Among the mechanics of Nez Perces County there is none with more skill in his line, enterprise in business, good practical judgment and ability, than the subject of this brief article. Mr. Doggett now handles the first shop in size and business on the reservation, doing a general blacksmith business with all of its branches and operating half dozen men.
Sidney J. Doggett was born in Siskiyou County, California, on April 29, 1867, being the son of William C. and Jane P. (Redman) Doggett. The father was born in St. Louis County. Missouri, on March 14. 1825 and followed mining until he came to Sprague, Washington, where he farms. The mother was born in St. Louis County. Missouri, on January 10. 1838. The family came to Washington when Sidney was seven months old, where he was reared and educated. When eighteen he rode the range in the Palouse and in 1890, he rented land near Pullman and farmed.
It was 1896 that he came to the reservation and bought the relinquishment of a settler and followed farming until he proved up on the place. During the times between the rush of farm work he gave his attention to the blacksmith’s art and he became very proficient in it. In the fall of 1901, he erected a substantial building in Nez Perce and opened a shop, and as said above, he is handling the largest blacksmith business in the reservation country. Mr. Doggett has the following brothers and sisters: John, a farmer at Chesley; Jefferson D., farmer near Walla Walla; Robert S., a farmer at Johnson, Washington: Francis E., a farmer in California; Isaac H. and Frederick T., farmers at Sprague, Washington; Sierra Nevada, wife of T. A. Brown, a farmer at Pullman,
Mr. Doggett is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Rebekahs in Nezperce; also of the W. W., and the M. W. A. and the Women of Woodcraft, all in Nezperce. He is a Democrat but is never zealous of personal preferment.
On February 23, 1891, Mr. Doggett married Miss Edna A., daughter of Alsa and Sarah (VanBibber) Woodward. Mrs. Doggett was born in Missouri on October 5, 1874; she has the following brothers and is Mrs. William D., a farmer at Johnson, Washington; Caroline, in Missouri; Martha, wife of John Brown, a saw mill man at Kendrick: Cinderella, wife of Robert L. Doggett; Alice, wife of Wm. Anderson, in Washington. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Doggett, Lulu M., Herbert F., Etta, William A., George, and Esther. Mr. Doggett is enjoying the meed of honest industry and wisdom in the competence that he possesses and the prosperous business that he is handling, while also the confidence and good will of all are his in unstinted measure.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903