One of the stately residences built along Second Avenue South prior to
the turn of the century is now the Women’s Clubhouse, but for many years
it was the home of United States Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver and
family.
Built in 1895 and located at 915 2nd Ave. S., the large three-story red
brick residence has been owned by the Women’s Club since 1935. While
generally known as the Dolliver house it was built by Sen. Dolliver’s
father-in-law, George R. Pearsons and occupied by his family for several
years. The same year the house was built, Dolliver married Pearson’s
daughter, Louise, but it was not until Pearson’s death in 1904 that the
Dollivers moved into the home.
The home site originally included four lots. Pearsons, a prominent
early-day resident, came here as agent for the Illinois Central
Railroad. He served as mayor for two terms and was a member of the
school board.
The Dolliver home originally had a parlor, drawing room or music room,
dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor; five bedrooms and
one large bath on the second floor and other rooms on the third floor.
In later years the upstairs was extensively remodeled. There is a huge
open stairway leading from the first floor to the upper floors.
In the rounded window area of the drawing room there once was a large
stone hollowed out for a small pool. A fountain was located in the
center of the pool from which water flowed continuously. Goldfish in the
pool added charm to the unique window arrangement.
In 1968 the Women’s Club remodeled the house, enlarged the first floor
meeting room to the west, removed the old porch and added a small patio
and new entrance.
[Illustration: The Dolliver home
915 2nd Avenue South]
Dolliver was a prominent Fort Dodge attorney and legislator. He was
elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1888 and served there
until 1900 when he was appointed to the U. S. Senate to fill a vacancy.
He was re-elected and served in the Senate until his untimely death Oct.
15, 1910, at age 52.
Sen. Dolliver was prominent in the Republican party and was known
nationally. He was in great demand as a speaker and was called the
“silver-tongued orator.” In 1900 he was mentioned as nominee for vice
president with William G. McKinley who was elected president that year.
Had he been nominated and elected he would have been elevated to the
presidency after the assassination of President McKinley in 1901.
Dolliver lived very little in the home here because the family was with
him in Washington a great deal of the time he was in the House and the
Senate. In failing health for some time Sen. Dolliver died at his home
here from what was described as a “heart ailment aggravated by
over-exertion.”