The Courier-News/1929/Joshua Doughty, Long An Engineer, 85, Passes Away

Joshua Doughty, Long An Engineer, 85, Passes Away. Somerville, New Jersey; August 19, 1929. Joshua Doughty, Jr., 85, one of the best known citizens of Somerset County, died early last evening in his home in West End avenue after an illness of several years. For the past week, his condition had been critical and the end was expected. Mr. Doughty was county engineer for many years up until 1921 when the Small Board of Freeholders organized and continued as consulting engineer for two years after that time. Mr. Doughty was a Past Master of Solomon's Lodge, 46, F. and A. M of which he had been a member 58 years: Past High Priest of Keystone Chapter 25, R.A.M. member of Somerville Lodge, 1068, B.P.O. Elks; a charter of the Bachelor Club and at the West End Hose Company at its organization in 1883, as he had been of the old Union Blue hand pumping organization which preceded it. He was also a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association and of the Somerset County Historical Society. He rendered much service to the letter organization through his wide knowledge of the history of the county and there was no one in this section of the State who knew more of the early settlement and development of this part of New Jersey. Much of the result of his research has been made a matter of historic record but with his passing much other valuable local historic information will be lost to future generations. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the home In West End avenue and will be conducted by the Rev. Ernest Pugh, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of which Mr. Doughty's father was one of the organizers. There will also be a Masonic service. Burial will be in the cemetery South Bridge street. Joshua Doughty, Jr., was born in Somerville on February 28, 1844, son of Joshua and Susan M. Southard Doughty. In the old house at the foot of Doughty avenue. The house had been built as the Dutch Reformed parsonage in 1751, with materials brought to this country from Holland. He continued to live in that house until a few years ago when it was acquired by the New Jersey Central Railroad for the elevation improvement and moved to a site in Washington place where it still stands. Mr. Doughty received his early education in the private schools of Somerville and in Rutgers College. Early in life he engaged in the drug business in Somerville and continued it for many years in conjunction with engineering. He was appointed as engineer in 1868 he assisted Caleb Morton and Caleb Brokaw in the survey of the Lottery Field, and continued as Town Engineer from that time until the creation of the borough on January1, 1909 and as Borough Engineer until February 24, 1921, a service of 53 years. He was appointed County Engineer in 1885 and served for 40 years. Mr. Doughty came of an old Somerset County family. His grandfather, Major General Solomon Doughty, was born at Doughty's Mills, three miles from Basking Ridge and moved from there to New Providence, becoming the principal engineer in Morris and Essex counties. During, the War of 1812, he was Brigade Inspector end was continued in the service of the State Militia at the close of the conflict. His father, Joshua Doughty, was born in Morris County, was employed in the dry goods business in New York City and conducted similar business enterprises in Mobile, Alabama; Apalachicola, Florida; and Franklin, Alabama. He settled in Somerville in 1836, built a store here two years later and continued in the general merchandising business until 1866. He was the founder of the Somerset County Bank and was its president for 25 years and one of the organizers of St. John's Church. He owned considerable real estate in Somerville and vicinity and was one of the first building developers of the old town. He married Susan M. Southard, daughter of Colonel Isaac Southard. There were eight children, six girls end two sons, Joshua Doughty, Jr., being the last survivor.