S. L. Doty was born in Greene county, Tennessee, August 13, 1831. His parents, Jesse and Rebecca Doty, were both natives of Tennessee. Azre Doty, grand-father of S. L. Doty, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and was under General Marion, ” the Swamp Fox.” Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen began to learn the cabinet-making trade, which he made his business until 1865, and since that time he has been farming. He came to Missouri in 1853 and settled in Liberty, Clay county, where he remained four years, then removed to Platte City, Platte county, and in 1865 came to this county and settled on a farm, where he now resides.
Mr. Doty was united in marriage February 21, 1858, to Miss Mary M. Wills, who was born in Clay county, Missouri, August 18, 1840. Her family is of Scottish descent, her grandfather having emigrated from Scotland to this country before the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Doty have three children: Charles F., born July 31, 1861; Augustus H., born December 14, 1865; and Clara B., born September 26, 1868.