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JAMES H. DAUGHERTY

 

James H. Daugherty is the junior partner in the firm of Churchill & Daugherty, proprietors of a livery, feed and sales stable in Bedford.  He is one of Taylor county's native sons, his birth having occurred within the borders of the county December 21, 1861.  His parents were Abner N. and Ellen (Harris) Daugherty, natives of Indiana and Tennessee respectively.  The paternal grandfather, Robert Daugherty, lived and died in Orange county, Indiana, there passing away when about eighty years of age.  He always carried on agricultural pursuits as his life work.  His wife, Mrs. Sarah Daugherty, lived to be about eighty years of age.  They had a large family, including: Warden; Gideon; John; Abner; Joseph; James; Samuel; Hannibal; and Sarah, the wife of Samuel Mahan.

 

The maternal grandfather of our subject was Shelton Harris, who with his wife removed from Tennessee to Indiana and settled in Orange county, where he died.  His wife was born in Tennessee and in her maidenhood bore the name of Lucinda Childers.  Mr. Harris died about 1840, when in middle age, and his widow afterward came to Iowa about 1856 and died in Bedford in 1884, when more than seventy years of age.  They were the parents of seven children who lived to maturity, namely: Samuel, William, Thomas, Ellen, Margaret, Elizabeth and Caroline.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Abner N. Daugherty removed from Indiana to Iowa in 1856 and settled in Taylor county, where the former purchased a farm of one hundred acres.  Subsequently he sold that property and took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Benton township.  This he improved and from time to time he made further investment in property until his landed possessions aggregated five hundred acres.  Upon the home farm he passed away in 1887 and his widow still survives and now resides in Bedford.  They were Baptists in religious faith but not identified with any church.  Mr. Daugherty served as a soldier in the Mexican war and was always loyal to the best interests of citizenship.

 

James H. Daugherty was reared on his father's farm in Taylor county and has always made his home within the borders of the county, attending the district schools in his youthful days, while the vacation periods were devoted to work in the fields.  After attaining his majority he engaged in farming for himself on the old homestead for a few years, having been appointed executor of his father's estate.  There he lived until he was married, while subsequently he removed to Bedford, where he made his home for two years.  He then returned to the farm, where he lived for four years, after which he again went to Bedford and engaged in the livery business, which he conducted alone for two years.  He then admitted William Churchill to a partnership and they not only conduct a livery business but also engage largely in the purchase and sale of horses and conduct a feed stable.  Their business is extensive and is profitably managed, intelligent direction of the owners bring to them gratifying success.

 

On the 8th of March, 1888, Mr. Daugherty married Miss Cyrena A. Rockwell (called at home "Pink"), a daughter of Robert B. and Jane (Ballou) Rockwell.  There are two children of that marriage, Clara R. and Lena G.  Mrs. Daugherty, who was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and a most estimable lady, passed away in June, 1896.  She was born in Taylor county, where her parents located at an early day.   Their family numbered six children of whom three are now living: Mary, the widow of Bert Hedley; Ruth, the wife of Edward Trotter; and Ursula, the widow of John Vosburg.

 

Mr. Daugherty belongs to Taylor Lodge, No. 156, A. F. and A. M., and also to the Eastern Star, while his political allegiance is given to the democracy.  Mr. Daugherty is now serving as sheriff of Taylor county, having been elected in November, 1908.