"An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country; Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties; State of Washington". Spokane, Western Historical Publishing Company, Publishers, 1904. pp. 817-818. THOMAS J. DOLBOW, who is engaged in the real estate, loans and insurance business in Washtucna, was born in Griggsville, Illinois, March 31, 1862. He was the son of William and Ruth (Spence) Dolbow, the father a native of Illinois, born in the same house as was the subject of our sketch, and the mother a native of Ohio. The father died in Griggsville in 1896, and the mother in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1874. They were parents of five children, Thomas J., Jennie, Lillie, Maggie, and Fred. Mr. Dolbow's mother was of German-English descent and his father's people came originally from Germany. At the age of ten years Thomas Dolbow began life independent of all his kindred, and at twelve he hired to a man for whom he worked nine years. At twenty-one he went to Minnesota, where he worked as a farm hand and later as a special collector for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He remained with this company for two years, then entered the employ of Deering Harvesting Machinery Company, with which he remained three years. He then returned to Illinois, farmed two years, after which he engaged in the hardware and farm implements business in Minnesota. By this time he had amassed a snug fortune, but through the dishonesty of a business partner he lost twenty-seven thousand dollars and was compelled to abandon his business. He then engaged as an organizer of the lodges of the Modern Woodmen and was thus employed two years. He came to Washington and to Washtucna in July, 1898. He engaged in the grain buying business for two years, then entered his present business. He came to the town with just five hundred and thirty-five dollars, but he is now one of the well-to-do men of Adams county. He purchased a section of land during the year of his advent into the county and two years later sold it at a profit of seven thousand dollars. He then purchased three and one-half sections of land which he now owns. He also owns two acres of city property where he lives in one of the best homes in the town, besides some property in Warrenton, Oregon. In 1889 Mr. Dolbow was married to Nettie Emery, daughter of J. L. and Margaret (McCalister) Emery, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Scotland. Mrs. Dolbow's brothers and sisters are Lizzie, deceased, Mary, Margaret, and George, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Dolbow have been born four children, Bertha, George, Floyd and Vera. Mr. Dolbow is a Republican, and at the hands of his party he has served his county as deputy sheriff. He is now a member of the town council. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Rebekahs, and the M. W. A. His wife also is a Rebekah, and both are members of the Congregational church. Submitted by: Georgia Harter Williams, georgiahw@earthlink.net