Ôªø DAVID DANIEL DORAN

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DAVID DANIEL DORAN

(7/24/1875 Clearfield, PA -2/24/1942 Baltimore, MD)
notes by Nancy J. Halli, granddaughter 7/2003

David Daniel Doran

Click here for David's patent.
David Daniel Doran was born July 24, 1875 in Clearfield, PA, the son of Daniel and Mary A. Massey Doran. His sister, Rose Ann, had been born a year earlier; his younger sister would be born in the summer of 1877. According to family lore, David was just taking his first baby steps when his father, Daniel, was tragically killed in a railroad accident on November 30, 1876 near the Sterling Mines, Houtzdale, PA. Later the widow of Daniel Doran was courted by Houtzdale shoemaker Thomas Allen, a widower with two surviving children. Tom had moved from Clearfield to the lumber and coal mining Houtzdale about 1877. Soon David Daniel Doran was living in the lively Allen household with half brothers, William (b.1880) and Peter William (b.1881) and step brothers John Thomas (b.1865) & Cornelius Frederick (b.1867). Of Mary A. Massey Doran Allen's six children, only David and Peter survived childhood.

David Doran's enlarged family probably gave him the strong foundation in four things that were especially important in his life: music, close family ties, the shoe trade, and the Roman Catholic faith. He and his family probably worshiped at St. Lawrence Church, which was consecrated in 1882. (Its earlier structure collapsed in 1876 during its first service according to Aldrich's History of Clearfield, 1887 Chapter 51) Possibly David went to school in the town's frame school building on the corner of George & Mary. It was built in 1874 then sold to the Catholics for use as a parochial school. Its expanded version opened in 1886, with teachers from the Sisters of Mercy. (Aldrich, again Chapter 51)

David Doran was possibly a coal miner at the time he began courting the love of his life, Sarah Jane Pickard. Perhaps Sarah met David Doran at one of the dances where he played the fiddle. Or perhaps she bought a pair of shoes from him if David was working with his step brother, Con Allen. After Tom Allen's death in 1893, his son, Con, gave up mining for the shoe business in 1894.

Sarah, born in Sheffield, England, had emigrated to the United States with her family (parents William Thomas & Margaret Ann Moore Pickard & 6 siblings). In 1880, the Pickard family was living in Houtzdale, in Clearfield County, PA. Though the town wasn't large-- according to Aldrich's history, in 1887 the population was around 2,000 --, the Pickard's and the Doran/Allen's weren't exactly neighbors. The Pickards lived south of the railroad tracks that divided the town (lots 412-416: Mink Alley, Don, Elizabeth, Charles); the Doran/ Allens to the north (lots 196-198: Sue, Brisbin, Elk Alley). The Pickard's were Episcopalian. In fact, Sarah's father had been helping to establish the new Holy Trinity Church in the town. When Sarah's mother died in August 1892, Sarah was only 13. Her oldest sister Elizabeth was already married and had a family; her older sister Margaret & younger sister Lucille were still at home. Margaret & Sarah not only took care of the home cooking and cleaning, but were also active in the weekly upkeep of Holy Trinity Church.

Unfortunately William Thomas Pickard had such strong objections to the idea of 17 year old Sarah marrying David, the couple had to elope. They were married by Justice of the peace, John Evans, in Camden, NJ, Aug. 26, 1896. David Massy of Camden was one of their witnesses. The couple gave 2736 Garnet St., Philadelphia as their residence and they upped Sarah's age to 20. David said he was a shoe dealer. (For full elopement story, see Sarah's page) Later, Sarah's dad was to become one of Dave Doran's most loyal supporters. And much later in the marriage Sarah converted to Catholicism and was especially fervent.

David and Sarah Doran had a happy & fruitful marriage producing 15 children -- 13 living to adulthood. They were: Gerald David (3/3/1897); William Lesley (1/1/1898); Hazel Marie (12/19/1898) -- all born in Houtzdale, PA. Sara Lucille (8/30/1900) born in Ford City, PA. Catherine Elizabeth (7/16/1902); Mary Margaret (8/5/1904)-- both born in Pittsburgh, PA. Paul Edward (7/28/1907); David Daniel Jr. (8/30/1908); Louise Dorothy (8/29/1909); Helen Bernadette (1/26/1911); Rose Florence & Ruth Frances (twins 8/25/1913); Jean Mildred (5/22/1915); William Allen (10/27/1916) -- all eight born in DuBois, PA. The baby, John Charles (6/10/1920), born in Pittsburgh the day after their eldest daughter Hazel's wedding, was the only child born in a hospital.

