Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel F. DOTTERER (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 290-3. "NATHANIEL F. DOTTERER, a prosperous farmer residing near Pottstown, who for some years has been serving as justice of the peace in North Coventry township, and is a valuable and highly esteemed citizen of Chester county, is the eldest son of Michael and Caroline (Fegley) Dotterer, and was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1839. He was reared on his father's farm, where he early became accustomed to hard work, and learned those habits of industry, frugality and honesty that lie at the base of all honorable success in life. His education was received in the common schools of his neighborhood, and after leaving school he learned the trade of millwright, and followed that occupation about three years, when he for five years following worked at the carpen- ter trade during the summer seasons and teaching public school during the winter - teaching two terms in Frederick township, Montgomery county, and three terms in Chester county. In 1862 he entered the employ of the Phil- adelphia & Reading Railroad Company as a carpenter, and in 1865 was pro- moted to the position of assistant to the superintendent of their shops at Pottstown. Later he was given charge of the railway trains and engines, and the machine shop at Pottstown, on the main line division of that road, and also at the same time served as shipping clerk, having charge of the roadway materials which were principally all distributed from Pottstown by trains for the main line and all branches operated by the company until 1878, at which time the work shops, train department and material yards were vacated at Pottstown, moved to Reading, taken in charge of and oper- ated by the Transportation department. During 1883 and 1884 he had charge of the laying of tracks on the Shamokin, Sunbury & Lewisburg railroad - a line of thirty-two miles in length, and running from Shamokin to West Milton; also the building of new side-tracks at Williamsport and at New- berry - improvements made to facilitate and improve the anthracite coal trade westward, and which are operated by the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- road Company. He was afterward employed for some time as supervisor of the Port Richmond wharves of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, at Philadelphia but resigned during the labor troubles of 1887, and in 1887 purchased a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres of valuable land in North Coventry township, since which time he has devoted his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits, and has been very successful. "On April 25th, 1860, Mr. Dotterer was united in marriage with Caroline L. Rudy, a daughter of Jacob Rudy, then residing in Frederick township, Montgomery county, this State, though a native of Switzerland. To Mr. and Mrs. Dotterer has been born a family of five children, one son and four daughters: Alice, Florence, Edgar, Laura and Emma. The latter two are twins. The second daughter, Florence, died October 15, 1865, aged 7 weeks, and the other children are all living at home with their parents on the farm. "Politically Squire Dotterer has always been a republican, but is inclined toward independence in politics. He has served one term as school direc- tor of his township, and in the autumn of 1889 was elected to the respon- sible position of justice of the peace, the duties of which office he is now discharging with ability and a justice that gives general satisfaction. Squire Dotterer is a member of Stichter Lodge, No. 254, Free and Accepted Masons, at Pottstown, of which he is past master. "Squire Dotterer's paternal grandfather was Conrad Dotterer, a native of Montgomery county, this State, where he lived all his life, and died in 1827, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a millwright by trade, and also engaged to some extent in agriculture. Politically he was a democrat, and in religious faith an adherent of the German Reformed church. He was married to Catharine Younkin, by whom he had six children. "Michael Dotterer (father) was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county, this State, June 18, 1811, and was a resident of that township until 1858, when he came to Chester county and settled in East Coventry township. Later he removed to North Coventry township, where he now resides with his son, the subject of this sketch. He has always been engaged in the cultivation of the soil, is a democrat in his political belief, and following the religious traditions of his ancestors is a believer in the faith of the German Reformed church. In 1837 he married Caroline Fegley, of New Hanover township, Montgomery county. She died January 25, 1887, in her seventieth year. To them was born a family of six sons and daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. The others are: Sophia, who married Moses M. Grubb; Catharine, who wedded Joshua Frederick; Benjamin, deceased; Milton, and Catharine, who married Joseph Engall. "The following genealogy of the family was compiled and furnished by N. F. Dotterer: "First generation: George Philip Dotterer, Veronica (maiden name unknown), his wife; George Philip Dotterer died in Frederick township, Montgomery county, Nov. 6th, 1741; Veronica Dotterer died before December 9, 1752; they were born in Europe - where we know not; do not know when they arrived in Pennsylvania, but think in 1722 - certainly not later. Children: Michael Dotterer, born in Europe in spring of 1698; Bernhard Dotterer, died in New Hanover township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, between January 20, 1758 and April 12, 1758; Anna Elizabeth Dotterer, married (first) Michael Zimmerman, married (second) Jacob Korr; Heironimus Dotterer, died in Falkner Swamp, in November, 1727; Barbara Dotterer, married Jacob Markley; Conrad Dotterer, born in September, 1712, died in Frederick township, in January, 1801. "Second generation: Michael Dotterer, born in Europe, in spring of 1698; died in Frederick township, April 7, 1786; aged 87 years, 11 months, and several days; Anna Maria (Fisher) Dotterer, his wife. Children: Anna Sophia Dotterer, born March 5, 1726; Anna Veronica Dotterer, born Septem- ber 5, 1727; George Philip Dotterer, born August 30, 1729; John Conrad Dotterer, born May 10, 1731; Maria Margaretta Dotterer, born June 27, 1733; John Michael Dotterer, born October 31, 1735; John Jacob Dotterer, born July 4, 1737; A son (no name), born January 22, 1739; Johannes and _____ twins, born November 18, 1741; Anna Maria Dotterer, born January 4, 1745. "Third generation: John Michael Dotterer, born October 31, 1735; died in Frederick township, March 12, 1811; first wife, Anna (Reiff) Dotterer, born in 1740; died January 30, 1766; second wife, Catherine (Reiff) Dotterer (sister to foregoing Anna Reiff), born February 11, 1745; died November 16, 1820. Children by first wife: Philippina Dotterer, born June 22, 1761; Philip Dotterer, born July 17, 1763; Peter Dotterer, born _____; Michael Dotterer, born January 30, 1766. Children by second wife: John Dotterer, born _____; died June 25, 1836; Conrad Dotterer, born April 9, 1769; Anna Maria Dotterer, born May 11, 1773; Catharine Dotterer, born August 6, 1778. "Fourth generation: Conrad Dotterer, born April 9, 1769; born, lived and died in Frederick township; died September 29, 1827; wife, Catharine (Younkin) Dotterer, born in Buck's county, August 25, 1777; died in Fred- erick township, September 16, 1840. Children: John Dotterer, born _____; died _____; Samuel Dotterer, born September 2, 1801; died February 21, 1854; Eliza Dotterer, born August 18, 1805; died February 19, 1867; Philip Dotterer, born August 4, 1809, died July 21, 1884; Michael Dotterer, (father of subject) born June 18, 1811; still living; Sophia Dotterer, born December 3, 1819, died October 23, 1884."