"Deceased Winlock Merchant Has Exciting Career"
Francis H. Doolittle, 69, Winlock merchant, died here suddenly last week and his death brought to an end an interesting and romantic career of a world traveler and adventurer. Mr. Doolittle established a dry goods store here about a year ago. He had evidently died of heart trouble, as when he did not show up at his store, the assistant sent someone to his rooms and found him dead. His friends had never heard him complain of poor health and his death was a complete surprise. Mr. Doolittle had a most interesting and varied career which took him to every corner of the globe. He was an American born in Happy Camp, Calif., in pioneer days and he was educated in this country. He spent the most interesting time of his life pioneering in British Colonial possessions abroad.
He was a mining engineer by profession and his first great adventure came when he pioneered the way into the Transvaal in British South Africa with John Hays Hammond, British railroad builder and adventurer, the initial journey from Cape Town to Buluway being made by oxcart. Through his extensive mining operation at buluway he made a fortune, but lost it all and barely excaped with his life when the natives ran amuck and destroyed millions of dollars worth of property in the famous Jamieson raid. Machinery alone to the value of $280,000 belonging to Mr. Doolittle was a total loss when his mines were flooded by the natives.
Mr. Doolittle then established himself in the importing and exporting business at Cape Town and extended the business to India and China. He was very successful in this venture and again made a fortune. The well known partnership of Doolittle & Pollick was formed at Hong Kong, China. Mr. Doolittle traveled extensively over China, Japan, russia, Manchuria and Siberia, while a member of this firm but it finally crashed as the result of the Russian-Japanese war.
After traveling the entire world Mr. Doolittle returned to Seattle to enter business. After remaining there for about 10 years he removed to South Bend and just last year he transferred his business to Winlock. Mr. Doolittle never married and his surviving relatives include a siter and three nieces. Following the funeral services, the remains were sent to Seattle for cremation. The store here has been closed temporary while arrangements are being made for its disposal.
Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, 3 Oct 1930, page 2.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.