Daniel Doolen Jr.

Elizabeth Mahon

Daniel Doolen Jr. was born 13 May 1812, in Kentucky. He came to Marion County Illinois around 1830 with his mother Mary, and brothers Jesse and William, after the death of his father.

Elizabeth Mahon was born 28 May 1817. She was the daughter of Isham Mahon and Dolly Lansford, who lived in Virginia, and moved to Illinois about 1830.

Daniel Doolen Jr. and Elizabeth Mahon were married 1 August 1836. They had thirteen children, all born on the farm in Section 11, Foster Township, near the north fork:

Martha b. 13 August 1837 d. 13 July 1913

Dolly b. 10 February 1839 d. 10 October 1923

Lucinda b. 26 January 1841 d. 27 May 1911

Benjamin b. 23 February 1843 d. 1 March 1926

m. Laura Jones 9-30-1860

John W. b. 21 February 1845 d. 9 December 1916

m. Martha Robb

Mary b. 3 November 1847 d. 21 October 1934

m. Andrew J. Foster

George b. 26 January 1850 d. 6 July 1881

Susan b. 22 May 1852 d. 17 February 1925

James Daniel b. 3 September 1854 d. 11 October 1854

Fannie b. 29 September 1855 d. 20 May 1940

Isham W. b. 20 March 1858 d. 2 February 1936

m. Rose E. Jones

Emily b. 19 January 1861 d. 17 April 1866

Clara W. b. 22 December 1865 d. 30 August 1929

Daniel Doolen Jr. was an extensive farmer and stockman, was an auctioneer, and served as Justice of the Peace for several years. He was an Associate Judge of the County Court of Marion County from 1861 to 1865. He was a private in Captain John Dement's company of the Odd Battalion of Spies, Brigade of Mounted Volunteers of Illinois Militia, commanded by General Samuel Whitesides during the Black Hawk War. He ran for constable of Fayette County in 1836. The 1840 census shows the name spelled Doolen for the first time. In 1845 he was commissioned " to locate a state road commencing at the Bluffs two miles east of Vandalia... to intersect with the road leading from Fairfield to McLeansboro.

Daniel's brother Jesse settled in the same area about the same time, and was also a prominent farmer of the time. He was also a well known Methodist preacher. Another brother, William, put up a house in Fosterburg, and had a general store the same year Fosterburg was laid out in 1854. Both of them had many descendants who lived in Marion County. There is a second Doolen Cemetery in Foster Township, where Jesse's family is buried.

Daniel Doolen Jr. died 7 September 1877, and is buried at the Doolen Cemetery. Elizabeth died 17 April 1889, and is buried beside her husband.