They have always remained on the homestead, which they now own, and where they carry on a general farming and stock raising business, in connection with the latter branch being extensive breeders of sheep. In their political affiliations they follow in the footsteps of their father, manifesting great interest in the welfare of the Democratic party, but having no aspirations for office, as they devote their time exclusively to the farm. They are systematic, industrious and prosperous agriculturalists, and quiet, unassuming men. Both are unmarried.

Glenmore Parish Records

John Dollard of Rochestown, Glenmore, married Bridget Heffernan, of Aylwardstown, Glenmore , on 15 February 1840. The witnesses were John Forestal and Mary Delaney. The marriage does not provide the names of the fathers of the bride and groom. From the year of birth recorded on the marker in De Pere, Wisconsin, Bridget was born in 1811. It is recorded in the Slieverue/Glenmore Parish records that Bridget Hefrin (sic) was baptized 7 July 1811 at Aylverstown (sic), Glenmore, daughter of James Hefrin (sic) and Mary Delaney. Her sponsors were Joane Strange and Honor Delany. [We know that her brother James Heffernan was born in 1825 and his father’s name was listed as John and his mother was Mary Delaney].

Children of John Dollard and Bridget Dollard née Heffernan born in Ireland

[1] Catherine Dollard , bapt. 27 June 1842 at Roachistown (sic) daughter of John Dollard and Bridget Heffernan. Sponsors: Richard Viracre [Vereker] and Alice Irish.

[2] Mary Dollard, bapt. 26 June 1845 at Rochestown, Glenmore daughter of John Dollard and Bridget Hefernan. Sponsors Patrick Heffernan and Ellen Murphy. [This child was not mentioned in the 1886 biography.]

[3] Ellen Dollard, bapt. 12 Nov. 1846, at Rochestown, daughter of John Dollard and Bridget Heffernan. Sponsors: James Forestal and Jude Heffernan.

[4] Patrick Dollard, bapt. 1 Feb. 1850 at Roachestown (sic), son of John Dollard and Bridget Heifernan. Sponsors: John Murphy and Mary Heifernan. [This child has a different year of birth than Patrick E. Dollard who was said to have been born in August 1851 on the Wisconsin farm. However, an obituary in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (2 Oct. 1925) records that Patrick was born in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland]. Patrick Dollard never married.

John & Patrick Dollards Parents?

Unfortunately, it is not clear from the surviving parish records who were the parents of John Dollard (5 June 1801-20 Jan. 1888) and his brother Rev. Patrick Dollard (1 March 1804- 12 Feb. 1868). We are awaiting further information from Ontario regarding the Very Rev. Patrick Dollard which we hope to be able to publish soon. It also seems apparent that if John Dollard was in education until the age of 24 he was most likely being trained to become a priest. How or why he left his education in 1825 is not apparent. It is also interesting that of the four Dollard children born in Glenmore during the Famine none of their sponsors were Dollard’s.

In terms of Rochestown records, we found that in the Tithe Applotment Books (1829) Edward Dollard farmed 36 acres. He was the only Dollard recorded in Rochestown. Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864) also only records one Dollard in Rochestown, John Dollard, who leased a house, offices and 34 acres from Landlord Conn. The buildings were valued at £3 15s.

Per the biographical sketch it was stated that John Dollard stayed in education until he was 24. If his year of birth was 1801 he was in education until 1825, and he was about 50 when he began clearing his farm in Wisconsin. He and his wife named their eldest child Patrick which traditionally the eldest male child was named after the paternal grandfather. Hopefully, the records of the Very Rev. Patrick Dollard may shed some light on their parents.

Dollard Markers

Unfortunately, I was not able to find an obituary for John Dollard (5 June 1801-20 Jan. 1888). John Dollard is buried in Mount Olive Catholic Cemetery, De Pere, Brown County, Wisconsin. See, Find a Grave to view his marker .

I did locate a death notice for Bridget Dollard, née Heffernan. Green Bay Press-Gazette, (Fri. 24 April 1891, p. 3)—The funeral of Mrs. J. Dollard, of the town of De Pere, took place this morning, at De Pere. She was 80 years of age. Bridget Dollard née Heffernan (bapt. 7 July 1811-22 April 1891) is buried beside her husband in the Mount Olive Catholic Cemetery. See Find a Grave .

Katherine Marie Whalen née Dollard (1844-1928) died and is buried in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Katherine married Joseph Whalen (1844-1928) in 1869. The couple had at least four children. See, Find a Grave .

Ellen Alice Murray née Dollard (1846-1924) married Michael Norbert Murray (1840-1886) in 1871 in Brown County, Wisconsin. The couple had at least six children. Ellen died in Los Angelos and is buried in St. Paul Minnesota. See, Find a Grave.

Patrick E. Dollard (1850-1925) was born in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny and was taken to Wisconsin as an infant. He farmed with his brother John and never married.

John Dollard (1853-1943) never married and outlived all of his siblings. He was the only sibling born in Wisconsin. When he gave up farming he lived with two nieces Mrs. M.E. Harty and Miss Stella Whalen in South Milwaukee. He is buried in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery of De Pere Brown, County, Wisconsin. See, Find a Grave .

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Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com

The feature photo above is an old postcard from before 1900 depicting a business area on Broadway in De Pere with the Fox River visible behind the buildings.

An unusual fact that surfaced during research…author Stephen King lived in De Pere, Wisconsin for three years when he was a child.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh