Wednesday, April 26, 2000

The Dollen Family

The Dollen Family’s migration from Curry Mallet, Somerset, England is a story of the migration of a large family all linked by the surname of Paul. Family members arrived in small groups entering in New York City and traveling to Skaneateles, New York.

John Dollen wed Emma Strong on 4 April 1852 in the town of Jordan, New York. Shortly thereafter, John and Emma made their way, perhaps along the Erie Canal, to Northfield Township. A family story has been passed on that John worked along the Erie Canal.

John and Emma Dollen settled on a farm just south of Central at Dearlove Road near the train overpass. They raised their eleven children many of whom attended the Grove School.

Dollen Children: William (b. 1852), Walter H. (b. 1854), Albert A. (b. 1856), Frank (b. 1859), Silas (1861-1862), Cora E. (b. 1863), Julia Ann (b. 1865), Mary Jane (b. 1868), Edwin Paul (b. 1871), Charles Henry (b. 1873) and Jessie May (b. 1877).

Other extended family took a similar path west from England, New York City, Skaneateles, and New York to Northfield Township, Illinois. The George Paul family (2nd cousin to John Dollen and Emma Strong) stopped briefly in Northfield Township before moving on to Plainfield, Illinois. Other family surnames following a similar path include Cockle and Steele.

John Dollen died in 1894 and Emma in 1919. They are buried in the Northfield Oakwood Cemetery, Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois. Their son, Edwin Dollen, lived in their farmhouse until it went to auction in October 1922. In February 1941, “The Dollen Place,” as old timers knew it burned to the ground.

John and Emma Dollen’s children relocated to Des Plaines, Illinois; Fairmont, Minnesota; Michigan and California.

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