Biographical Profile: 1st Sgt. Shipman N. Douthitt, Company D, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 100th Regiment
Transcribed by Tami McConahy, 2nd great-grandniece of Corp. Thomas John Martin, Co. F. from "History of Beaver County, 1888.
History of Beaver County, 1888
Page 643
Shipman N. Douthitt, manufacturer, Beaver Falls, was born in Big Beaver township May 8, 1835, and is a son of Robert and Phebe (Newkirk) Douthitt. His paternal grandfather was Joseph Douthitt, of Carlisle, Pa., who settled in Chipewa township in 1796. His children were: Thomas, Barbara (Mrs. Henry Veon), Peter, Robert, Daniel, Eliza (Mrs. Samuel Conn), Duncan, Jonathan, Henry, Anthony, Mary (Mrs. Francis Gilkey), and John. His maternal grandfather was Henry Newkirk, a pioneer of Big Beaver township. Robert Douthitt was born in Chippewa township, where he resided for many years. He was a blacksmith; also carried on a farm and kept tavern in Chippewa township. He retired when the Fort Wayne railroad was built, and since 1885 has been a resident of Mercer county. He reared a family of five children: Anthony W., Mary E. (deceased), Shipman N., Robert J. and Rebecca A. (Mrs. T.B. Satterfield). Shipman N. was raised in Chippewa township. He enlisted August, 1861, in Company D 100th P.V.I., and was at the battles of James Island, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Fall of Vicksburg, and through the Wilderness campaign to Petersburg. He was promoted first sergeant, and honorably discharged in September, 1864. He then engaged in farming in Chippewa township until 1870, when he located iin Beaver Falls, and for nine months was engaged in the grocery business. In 1872 he embarked in the lumber business in Michigan and Beaver Falls, in which he is still engaged, and is a member of the Beaver Falls Planing Mill Company, with which he has been identified for twelve years. Mr. Douthitt was married, in 1864, to Sarah C., daughter of Major W.H. and Tabitha (Bowles) Powers of Big Beaver township, by whom he had one daughter, Carrie (now Mrs. William Raymer). Mr. Douthitt is a member of the I.O.O.F., A.O.U.W., G.A.R. and U.V.L. Politically, he is a Democrat.