DORAN, PATRICK, a retired farmer living at 801 South Twelfth Street, Springfield, Ill., was an early settler of Effingham County, Ill., locating on ninety acres of land in West Township, a few miles south of Altamont, where he lived until he retired from active life. Mr. Doran was born in County Wexford, Ireland, about 1834, a son of Owen Doran, a small farmer in Ireland, where he died. Owen Doran married Margaret Dwyer, who also died in Ireland, and they had children as follows: Winnie, Mrs. Martin Doyle, of Chicago; Margaret died unmarried; Patrick; Owen, who emigrated to the United States, served in the Civil War in an Illinois Regiment and died in Philadelphia; James, a deep-sea sailor; Margaret, married Henry Carter, of Chicago.

Patrick Doran received but a meager education and began working when still a boy. He remained on his father's farm until he came to the United States at the age of sixteen years. He sailed from Liverpool and landed in New York, having spent nine weeks on the ocean. The vessel lost her masts and was nearly wrecked. Mr. Doran joined a sister in Philadelphia and found work among the Quaker farmers of the vicinity, spending about four years in this occupation, then went west and worked summers at farming near Springfield, Ill., going south during the winters and working for the planters there.

Mr. Doran was married in Springfield, about 1855, to Miss Catherine Kavanaugh, who was born in Washington, D.C., about 1834, daughter of Morgan Kavanaugh. Mr. Kavanaugh came to the Untied States from County Wexford, ireland, and worked on the old National Road and on the first State House of Illinois, he and a Scotchman cutting stone for this building. Mr. Kavanaugh was a brick layer and stone cutter by trade, but died on a farm in Effingham County. He married Margaret Conners, who also died in Effingham County.

Soon after their marriage Mr. Doran and his wife moved to her father's farm in West Township, which he conducted until he retired. He was an able and successful farmer and owns his residence and another house on Jackson Street, Springfield. He and his wife belong to the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, to the erection of whose building Mr. Doran contributed liberally. He is a Democrat in politics and is actively interested in public affairs. He is ready to forward any movement for the general good of his community and is a useful, patriotic citizen. Children as follows were born to him and his wife: Margaret, widow of John Brennan, of Springfield; Winnifred married James White of Springfield; William, of Springfield, married Annie McNally; John, of Springfield, married Katy Corrigan; Annie married William Lee, of Chicago; Patrick Henry, of St. Louis, married Lottie Jennings.