My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. DOUGHERTY, ex-sheriff Of Cumberland county, residing at Mechanicsburg, Pa., is one of the representative men of that city, and is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in York county, Aug. 5, 1840, a son of George Dougherty, whose father was born in Ireland.

George Dougherty was born in Adams county, in 1799. In 1826 he married Mary Ann Stallsmith, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish extraction, who died in 1898, at an advanced age.

William H. Dougherty was brought by his parents to Cumberland county when he was thirteen years of age, and he attended school at Shepherdstown. Leaving school in his sixteenth year, he began to learn the carpenter’s trade, and upon completing his term of apprenticeship, he traveled about, working as journeyman, and assisted in the construction of many of the buildings in the vicinity of Shiremanstown, and Mechanicsburg, including churches, schoolhouses and residences, and he built the First National Bank building and also the high school building of Mechanicsburg. He continued building and contracting until 1901, when he was nominated by the Democratic party as candidate for the office of sheriff, and was elected by a handsome majority. During his term of service, he made an excellent officer, and justified the confidence his party placed in him. His term expired Jan. 1, 1904.

In 1865, Mr. Dougherty married Miss Sarah Ann Maust, of Shepherdstown, a native of Cumberland county, and a daughter of Daniel Maust, a tailor by trade. After marriage, Mr. Dougherty located in Bowmansdale, residing there until 18S5, when he removed to Mechanicsburg, where he continued his business as builder and contractor. Mr. Dougherty is a member of the Knights of Malta. He is a prominent Democrat, and has always taken an active part in local, county and state politics, and often is sent as delegate to the various conventions. He is a man who is very popular personally, and wields a strong influence in his party.

On Nov. 16, 1869, a son, M. M. Dougherty, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty, now Dr. M. M. Dougherty. After reading medicine with J. H. Boyer, of Mechanicsburg, Dr. Dougherty entered Jefferson Medical College of Pennsylvania, and was graduated in the class of 1891. He is now located at Mechanicsburg, and is actively engaged in a successful practice. He is a member of the Cumberland County Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association. In 1893, Dr. Dougherty married Miss Gertrude Ritter, of Philadelphia, a daughter of John H. Ritter, a prominent citizen of Philadelphia. Two sons were born of this marriage, William R. and Fillmore Maust.