The ever growing Doran family kept moving through Pennsylvania -- from Houtzdale, to Ford City, to Pittsburgh, to DuBois, then finally back to Pittsburgh.

In the 1900 PA census, David Doran was a bookkeeper living at 832 4th Ave, Ford City, PA. Between 1902-1905 he is listed as a machinist (Pittsburgh city directories) living at Clarissa near Camp. In 1908 the family resided on West Long Avenue in DuBois, probably near Con Allen's family. The 1909 DuBois city directory has them at 631 Long Ave. In the 1910 PA census David was the manager of a Con Allen's shoe store (his step-brother), living at 112 1/2 Evergreen St., DuBois, PA. In the 1920 census, David was a shoe salesman living at 5518 Howe St., Pittsburgh, PA. That Shadyside home, the only one they owned, was purchased for $7350 in March 1919. They lived there until 1942.

Dave surely learned the shoe trade from his step family, the Allens. He was also associated somehow with Fred J. Brown's shoe store in DuBois. In the 1930 PA census (Pgh.), his occupation was a commercial traveller -- shoes. David's sons, Gerald & Paul, were also listed as shoe salesmen at that time, although no one else living in the Doran household (except Sy Henkel & his wife Hazel) had jobs at that time. It was the Great Depression.

Fred Brown, Dave Doran & Gerald Doran licensed a patent for an improvement in shoe arch supports March 8, 1932. (#1848518) Bill Doran said his father also worked for a shoe Co., N.C. Thayer, out of Brockton, MA. After the children were grown, Sarah loved to put on her traveling hat and go on the road with her husband.

David Doran was an easy going gentleman, with wavy auburn hair and blue eyes. He loved his family and nurtured them well. Married children, down on their luck, always found room back at the Doran's house. People passing by the Howe Street address often thought it was a boarding school for girls. His children spoke glowingly of family life where they did not have a lot of money but they had a home full of laughter, music, and friends-- a true "You Can't Take It With You" household. David an accomplished fiddler, often played with Con Allen and his band. In both DuBois and Pittsburgh he played for dances, weddings, and other gatherings. He instilled the love of music in his children -- Gerald played violin and trombone; Bill played trombone; and Ruth, though she could not read music, could easily pick out any tune on the piano. John, later in life, took up the drums.

The Doran's had a New Years Eve tradition on Howe Street which went something like this. At 11:55 Dad Doran would send someone (usually Bill's friend, Ralph Stack) out the back door with a roll of shiny new dimes, a piece of old bread, a basket of coal, and a carrot. At twelve o'clock Dave would open the front door to welcome the New Year's emissary bringing food, warmth, and security. Gleaming new dimes were distributed and Baby New Year and Old Father Time might even put in an appearance. Dave Doran would enthusiastically play Auld Lang Syne on the violin as his family followed him out the front door banging pots & spoons & making a dreadful racket up and down Howe Street. (On Dec. 31, 1999 Dave Doran's violin again greeted the New Year as my husband, Ted, played Auld Lang Syne noisily for our friends on our own street in Wallingford, PA. )

Though David Doran had a good set of teeth, a doctor convinced him to have them all pulled out thinking it would help his rheumatism. Dave also had circulatory trouble later in life. Frequently, because he was cold, Dave Doran wore a hat (21" circumference) and coat indoors and had the unfortunate habit of catching the kitchen faucet in his sleeve before turning the water on. (I often do the same.) He had suffered a major stroke before my dad, Robert W. Halli, met him in 1932.

In February 1942, the bank repossessed the Howe Street home and David and Sarah Doran moved in with my parents (Bob & Jean Doran Halli) in their Baltimore home, 5810 Key Ave. One of Dave Doran's last letters was to his daughter Ruth still living in Pittsburgh, residing with older sister Sara.

