William J. Doran
One of the successful business men of Ironton, William J. Doran, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Crystal Ice Company, has illustrated in his career the opportunities that are presenting themselves to the men of today who are possessed of enterprise and initiative, have the ability and are not afraid of hard, persistent labor. He was given only ordinary advantages in his youth, but made the most of them, and the success which has come to him is but the merited reward of well-directed effort. Mr. Doran is a native of Ohio, born at Portsmouth, Scioto County, December 27, 1868, his parents being Michael and Erma (Schuh) Doran.
Michael Doran was born in Pennsylvania, in 1846, and in young manhood came to Ohio, locating at Portsmouth, where he became a puddler in the mills. He was a quiet, unassuming citizen, spent his life in industrious labor, and died in 1912, at the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. Doran, who was born in Germany in 1848, came to this country in young womanhood, and still survives her husband, being a resident of Ironton. There were ten children in the family: William J., Ida, Emma C, Mary, Thomas T., Estella, Frank. Rose, Edward P. and Francis D., of whom Thomas T. and Frank are deceased.
William J. Doran was educated in the parochial school of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, which he attended until thirteen years of age, and at that time took his place among the world's workers as an employe of the puddling department at the iron mills. He was thus engaged for five years and then became a laborer at the ice plant, where, during the following twelve years, he gained much valuable experience in the line of ice-making machinery. Succeeding this he went to Jackson, Jackson County, Ohio, where he had the supervision of the building of an ice plant, and this he managed for one year, then returning to Ironton to attend Davidson's Business College. After six months in that school, Mr. Doran went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became chief engineer at the Knox Ice Company's plant, but after one and one-half years again came to Ironton. Here he became manager of the Crystal Ice Company, and in 1907 purchased stock in the business and was elected secretary and treasurer, positions he has continued to hold. Through Mr. Doran's good management and ability to make the most of opportunities, the business has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth, and is now justly regarded as one of the substantial enterprises of Ironton. Mr. Doran is widely experienced in his chosen vocation, is known as an expert operator of ice making machinery and is held in the highest confidence by his associates. The duties of his business have been such as to demand his attention to the exclusion of other matters, but he has neglected no opportunity to demonstrate his interest in his community's welfare. In political matters he supports the candidates of the democratic party. He is a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, and for some time has been its treasurer. Mr. Doran is unmarried.
From "A Standing History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio" by Eugene B. Willard, Daniel W. Williams, George O. Newman and Charles B. Taylor. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1916