Dorris Sidney “Shug” Laughlin

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Dorris Sidney “Shug” Laughlin Veteran

Birth
Lineville, Wayne County, Iowa, USA
Death
14 Jan 1982 (aged 82)
Lineville, Wayne County, Iowa, USA
Burial
Lineville, Wayne County, Iowa, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Shug is pronounced as if you're saying the first half of the word sugar.

Shug loved hunting and fishing. He retired after 40 years of work as an earth moving contractor. He opened an 80 acre pasture with two ponds well stocked with fish, and made it available for free use to the public. A newspaper article reported, "Laughlin, 66, hopes that fishermen and families who enjoy a night of camping out will make use of the area whenever weather is suitable, the only requirement being that they "keep the gates closed."

The 80 acre pasture is part of a 280 acre Decatur County farm near the Weldon River about six miles west of Lineville. The larger pond, two and a half acres in size, was stocked with 400 bass and 300 channel catfish about 15 months ago. The smaller, one acre pond, was stocked six years ago. Laughlin, who likes to fish and hunt, even provides campfire wood free of charge near the ponds for campers and picnickers."

Shug was the owner of a rock moving business. Lineville or Chariton paper March 26 1936 said, "The rock project started last Wednesday when about 20 of the WPA left for the rock quarry west of Lineville under the supervision of D. S. Laughlin. They will get the ground cleared off and put in condition to start the work of blasting out the rock to take the streets of Lineville out of the mud.
Within the next two weeks enough rock should be taken out to start the rock crusher if the weather remains favorable.
Lineville streets have been in the mud and at times about impassable for vehicles of any kind not mentioning trucks and automobiles.

Another story
Moving Rock Crusher to F. Hawkins Farm
Dorris Laughlin, foreman of the WPA of Lineville, stated that the gang is moving their equipment to the Freeman Hawkins farm near Spring Valley.
They have secured a fourteen foot ledge of rock in their new location and are moving the rock crusher and hopper to begin operations at once. There are seventeen men on the job. So far, about 784 yards of the Lineville streets have been surfaced with the rock.

Shug helped build Nine Eagles State Park. I've spent many, many days at Nine Eagles enjoying family reunions and camping.

An amazing story the family likes to share is when Shug found a baby abandoned in his car. This is the newspaper article:
"Lineville Tribune June 17, 1926
A six week old baby boy was found by Dorris Laughlin about 11 o'clock Saturday night in his father's car just north of the Laughlin Variety Store. The baby had evidently been placed in the car some time after ten o'clock. The young fellow was wrapped in a baby shawl and a bundle containing baby clothing was also found in the seat of the car. The baby was laying on the floor of the car amid car tools, crying lustily when found, but as soon as he was served from a bottle of milk, quieted down and has since been a very peaceable citizen, evidently realizing that he should be good while a guest of the police as he was immediately taken over by City Marshal Hartley and wife.
If the parents are not found before Monday June 21, the baby will be taken into court and will be adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Hartley. The baby has made many friends from the dozens who have visited the Hartley home during the week. He is blue eyed and good-natured and as Mrs. Hartley remarked, "he hasn't cried enough to exercise his lungs." He is the recipient of many gifts, including cash presents and enough baby clothes, to put him through the winter. In case Mr. and Mrs. Hartley adopt him, the ladies about town plan a shower and plans have been made to buy him a crib, baby carriage, etc. If Mr. and Mrs. Hartley are good enough to give this baby a home he will fare mighty well in Lineville, because Lineville prides itself in making strangers welcome here.
In the meantime, the officers are working hard to locate the party or parties who left the youngster here and they will be prosecuted if found. Mr. Laughlin proprietor of the Variety Store and owner of the car, says that this is only one of the many things he plans to give away this summer. Next Saturday night it may be twins. So it will pay the trading public to call at his store on Saturday nights."

Shug's father was injured by stepping on a nail when he was a child and was given the nickname 'Sugarfoot' by his family after the foot was amputated. When Dorris was born, the family called him 'lil' sugarfoot', which was eventually shorted to "Shug", a nickname that stayed with him his whole life.

Shug was a Seaman in the Navy during WWI. His only son followed in his footsteps, joining the Navy during WWII. Harry was killed on the USS Boxer near the Philippines.

