Page:One of a thousand.djvu/197

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DOTEN. DOTEN. 183 Entering the ministry in 1847, he has never wavered in his allegiance to his chosen vocation. He has filled some of the most important appointments in the various conferences in which he has labored, and the leading cities of the State have been favored with his ministration. He served three terms of four years each as presiding elder in the Worcester, North Boston and Lynn districts ; has been active in the advanced temperance and prohibition movements, holding the position of chairman of the Massachu- setts constitutional prohibitory amendment committee, and president of the national league for the suppression of the liquor traffic. Besides his numerous review and news- paper articles, he is the author of " Con- cessions of Liberalists to Orthodoxy," " Problem of Religious Progress," '■ The Liquor Problem in All Ages," "The Why of Methodism," " Christianity in the Uni- ted States, from the First Settlement down to the Present Time," "Romanism versus the Public School System," " History of the First M. E. Church in Lowell," " Giving and Worship," " Latest Drink Sophistries versus Total Abstinence," " Non-partisan- ship in Temperance Effort," and "The In- dictment of the Drink Traffic." The latest tribute to the recognized ability and moral standing of Dr. Dor- chester is his recent unsolicited appoint- ment, by President Harrison, as superin- tendent of Indian schools. This is a very important office, affecting the education of all the uncivilized tribes. DOTEN, Charles Carroll, son of Samuel and Rebecca (Bradford) Doten, was born in Plymouth, Plymouth county, April 9, 1S33, and is a descendant in the seventh generation on his mother's side from William Bradford, the Pilgrim governor of Plymouth Colony. His early education was obtained in the common schools and high school of his native town. He gave his special atten- tion to the higher mathematics, and studied surveying, becoming in time a practical engineer. At this profession he worked for a time with Swan & Straw, Lowell, and afterwards in Plymouth. In 1857 he was engaged for a season surveying in Minnesota. In 1858 he took charge as manager of the telegraph office, Plymouth, in connection with a book store, being thus engaged for fourteen years. In April, 1872, he sold out this business and formed a partnership with W. W. Avery, in the job printing and publishing business, issuing the "Old Colony Sentinel" news- paper. In July of the same year the linn purchased the "Old Colony Memorial" newspaper, consolidating the " Sentinel with it, and since that time he has held the position of editor and business manager of the " Memorial." Mr. Doten was married in Boston, June 19, i860, to Mary A., daughter of Thomas 11. and Bethiah (Churchill) Bartlett. Of this union were six children : Charles Monroe, Mary Carroll (deceased), May Carroll (deceased), Lizzie Francis, Mabel Willard and Alfred Russell Doten. Mr. Doten represented his town in the General Court two years, 1865 and '66, but has otherwise declined all civic and politi- cal honors, preferring to give attention to his private business. He is a prominent Mason and Odd Fel- low, and a member of other fraternal and benevolent societies, in all of which he has been honored by offices of trust. He is a trustee of the Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank and of the Pilgrim Society, and is also active in literary and historical associations. Mr. Doten was commanding the Standish Guards, 3d regiment, Massachusetts volun- teer militia, as 1st lieutenant at the break- ing out of the rebellion. He had been on the rolls for nine years previous to this time. In response to Governor Andrew's "Order No. 4," issued in January, 1861, his company was put in condition and reported ready for immediate duty in case of war. As telegraph manager, he received the first news of the call for troops April 15, 1861, and instantly declared his inten- tion "to go if not another man left Plym- outh," and at three o'clock A. M., April 1 6th, having received orders to move, he reported his command in Boston the same morning. He was made captain of the company and served with the 3d regi- ment, "Minute Men of 1861," during the three months' campaign at Fortress Mon- roe and Hampton, Va., and took part in the destruction of Norfolk navy-yard the night of April 20, 186 1. His company was the first that went to the war from Plym- outh, promptly responding, without ques- tion, and from motives of patriotism alone. He afterwards served as captain in the 38th Massachusetts regiment in Louisiana, and received commendation from superior offi- cers " for courage and coolness in action and care for the welfare of the men under his command." Captain Doten is a member of Colling- wood Post 76, G. A. R., of Plymouth.