Biography - William N. Doles

WILLIAM N. DOLES was born in Bossier Parish, La., forty-three years ago on June 9, to Willis D. and Mary P. (Shaw) Doles, the former a Virginian by birth, and the latter a native of Louisiana, their marriage taking place in the latter State, the father having come here in 1840, when a young man. He has always been a planter, is a Democrat, politically, and served in the Creek War in Georgia and Florida. On coming to Bossier Parish, he was one of the ﬁrst permanent settlers, and for some time had charge of the Cottage Grove plantation. Although eighty years of age, he is yet quite hale and hearty. The subject of this sketch is one of their ﬁve children, and his education was obtained in the schools of Bossier and Clarksville, Tex., but after remaining there for two sessions he left school to join the Confederate army and for ﬁfteen months served in 001. Bird’s battalion, First Mississippi Cavalry, and did courier service most of the time. He was paroled at Shreveport, June 8, 1865, after which be engaged in the mercantile business near Dixie, remaining there four years, when he went to Lafayette County, Ark., and was engaged in farming ﬁve years. He then returned to Bossier Parish and purchased eighty acres of land, on which he has since resided. He has taught school nearly every year since 1885, and is considered an excellent educator and a good disciplinarian. In January, 1889, he received the appointment of Tax assessor of Bossier Parish, and has successfully ﬁlled the same up to the present time. He was married, in April, 1868, to Miss M. F. McLeigh, of this parish, and by her is the father of six children: E. M. (aged nineteen), August L. (aged seventeen), Mamie E. (aged fourteen), Carrie Belle (aged twelve), Lillian M. (aged ten) and William N., Jr. (aged eight). Mr. Doles and his wife are Presbyterians, and he belongs to the following social organizations: A. F. & A. M., K. of P. and the Farmers’ Alliance. He has always voted the straight Democratic ticket, and is a believer in tariff and revenue reform.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, page 132.