¬„Baltimore, Md. Feb 2nd/ 1942 Dear Daughter Ruth, Just a note that you can see I am able able [sic] to wright [sic] a little better than before, but not much... in (Bill's) letter he put in a request for cookies or what have you. So Jean made taffey candy for him but it did not get hard so we are spooning it out to who comes along. Got rid of one pan and started on the other pan to day. Dot is our best customer then Jean. Mother can do a good job of licking and sucking and Carol Ann is the champ. She can get it all over her face and smack her lips so loud you can here her all over the house....We were pleased to hear that you like your job much better, and I knew you could do the job as good as others. So scheery O. Dad.¬¾ Sarah adds in the same letter ¬„... Dad seems so much better. I do not mean that he does not have achs [sic] and pains, he does have some but he gets lots of rest and sleeps good, eats good and feels more cheerful and looks so much better in his face...¬¾

Dave's daughter Sara & her husband, Harry Reno came for a weekend visit that month & caught the train back to Pittsburgh. Two days later, on Feb. 24, 1942, David Doran had a fatal heart attack; he was 66 years old. My mother said it was like seeing a window shade going up and down as his facial color changed. Following a Requiem High mass in Pittsburgh's St. Paul's Cathedral , Dave Doran was buried [next to his children, Louise, David, & Gerald and later, his wife] in Pittsburgh's Mt. Carmel Cemetery (Lot 29 Section 6) on Lincoln Road.

David Daniel Doran Research Notes 7/2003

Primary documentation

Don't know when Daniel Doran married her (Probably late 1860's early 1870's- certainly after Oct. 30,1867 when Miss Mary A. Massey was given a photo album) or where they married {NJ State Archives reports no marriage record found for Daniel Doran/Doren/Doron/Dorin to Mary Massey 1865-May 1878}

Don't really know Daniel's profession (in 1870 census there is a James Doran in Houtzdale - any relation?) Daniel was a laborer & miner in 1874. He got a hotel license in Bradford, Clearfield Co. PA in June 1875 (good till March 1876) and he applied for a restaurant license in Clearfield, PA, March 1876 - but didn't get it. Have not found either Daniel or Mary in US 1870 census - where were they living?

Mary & Daniel Doran had 4 children before Daniel's death & 1 after?
(If Mary was born in 1840, she was 34 when Rose was born, 35 when David was born, 37 when Catherine was born; 40 when William was born, & 41 when Peter was born)

Rose Anna Doran was born July 18, 1874 in Clearfield, PA, baptized 7/26, St. Francis RC Church, Clearfield by Rev. J. Byrne

David Daniel Doran was born July 24, 1875 in Clearfield, PA Catherine Doran was born Aug. 10, 1877 and was baptized Aug.13, 1877 in Immaculate Conception Church, Osceola Mills, PA by Rev. Martin Meagher (Sponsors: Patrick Quinn & Mrs. McGowan) I have 3 lockets with the same male portrait. The largest one also has a lock of perhaps auburn hair; smaller ones are inscribed Willa & Lulu (if picture is Daniel Doran who are Willa & Lulu? The 3 lockets are probably from the 1870's. Dan Doran died Nov. 30, 1876.

Daniel Doran, husband of Mary A. Massey died while David D. Doran was a toddler.

Family lore says that Daniel Doran died in a railroad accident, about the time David took his first steps. I thought David would probably be starting to walk at 9 mos- 12 mos: May-July 1876 however;
The Raftsman's Journal Clearfield, PA Dec 6, 1876 p. 3, 2nd column, top
KILLED ON THE RAIL - We learn that Daniel Doran, formerly of this place, was accidentally killed near Sterling mines, on Thursday, Nov. 30th. He was walking on the railroad, and hearing an approaching train, he stepped from one track to the other, but unfortunately on to the wrong one. Several cars run over him. He was badly mangled, and died in a few minutes after the accident.

Do not have a burial record for Daniel Doran (S. Francis of Assisi Church, Clearfield, Pa has no death records from 1876-1888. Clearfield Co says they only have official death records, 1893-1905. Pencilled note I made long ago says Daniel is in same graveyard as his wife, therefore S. Lawrence, Houtzdale. The Sterling mines are very close to Houtzdale; he died on the Clearfield - Tyrone PRR spur.Did I try S. Lawrence Church (Christ the King) for death record?

Marriage of Mary A. Massey Doran to Thomas Allen

Mary A. Massey Doran marries Tom Allen probably in the late 1870's - has baby, William, in May 1880 in Houtzdale. (Tom was in the Houtzdale tax lists for 1877- store was burned around May 30, 1877. Tom advertised in the Caldwell atlas of Clearfield Co., 1878. He is listed as a shoemaker in Houtzdale-- where did she marry and when?) Did we try S. Lawrence Church (Christ the King) for marriage record?

