THOMAS DOOL, a substantial farmer of Valley Township is the son of Robert Dool who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and was of sterling Scotch-Irish descent. He was the son of Henry Dool, who came from Scotland and settled on a farm in Ireland and was the father of five children: John, Henry, Robert and Martha. Robert came to America when a young married man in 1817; his name was spelled Doole. He was married to Margaret Spears a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and they were parents of eight children: William S., Henry and Hannah (twins), Rosean, Margaret, Mary, John and Thomas. The first three were born in Ireland, and Rosean was born on the ocean in an English ship sailing under American colors for safety in French waters; so it is said that she did not know her nationality. The remainder of the children were born in America. John Spears also

came to America in 1821, bringing his wife, nee May Hannah, and four children: Robert, May, Hannah, Margaret. The father came to Ohio where he was among the early pioneers of Guernsey County and where he lived until 1831. He was a member of the old Seceder Presbyterian Church and was an honorable man. Mr. Dool landed in Philadelphia, and went directly to Ohio, settling in Harris county where he was a pioneer. He lived only to the age of thirty-nine years, dying of canal fever in 1829. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a man who loved his family, which tempted him to risk life and health in the struggle with the wilderness in order to better their condition.

Mrs. Dool was left with a family of small children to whom she taught industry and honesty, which is always learned at the mother's knee. In 1859 she came to Illinois with her son John, where she died at the age of ninety years. She was born in 1792 and died in 1882. She was a lady of strong character and hardy constitution and strove to teacher her children, all of whom became good citizens; one son, William S., a Presbyterian minister, followed that profession in Ohio and Illinois for many years.

Thomas Dool, our subject, was born on his father's farm in Harrison County, Ohio, July 26, 1828, and like many of our famous men, had little chance to attend school, and after eleven years of age did not attend school at all. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for eleven years. In March 1862 he went to Mercer County, Illinois where he remained eleven years. In 1873 he came to Pottawattamie County, settling on his present farm of eighty acres, but which he has since improved and converted into a fine farm of 160 acres, on which is a new and commodious residence and many other improvements. He is respected by his fellow citizens, and takes an active interest in the cause of education, having served as Justice of the Peace and as school director. He has made his property by hard labor and is truly a self made man.

Mr. Dool was married in Harrison County, Ohio to Mary Bell, daughter of John and Margaret (Clifford) Bell. The father was an Irishman by birth and came to America in 1841 settling on a farm in Harrison County. He was the father of ten children, viz.: Mary, Benjamin, Esther, Samuel (deceased in his second year), John, George, Edward, James, Margaret A. and Jane. Benjamin was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting at the beginning and was in several battles. He died in June 1862 from typhoid fever. The father removed to his farm in Mercer County, Illinois in 1864 where he is still living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dool have been born four children: Henry E. (deceased at the age of twenty-six); William J., who was born in 1859; Margaret J. and Mary E. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dool are members of the Presbyterian Church in which Mr. Dool has been an elder for many years. He assisted in organizing the Knox Presbyterian Church and with Robert Martin was elected Elder.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini