Robert Dollard

Dollard was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on March 14, 1842,{{sfn|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61|page=70}} the son of Thomas Dollard and Mary (Collyer) Dollard.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=724}} His mother died when he was two years old, and his father soon remarried.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=724}} Dollard was raised by his father and stepmother Ann, and according to an 1855 state census, his siblings included an older sister named Mary and a younger half-sister named Elisabeth.{{sfn|"Massachusetts State Census"}} Dollard was educated through the high school grades in the public schools of Fall River and Stoughton{{sfn|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61|page=70}}{{sfn|"Massachusetts State Census"}} and by the time of the 1860 federal census, Mary and Robert Dollard were living in Easton, Massachusetts, where Mary worked in a thread factory and Robert was employed as a moulder.{{sfn|"United States Census, Entry for Robert Dollard (1860)"}}

On April 16, 1861, Dollard enlisted as a private in Company B, 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.{{sfn|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61|page=70}} During the regiment's three months of Union Army service at the start of the American Civil War, it performed garrison duty at Fort Monroe and took part in the Battle of Big Bethel. The 4th Massachusetts Volunteers were mustered out in late July, and in September Dollard returned to service when he enlisted in Company E, 23rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.{{sfn|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61|page=70}}{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=724}} He attained the rank of sergeant before receiving his commission as a second lieutenant, and he later received promotion to first lieutenant.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=89, }} The 23rd Massachusetts was part of Burnside's North Carolina Expedition, and engagements in which Dollard took part included the battles of Roanoke Island, New Bern, and Fort Macon.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=41-53, 74-84}}

Following the North Carolina expedition, the 23rd Massachusetts was part of a Union force sent to South Carolina, where it performed occupation duty before returning to North Carolina to perform occupation duty there.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=84-90, 91-97}} In the summer of 1863, the 23rd Massachusetts left North Carolina and bivouacked at Fort Monroe, Virginia.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=84-90, 91-97}}

Dollard left the 23rd Massachusetts in December 1863 for promotion to captain in the 2nd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment.{{sfn|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61|page=70}}{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=99}} Battles in which Dollard was a participant included the Siege of Suffolk and Second Battle of Suffolk,{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=100}} and the Siege of Petersburg.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=113}}

In September 1864, Dollard received a head wound during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, and his heroism and coolness under fire while directing troops to maintain their lines resulted in his promotion to major.{{sfn|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61|page=70}} After the war ended, Dollard's regiment performed occupation duty in Texas, and he was mustered out at Brazos Island on February 12, 1866.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=727}} After the war, Dollard was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and other veterans groups.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=731}} He took part in numerous reunions and other public events to commemorate the war, and published several newspaper articles and other writings about his experiences.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=729}}

After the war, Dollard decided to move to Chicago and go into business with a friend and former officer who had served with him during the war.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=156-157}} They moved from Chicago to Galesburg, but soon had a falling out.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=156-157}} Dollard traveled to San Antonio, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana in search of other opportunities, but returned to Galesburg several months later to begin studying law with a local attorney.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=156-157}} He was admitted to the bar in 1870 and practiced throughout Knox, Peoria, and Fulton Counties.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=157}} In 1876 he was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for State's Attorney of Knox County.{{sfn|History of Knox County, Illinois|page=421}}

In 1878, Dollard traded parcels with another landowner and later that year he visited the one he had acquired in the Dakota Territory.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=180-181}} Deciding to relocate to Dakota in 1879, Dollard filed for five claims under the Homestead Acts in what is now Douglas County, South Dakota, where he began to farm.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=180-181}} According to the records of the U.S. Land Office, Dollard was the first permanent settler in the county.{{sfn|"Biographical: Territorial Officers; Robert Dollard"|page=2}}{{sfn|Greater Los Angeles & Southern California|page=126}} While farming most of the year, Dollard resided in Scotland, South Dakota during the winter and practiced law, including travel to the territorial capital of Yankton for trials.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=186-186}}

In 1881, Dollard gave up farming and settled in Scotland, where he developed a law practice that covered Bon Homme, Hutchinson, and several adjoining counties.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=209}} By now a Republican, Dollard was elected to several local offices and participated in the statehood conventions of 1883{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=236}} and 1885.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=274}} In 1883, he received appointment as U.S. Commissioner for the Second Judicial District.{{sfn|"Territorial Topics: Major Robert Dollard"}} In 1884, he was elected State's Attorney of Bon Homme County{{sfn|"Biographical: Territorial Officers; Robert Dollard"|page=2}} and he was chosen to serve as attorney general of South Dakota's interim state government in 1885.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=281}} In 1888, Dollard was elected to the Territorial Council, the upper house of the legislature, and he served until South Dakota attained statehood in November 1889.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=288}}

In 1889, he was elected as the first state attorney general and he was reelected in 1890.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=290}} In 1892, Dollard was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=290}} Later that year he was elected to a term in South Dakota Senate and in 1896 he won a term in the South Dakota House of Representatives.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature|page=257}} In 1898, Dollard was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress at the state Republican convention;{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=290-291}} the nominations were won by Charles H. Burke and Robert J. Gamble, who went on to win the general election.{{sfn|"The Republican Congressmen and Republican State Ticket Elected"|page=1}} During the Spanish–American War, Dollard undertook recruiting efforts in South Dakota, and succeeded in raising 1,200 volunteers for the army.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=731}}

