Charles Doty

This article is about the Wisconsin pioneer. For the U.S. presidential candidate, see Charles R. Doty.

Charles Doty (August 17, 1824 – December 17, 1918) was an American surveyor, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was one of the first American children born in what is now Wisconsin, and served in the 1st Wisconsin Legislature, representing Fond du Lac County. His father was Wisconsin Territory governor James Duane Doty.^[1]

Charles Doty
5th Village President of Menasha, Wisconsin
In office April 1861 – April 1862
Preceded by	John A. Bryan
Succeeded by	Eldredge D. Smith
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Fond du Lac 1st district
In office June 5, 1848 – January 1, 1849
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Morgan Noble
Personal details
Born	(1824-08-17)August 17, 1824 Green Bay, Michigan Territory, U.S.
Died	December 17, 1918(1918-12-17) (aged 94) Bay County, Florida, U.S.
Resting place	Greenwood Cemetery, Panama City, Florida
Political party	Whig (before 1854)
Spouse	Sarah Jane Webster ​ ​ (m. 1846; died 1893)​
Children	Webster Doty (b. 1847; died 1924) Edmond Doty (b. 1852; died 1887)
Parent	James Duane Doty (father)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers (Union Army)
Years of service	1863–1865
Rank	Captain, USV Brevet Lt. Colonel, USV
Unit	Commissary of Subsistence
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

Map of Wisconsin created by Charles Doty in 1844

Doty was born in what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin, on August 17, 1824. At the time of his birth, the area was known as "Shanty Town" and was still part of the Michigan Territory.^[2] He was a descendant of Mayflower colonist Edward Doty.^[3] He was trained to be a civil engineer and surveyor in Derry, New Hampshire.^[2] He was the son of Wisconsin territorial governor James Duane Doty and served as his father's private secretary.^[2] Doty married Sarah Jane Webster in 1846,^[2] and they had three sons.^[3] He served in the United States Army during the Civil War.^[2] After the war, Doty took inventory of supplies for the Native Americans and eventually retired to St. Andrews in Bay County, Florida, where he died.^[2][4][5]

In 1848, he served in the 1st Wisconsin Legislature^[2] as a Whig member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.^[6]