Davidson County TN Archives Biographies.....Dorris, Duncan Robertson 1843 - before 1913
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Author: Will T. Hale
DUNCAN ROBERTSON DORRIS. A man of broad vision, active and brainy, Duncan
Robertson Dorris, late of Nashville, achieved a large measure of success as a
newspaper man, gaining prominence in the journalistic life of his native city,
and exerting an intelligent influence in public affairs. He was born, November
13, 1843, on Capitol Hill. Nashville, a city which he always proudly claimed as
home.
His father, Dr. William D. Dorris, spent his entire life of ninety years in
Nashville, coming from honored pioneer ancestry. Fitting himself when young for
the medical profession, he was successfully engaged in the practice of his
profession for many years, being one of the leading physicians of the city. A
close student, he was the first to discover that cholera was a germ disease,
but, owing to a lack of scientific appliances, was unable to demonstrate the fact.
Completing the full course of study in the Nashville public schools, Duncan
Robertson Dorris was ambitious to further advance his knowledge in some higher
institution of learning. His father, however, having endorsed notes which he was
forced to pay, was unable to send him to college. Nothing daunted, Duncan Dorris
began work for himself by selling papers and fruit on the railway trains, in
that manner earning enough money to enable him to take a course in stenography
with Prof. J. W. Dolbear. Stenographers in those days were comparatively few,
and their services were in much demand. During the Civil war, Mr. Dorris was
employed as stenographer in the United States courts, and did service in several
cases of court-martial, receiving for his work ten dollars a day. With the money
thus earned, he entered Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio, where he continued
his studies for several months.
On his return to Nashville, Mr. Dorris embarked in journalism, becoming
reporter and writer for several Nashville papers, including the Banner, and the
Union and American. He became interested in public matters, becoming well
informed on everything pertaining to the public welfare, and was well acquainted
with the public men not only of the state, but of the nation. When "Sunset
Cox,"
congressman from New York, delivered an address in Nashville, Mr. Dorris
reported it in such a happy and satisfactory manner that he received a letter of
thanks from Mr. Cox. He also had letters of commendation from other public men,
for his work was always correct and satisfactory.
Mr. Dorris married, November 17, 1870, Mary C. Currey, who was born near
Nashville, on the Franklin road, on the farm of her father. George Washington
and Emily Donelson (Martin) Currey, of whom a brief sketch appears on another
page of this volume.
Mrs. Dorris now occupies a pleasant home on Blair boulevard, where she
extends a generous hospitality to her many friends and acquaintances. She is
descended from a long line of distinguished ancestors, notably Lieut.-Col. John
Donelson, who brought the colony that settled Nashville. She is also descended
from ministers prominent in the Presbyterian denomination, and has among her
treasures a photographic copy of the certificate of membership of her emigrant
ancestor in the Presbyterian church of Londonderry, Ireland, the paper bearing
date of 1716. Mrs. Dorris has been, a member of the Presbyterian church since
her girlhood days. She is now a teacher in the Sunday school, and an ardent
worker in the church. One of the organizers and founders of the Ladies'
Hermitage Association, Mrs. Dorris, who is a leading spirit in whatever she
undertakes, has always labored in its behalf, standing by it through all of its
vicissitudes, and materially assisting in keeping it alive, and making it 'the
successful organization that it is to-day. Mrs. Dorris is a charter member of
Cumberland Chapter, No. 61, Daughters of the American Revolution, and also of
the Woman's Historical Association, and the Housekeepers' Club, all of
Nashville, and is fond of all kinds of historic, patriotic and religious work.
Additional Comments:
From:
A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in
commerce, industry and modern activities
by Will T. Hale
Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913
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