Jesse Lyman Dougherty

The following story was published in the June 22, 1928, edition of The Independent Newspaper in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The headline read: Local Boy Meets Sudden Death...Jesse L. Dougherty, Rector's Son, Dies of Injuries Received in auto Accident; Services Yesterday. Jesse Lyman Dougherty, aged 19 years, was fatally injured Monday when the tire of an automobile in which he was riding, burst while rounding a curve and upset the car. The accident occurred about a mile outside of Peekskill, New York. The young man was the son of the Rev. and Mrs. George P. Dougherty. His father is Rector of Christ Episcopal Church of Bloomfield and Glen Ridge. Jesse was on his way home from Williams College, where he had just completed his sophomore year and was at the wheel of the machine. He was accompanied by a friend, Robert McKittrick, of Yonkers, New York. The McKittrick youth escaped with slight injury but young Dougherty was caught by the steering apparatus which pierced his lungs. The injured youth was taken to the Peekskill hospital. His parents were notified of the accident and they immediately left here by automobile and reached Peekskill at midnight. The boy died at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning. He maintained his manly spirit to the last. Notwithstanding the fact that he was aware that his injury was very serious he bore up cheerfully.

The funeral service was held at 11 o'clock yesterday morning in Christ church and was conducted by Bishop Stearly. The interment was in the family plot in Bordentown cemetery. Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, George and Edward, both of whom are students at Williams college. His grandfather, the Rev. Dr., Jesse L. Hurlbut, is also a survivor. The three Dougherty brothers had all been prominent in school and college athletics. All were members of the track team. Jesse was known as one of the best half-milers that the college had.

Jesse was born in the Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. He came to Glen Ridge nine years ago with his parents, from Newark, where his father had been pastor of St. Paul's Methodist church. In high school he starred in track, football and basketball. After being graduated, he followed his elder brother to Williams. Besides his activities in trck at college, he was also assistant manager of the basketball team last year, a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity and a general favorite on the campus. Besides his activities in high school, Jesse was an expert horseman and was a member of B Troop of the 102nd Cavalry, the Essex Troop, for two years, resigning when he entered college.