In 1905, Dollard left South Dakota and settled in Santa Monica, California, where he lived in retirement.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|page=292}} His wife and he traveled extensively throughout the western United States as tourists.{{sfn|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"|pages=292-295}} In 1909, he entered the race for mayor of Santa Monica, but he withdrew his candidacy before election day.{{sfn|"Dollard Out of Race"|page=14}}

He died in Santa Monica on April 28, 1912.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|pages=724, 731}} He was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Scotland, South Dakota.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=730}}

In 1875, Dollard married Carrie E. Dunn of Yates City, Illinois.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=732}} She was a school teacher and librarian, activist for women's suffrage, and participant in other civic causes; in addition to serving as the first teacher in Scotland's public school, she organized and managed the town's library for many years.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=732}} They were the parents of a son, Archie, who they adopted when he was an infant, and who died at the age of nine.{{sfn|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition|page=733}} A daughter, Maud, was born and died in 1889.{{sfn|"Our Legislature: Resolutions of Sympathy on the Death of Dollard's Daughter Were Passed"|page=1}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Burdette |first=Robert J. |date=1910 |title=American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition |volume=2 |url=https://archive.org/details/americanbiograph02burd/page/724 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|American Biography and Genealogy, California Edition}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Burdette |first=Robert J. |date=1910 |title=Greater Los Angeles & Southern California: Portraits & Personal Memoranda |url=https://archive.org/details/greaterlosangele00burd/page/126 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|Greater Los Angeles & Southern California}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Chapman |first=Chas. C. & Co. |date=1878 |title=History of Knox County, Illinois |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofknoxcoun00chas |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofknoxcoun00chas/page/421 421] |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=Blakely, Brown & Marsh |ref={{sfnRef|History of Knox County, Illinois}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Dollard |first=Robert |date=1906 |title=Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country |url=https://archive.org/details/recollectionsofc00dolla/page/154 |location=Scotland, SD |publisher=Robert Dollard |ref={{sfnRef|"Recollections of the Civil War and Going West to Grow Up with the Country"}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Executive Committee |date=April 14, 1900 |title=Souvenir Program, Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61: Celebration of the Thirty-Ninth Anniversary |url=https://archive.org/details/18611900associat00asso/page/70 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Geo. W. Nason |ref={{sfnRef|Association of Mass. Minute Men of '61}}}}
• {{cite book |date=1989 |title=Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989: A-K |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZFt4L52E2cEC&q=%22Dollard+represented+Bon+Homme+County%22 |location=Pierre, SD |publisher=South Dakota Legislative Council |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature}}}}

• {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Massachusetts State Census, Entry for Robert Dollard |last=State of Massachusetts |date=1855 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=January 17, 2019 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Massachusetts State Census"}}}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=United States Census, Entry for Robert Dollard |last=State of Massachusetts |date=1860 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=January 17, 2019 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"United States Census, Entry for Robert Dollard (1860)"}}}}

• {{cite news |date=January 12, 1883 |title=Territorial Topics: Major Robert Dollard |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/ |work=Miner Sentinel |location=Miner, SD |page=8 |url-access=subscription |via=GenealogyBank.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Territorial Topics: Major Robert Dollard"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=January 11, 1889 |title=Biographical: Territorial Officers; Robert Dollard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/81381690/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune |location=Bismarck, ND |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Biographical: Territorial Officers; Robert Dollard"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=January 27, 1889 |title=Our Legislature: Resolutions of Sympathy on the Death of Dollard's Daughter Were Passed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/351214477/ |work=Rapid City Journal |location=Rapid City, SD |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Our Legislature: Resolutions of Sympathy on the Death of Dollard's Daughter Were Passed"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=November 9, 1898 |title=The Republican Congressmen and Republican State Ticket Elected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/229071683/ |work=The Daily Argus-Leader |location=Sioux Falls, SD |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"The Republican Congressmen and Republican State Ticket Elected"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=December 7, 1909 |title=Dollard Out of Race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/85192734/ |work=Los Angeles Herald |location=Los Angeles, CA |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Dollard Out of Race"}}}}

• {{Find a Grave|112374465}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Attorney General of South Dakota|years=1889, 1890}}

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{{succession box | title=Attorney General of South Dakota | before=new office | after=Coe I. Crawford| years= 1889–1893 }}

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{{South Dakota Attorneys General}}

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Category:1842 births

Category:1912 deaths

Category:Politicians from Fall River, Massachusetts

Category:People of Massachusetts in the American Civil War

Category:Illinois lawyers

Category:Illinois Democrats

Category:South Dakota Republicans

Category:South Dakota lawyers

Category:District attorneys in South Dakota

Category:South Dakota attorneys general

Category:South Dakota state senators

Category:Members of the South Dakota House of Representatives

Category:Lawyers from Santa Monica, California

Category:Politicians from Santa Monica, California

Category:19th-century American lawyers

Category:19th-century members of the South Dakota Legislature