Macoupin County
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Biography - PLUTARCH H. DORSEY

The name of Dorsey needs no introduction to the citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, as for years it has been representative of one of the most numerous, progressive, wealthy and prominent families of this portion of the State, and Plutarch H. Dorsey is its oldest member. He was born on November 8, 1833, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and is a son of Elias and Martha (Booker) Dorsey.

Elias Dorsey was born June 7, 1796, near Frederick, Maryland, and in childhood accompanied his parents to Kentucky. During the War of 1812 he served as a private soldier and received a pension for his services. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, and, although in straitened circumstances during his early manhood, by the exercise of a natural business capacity acquired a large tract of fine blue grass land within eight miles of the city of Louisville. There he engaged in the favorite occupation of the Kentucky farmer — the raising of fine horses for market. His farm consisted of 600 acres of land and prior to the Civil War he owned some 30 slaves. These he subsequently freed. For many years he lived the life of a typical planter, "Eden Farm" being the center of general hospitality and social gaiety, many of the most distinguished members of the polite, business and political world being lavishly entertained there. At an early date Elias Dorsey, with the business instincts which made all his operations successful, purchased 13,000 acres of land lying in Madison and Macoupin counties, Illinois. His death took place in 1873 at Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois, in the 77th year of his age. He was a consistent supporter of Democratic principles all his life. He was a man of generous nature, was devoted to his large family and assisted each one of his 13 children by the gift of a farm of 1,000 acres.

In 1815 Elias Dorsey married Martha Booker, who was a daughter of Col. Richard Booker, and a member of a very prominent family of Shelby County, Kentucky. They were the parents of the following 13 children: John W., Richard E., Leavin L., Benjamin L., Basil H., William Montjoy, Mrs. Cordelia Hornsby, Mrs. Ann C. Winchester, Elias L., Mary Matilda and Orlean O., all deceased; Plutarch H.; and Mrs. Martha Shields of Kansas.

Plutarch H. Dorsey's mother died when he was four years old, and he remained in Kentucky to enjoy the excellent educational opportunities offered him there. He finished his education with a three-years course at Shurtleff College, at Alton, Illinois. He came to Macoupin County in 1853 and settled on his present farm of 420 acres situated in sections 25 and 26, Gillespie township, land which was included in the large tract which his father had entered. He has lived on this farm continuously since 1853, with the exception of 15 years — from 1871 to 1886 — when he resided in Bunker Hill in order to give his children the best of educational advantages.

While Mr. Dorsey has raised large crops of wheat and corn, his attention has been more closely given to the raising of fine cattle and stock and particularly to the breeding of high grade horses, these being mainly of "Gold Dust" stock, of which he has annually bred 50 head and at the same time from 50 to 100 head of mules. He is also an extensive breeder and shipper of cattle, sheep and hogs, but has given the closest attention to horses. He has bred a number of fine animals which have sold for $5,000, and he has received as much as $1,000 for a yearling thoroughbred. In addition to his farming and grazing lands, Mr. Dorsey has a fine orchard of 120 acres, one of the most productive in this section.

In 1891 Mr. Dorsey sold his coal right to the firm of H. S. Dorsey & Company, a rich vein of coal probably underlying a large portion of this farm. The discovery of coal on the Dorsey lands, in 1886, was something of an accident, but after 12 years of prospecting, hard work and expenditure of much money the great deposits of the black diamonds are being brought to the surface, bringing untold wealth to the family and giving activity to the section and employment to hundreds of laborers. A new town in the heart of the coal regions is now being built up which is expected to hold a population of 6,000 people within two years. To this town the name of Benld has been given, which is a contraction of Benjamin L. Dorsey, named in honor of the nephew of our subject, as was the town of Dorsey named in honor of the family upon its establishment 40 years ago.

Benjamin L. Dorsey, the pioneer prospector for coal on his own lands, was born August 31, 1857, in Macoupin County, Illinois, and is a son of Benjamin L. Dorsey and a nephew of Plutarch H. Dorsey. The family has sold 40,000 acres of coal land to the Northwestern Railroad, through the Superior Coal Company of Chicago, and a connecting line, the Macoupin County Railroad, is being rapidly pushed to completion. This road will erect a fine brick depot at the new town, while capitalists from the neighboring cities are making contracts for the erection of blocks of stores, the establishment of a bank and the putting into operation all the organizations which American enterprise and progressiveness so quickly accomplish. Where once waved fields of yellow grain, now are seen the derricks and machinery of successful coal mines and another great industry has been added to the business life of Macoupin County. The Dorsey family has greatly profited by this discovery and all its members are men of large capital. They are also men of high character and well represent the best citizenship of this section of the State.

In March, 1854, Plutarch H. Dorsey married Olivia Williams, who was born September 25, 1834, in Washington, D. C, and died on the farm in Macoupin County, July 26, 1902. She was a daughter of John and Maria E. (Wells) Williams, both of whom were born in Washington. Eight children were born to this marriage, as follows: Mrs. Eugenia Robinson, of St. Louis, Missouri, who has two children — Edward and Mary; Plutarch H., Jr., who resides with his wife on the farm of our subject in a residence of his own; Mrs. Harriet Hornsby, of Bunker Hill, who has two children — Lawrence and Marie; Marie L., who resides at home; Oscar L., who with his wife resides on the old homestead; Ada, who died at the age of two years; Cora, who died at the age of eight years; and Wells Mayo, who with his wife resides on a farm in Cahokia township, Macoupin County. Mr. Dorsey's children are among the most highly esteemed residents of their various communities.

Like his father, Mr. Dorsey has been identified with the Democratic party all his life, ardently supporting its old-time principles. He is serving as the present supervisor of his township and is regarded as one of the best officials the township ever had. In him the honorable old family of Dorsey has an honorable representative and Gillespie township a citizen who has materially aided in all movements designed to promote the general welfare. His portrait accompanies this sketch, being shown on a preceding page.


Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 224-228.


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This page was last updated 07/01/2022