1892 Biography - Nolan S. Dougherty

Nolan Stewart Dougherty, Baton Rouge, La., secretary of the state bureau of agriculture, was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1853, and is a son of John A. and Lucy (Stewart) Dougherty. The father was a native of New York, and moved to St. Louis when that city was only a trading post. Ramsey Crooks, the historic character of pioneer days was at that time the principal Indian trader. John A. Dougherty afterward removed to New Orleans, and for some years was engaged in mercantile pursuits. Subsequently he became a sugar planter in the parish of West Baton Rouge, and moved to East Baton Rouge city where he died in October, 1890, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Lucy S. Dougherty was born in Amite county, Miss., but was taken to Louisiana in her childhood by her father who was a sugar planter. She was the mother of seven children, Nolan Stewart being the third born. He received an elementary education at the Collegiate institute of Baton Rouge where Prof. W. H. N. Magruder was principal. The breaking out of the Civil war seriously affected his opportunities of acquiring more than an ordinary education, for when peace was finally declared it became necessary for him to turn his attention to pursuits that promised some immediate revenue and to assist in the support of his parents and the younger children of the family. He was admitted to the commission house of William Garig, the largest concern of the kind in the city. end served the interests of his employers for five years. At the end of that time he left this institution to engage in the industry of sugar planting, which was very promising. For five years he was devoted to this enterprise, and was then called home at the death of his brother to assist in the care of the family estate. Mr. Dougherty was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss Lillie McConnell, and four children have been horn to them. Mr. Dougherty has been a prominent factor in every movement which has had for its object the advance of the country. He was one of the leading spirit. in the first agricultural fair in 1887, and was elected director general of the state fair in 1888. He lives on a farm and gives his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He is a democrat and is a member of the Farmers' alliance. He is secretary of the Central Louisiana Agricultural association. Since the death of his father he has assumed control of his mother's property near the city. Ever alive to the best interests of the city, Mr. Dougherty has been actively engaged in negotiations with gentlemen representing a large capital, who are making estimates upon the erection of a central sugar factory near Baton Rouge; such an industry would be an incalculable benefit to the community, and especially to the farming element.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 2, page 382.