Shug led a wonderful life. He had many family and friends and he was loved by all who knew him.
__________________________________________________

Donna Oliver provided much of this history via Ancestry.com
Shug is pronounced as if you're saying the first half of the word sugar.

Shug loved hunting and fishing. He retired after 40 years of work as an earth moving contractor. He opened an 80 acre pasture with two ponds well stocked with fish, and made it available for free use to the public. A newspaper article reported, "Laughlin, 66, hopes that fishermen and families who enjoy a night of camping out will make use of the area whenever weather is suitable, the only requirement being that they "keep the gates closed."

The 80 acre pasture is part of a 280 acre Decatur County farm near the Weldon River about six miles west of Lineville. The larger pond, two and a half acres in size, was stocked with 400 bass and 300 channel catfish about 15 months ago. The smaller, one acre pond, was stocked six years ago. Laughlin, who likes to fish and hunt, even provides campfire wood free of charge near the ponds for campers and picnickers."

Shug was the owner of a rock moving business. Lineville or Chariton paper March 26 1936 said, "The rock project started last Wednesday when about 20 of the WPA left for the rock quarry west of Lineville under the supervision of D. S. Laughlin. They will get the ground cleared off and put in condition to start the work of blasting out the rock to take the streets of Lineville out of the mud.
Within the next two weeks enough rock should be taken out to start the rock crusher if the weather remains favorable.
Lineville streets have been in the mud and at times about impassable for vehicles of any kind not mentioning trucks and automobiles.

Another story
Moving Rock Crusher to F. Hawkins Farm
Dorris Laughlin, foreman of the WPA of Lineville, stated that the gang is moving their equipment to the Freeman Hawkins farm near Spring Valley.
They have secured a fourteen foot ledge of rock in their new location and are moving the rock crusher and hopper to begin operations at once. There are seventeen men on the job. So far, about 784 yards of the Lineville streets have been surfaced with the rock.

Shug helped build Nine Eagles State Park. I've spent many, many days at Nine Eagles enjoying family reunions and camping.

An amazing story the family likes to share is when Shug found a baby abandoned in his car. This is the newspaper article:
"Lineville Tribune June 17, 1926
A six week old baby boy was found by Dorris Laughlin about 11 o'clock Saturday night in his father's car just north of the Laughlin Variety Store. The baby had evidently been placed in the car some time after ten o'clock. The young fellow was wrapped in a baby shawl and a bundle containing baby clothing was also found in the seat of the car. The baby was laying on the floor of the car amid car tools, crying lustily when found, but as soon as he was served from a bottle of milk, quieted down and has since been a very peaceable citizen, evidently realizing that he should be good while a guest of the police as he was immediately taken over by City Marshal Hartley and wife.
If the parents are not found before Monday June 21, the baby will be taken into court and will be adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Hartley. The baby has made many friends from the dozens who have visited the Hartley home during the week. He is blue eyed and good-natured and as Mrs. Hartley remarked, "he hasn't cried enough to exercise his lungs." He is the recipient of many gifts, including cash presents and enough baby clothes, to put him through the winter. In case Mr. and Mrs. Hartley adopt him, the ladies about town plan a shower and plans have been made to buy him a crib, baby carriage, etc. If Mr. and Mrs. Hartley are good enough to give this baby a home he will fare mighty well in Lineville, because Lineville prides itself in making strangers welcome here.
In the meantime, the officers are working hard to locate the party or parties who left the youngster here and they will be prosecuted if found. Mr. Laughlin proprietor of the Variety Store and owner of the car, says that this is only one of the many things he plans to give away this summer. Next Saturday night it may be twins. So it will pay the trading public to call at his store on Saturday nights."

Shug's father was injured by stepping on a nail when he was a child and was given the nickname 'Sugarfoot' by his family after the foot was amputated. When Dorris was born, the family called him 'lil' sugarfoot', which was eventually shorted to "Shug", a nickname that stayed with him his whole life.

Shug was a Seaman in the Navy during WWI. His only son followed in his footsteps, joining the Navy during WWII. Harry was killed on the USS Boxer near the Philippines.

Shug led a wonderful life. He had many family and friends and he was loved by all who knew him.
__________________________________________________

Donna Oliver provided much of this history via Ancestry.com

Bio by: Renae