David Doran is raised in the home of Tom Allen, shoe seller, in Houtzdale.

Con Allen is about 8 years older than David. If Con Allen went to the public school in Houtzdale, then David probably did too. Aldrich's History of Clearfield Co., 1887, Chap. 51 mentions a public school (frame building) on corner of George & Mary. Bldg was sold to Catholics and expanded in 1886. Teachers were Sisters of Mercy.

Since his siblings, William & Peter, were baptized in S. Lawrence Church, Houtzdale, and since Tom & Mary Allen & supposedly Daniel Doran are buried in the S. Lawrence cemetery, then S. Lawrence was probably David Doran's church. (In 1896, there were three Catholic churches in Houtzdale according to the secretary of Christ the King; David Daniel Doran's oldest sons, Gerald, 1897, & William Leslie, 1899, were both baptized at S. Lawrence [now Christ the King])

John Allen was married about 1889 in Cresson, PA Lilly Station; Con Allen was married July 8, 1890 in Houtzdale. So just Dave & Peter were the young ones in the Allen household. Dave married August 26, 1896. Peter Allen was married Feb. 3, 1914 in DuBois.

I thought that David Doran began his working life as a coal miner, but have no documentation for it, other than a pencilled note I made long ago. The Pickards were coal miners & David's father, Daniel Doran, once worked as a coal miner. [A James Doran was also listed as a coal miner at same time, 1874]

Marriage of David Daniel Doran and Sarah Jane Pickard, Camden Aug. 26, 1896

David Doran was a Roman Catholic; Sarah Pickard was an Anglican/Episcopalian who much later converted to Catholicism. Sarah's father objected to the marriage; so one night they took the train to Philadelphia and were married by John Evans, Justice of the Peace in Camden, NJ; both listed 2736 Garnet St., Philadelphia, PA as their residence (don't know if that is Garnet St. in South or North Phila. (boardinghouse?). On the form, David Doran's profession is given as Shoe Dealer; his parents were both born in England; and he is 21. Sarah says she is 20 - (she was actually 17 on her last birthday). It was a first marriage for both. Sarah's parents (Wm. Pickard & Margaret Moore) were born in England. It looks like the witnesses were: W. C. Miller of Camden, NJ. and David Massy of Camden, NJ. Later in life, Sarah said she had been married in Philadelphia on May 26.

David Doran residences & profession

Re Letters Patent of the US. 8 March 1932 #1848518 granted to David D. Doran, Gerald D. Doran & Fred J. Brown of DuBois for an improvement in arch supports. July 10, 1932 Fred B assigned his rights to DDD. Right to use product sold to J.E. Dayton Co., Williamsport, PA. Dorans to get royalties. For men's shoes; Dorans working on ladies shoes application.

Before David Doran died in 1942, he had buried 5 of his 15 children. William Leslie 1898 Houtzdale; Rose Florence 1913 DuBois; Louise 1928 Pgh; David 1930 Pgh; Gerald 1936 Conneat Lake. Don't know where Wm. Leslie and Rose are buried. David & Gerald are at Pgh's Mt. Carmel, along with David & Sarah Doran.

Death of David Daniel Doran, Baltimore, Feb. 24, 1942

David had a couple of strokes (in the 1930's?) & had a heart condition. His circulation was poor. Earlier he had had all his teeth taken out to help with his rheumatism. He had been living with Jean & Bob Halli in Baltimore only 5 weeks, before his death. He died in their home, 5810 Key Ave, of a coronary occlusion. He was 66 yrs and 7 months old. His body was taken to Pgh. and buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery (Lot 29, Section 6) on Lincoln Road.

Death notice- Pittsburgh Press (2/26/1942) p. 27

(At present, I have a brown hat of David Doran's & his violin, 7/2003)


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The Doran's

David Daniel (father)
David Daniel's Photos
Sarah Jane (mother)

Gerald David
Hazel Marie
Sara Lucille
Catherine Elizabeth
Mary Margaret
Paul Edward
David Daniel Jr.
Louise Dorothy
Helen Bernadette
Ruth Frances
Rose Florence
Jean Mildred
William Allen
John Charles

Doran's Family Album