FRED DOLL, Sr., a well-to-do farmer of Monroe Township, Miami County, Ohio, resides on the old home place of sixty acres located about six miles southwest of Troy. He was born near the River Rhine, in Germany, May 2, 1835, and is a son of Conrad and Mary (Genslinger) Doll.

Conrad Doll was born and reared in Germany and there for some years conducted a vineyard and engaged in the making of wine. Accompanied by his wife and their two sons, be came to the United States in June, 1843, the voyage consuming forty-two days. They moved to Troy, Ohio, immediately after their arrival in this country, making a part of the journey in a wagon. They remained in that city twelve years, Mr. Doll having an interest in a brick yard there. He then sold out his interest and purchased the farm on which our subject now lives of Israel Kessler for the sum of $1,800, the latter having paid but $900 for it the preceding year. But fifteen acres had been cleared and Conrad set about clearing the remainder. It was while thus engaged he lost his life by the falling of a tree, in March, 1861, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife survived him and lived to reach the age of sixty-four, although an invalid for thirty-seven years. They had seven children: Elizabeth, who died in Germany; Fred; Jacob; and four who died young.

Fred Doll, Sr., was a small boy when he came to America with his parents, and spent his boyhood in Troy, which then was a small place. He attended school but a short time, then worked in the brick yard for twenty-five cents per day. He also carried water for the men engaged in the construction of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, receiving therefore the sum of eighty-seven and a half cents per day. He moved upon the farm with his parents, upon which small wild game was at that time plentiful . They lived in the old log house which still stands and which Mr. Doll keeps as a relic of the pioneer days. It was originally provided with a clapboard roof, through which the snow would drift, and well does he remember sleeping with his head under the blanket to keep off the snow. He helped to clear the farm, which came into his possession at the death of his parents, and he continued to live in the log house for twenty-two years. He then built the seven-room frame house, in which his son now lives , and is at the present time building a commodious frame house for the use of himself and wife. He has always followed general farming, growing some tobacco, and what they possess has come mainly through their unceasing toil and good management.

February 2, 1860, Mr. Doll was united in marriage with Barbara Frank, who was born in the same community in Germany as was he. She is a daughter of Simon and Elizabeth (Farver) Frank, and was seventeen years old when they came to the United States, being thirty days on the water. They arrived in July, l888, and located at Troy, where Mr. Frank worked and lived until his death at the age of seventy-eight. His wife died first, aged seventy-six years. They had nine children, of whom five died in Germany. Those who came to this country were: Catherine, widow of Jacob Smith; Barbara, wife of Fred Doll; Jacob; and Elizabeth wife of Fred Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Doll became parents of the following: Jacob, who married Dora Kerr; Samuel, who married Flora Rouser, and whose death occurred in 1904; Catherine, wife of Newell Kerr; Mary, wife of George Running; Elizabeth, wife of George Butts; George who married Callie Kimmery; Fred, who, married Irma Wheelock; Charles, a teacher in the schools; Dora, wife of Harry Fox; and two who died in infancy. Religiously, they are members of the German Lutheran Mr. Doll is a Democrat in politics.