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John Bue McDougall  TEXAS DICTATIONS
(Grayson County.) 1887. Denison, Texas Taken from J.B.
McDougal Was born in New
York State in 1827. When 10 years of age ran
away from home and was a sailor for 7 years,
he then went to South America, remaining
there until 1849, when he went to California
during the gold excitement, remaining there
until 1853. He then went to the headwaters
of the Amazon, started 300 strong but only
25 got through, and there 18 months. He then
went to New York, making a trip to Holland,
then to England, returning to New York, he
was then through Iowa. He then went to the
Pike's Peak excitement in Colo. And while in
the state located the town of Breckinridge.
Have traveled all through the West.
In September 1872 came to Denison,
located first at McKinney then back to
Kansas before locating. Mr. McDougal was
engaged in the teaming business when he
first came to Denison and soon got started
in the Liquor business. Mr. McDougal now
owns several fine blocks, the Opera House,
and McDougal Hotel. March 1873 [he settled for good]
in Denison.  From; The Denison Herald July 25, 1972 FROM SCOTLAND - John McDouglass was a native of Glengarry, Scotland, and one of Denison's most substantial citizens. He was identified with the city from the start and served on the City Council. He invested largely in real estate and his investments proved profitable. He owned a handsome 2-story brick store ho use in which he carried liquor and tobacco. In the next eleven years, McDougall became a power in the community. In 1878, he was the founder of the Denison and Pacific Railway. In 1880 or 1881, he opened the Denison (later McDougall) Opera House on property he had bought in 1875. The opera house occupied the second and third floors on the imposing structure. John built two smaller buildings just west of it at the same time (all together, 221-227 West Main). In 1882-83, John reportedly served as the "builder-architect" of an imposing residence constructed for George Braun at 421 North Austin Avenue, using German carpenters. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The 1887-88 Denison City Directory listed John as president of the Denison Electric Light and Power Company; proprietor and manager of the Denison Opera House above 221 West Main; and proprietor of the Bank Exchange Saloon, 227 West Main (it was next door to the First National Bank). McDougall and Aulson S. Bouchard had formed a partnership and were operating the McDougall Hotel at the Union Station. Bouchard managed the hotel and lived there.  McDougall Hotel, Denison. Source: Art Work of Grayson County (1895)  Meanwhile, John had built a residence at 412 West Morton Street, where he would live for the rest of his life. The French architect, Pierre Lelardoux who designed and built many of the early buildings & homes in Denison was the architect for the residence which was completed in 1900.  412 West Morton Street Denison, Texas "Residence of J.B. McDougall." Robinson, Frank M., comp. Industrial Denison. [N.p.] : Means-Moore Co., [ca. 1909]. Page 59 For many years, the big Morton Street house sheltered John, his wife, Margaret, and her three children. In January 1913, George married Daisy Bryant McLynn (1878 - 1943), and she joined the household. Their daughter, Miss Florence Moulton, became a Catholic nun on December 1, 1887 in Maryville, Missouri at the age of eighteen. The 1891 City Directory listed McDougall as vice president, Denison Light and Power Company; proprietor and manager, Denison Opera House; and proprietor, Bank Exchange Saloon. McDougall and Bouchard were proprietors of the McDougall Hotel; the Albany Hotel and Bar, 324-326 West Main; and the McDougall Hotel Steam Laundry, 224 West Woodard. By 1896, McDougall was listed in the Denison City Directory as sole owner of the hotel, laundry, opera house, and Bank Exchange Saloon. An "Alson" S. Bouchard turns up in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1901, as president of the National Laundry Company there. In 1898 when he was nearing 80
years of age, he was founder of the Snow White
Laundry at 314 W. Woodard. In 1905, he was founder of the Denison Bank and Trust, 229 West Main Street. He also joined Walter S. Hibbard in creating the Denison Grocer Company, 112-114 North Houston Avenue. The 1907 City Directory listed McDougall as the firm's vice president. In addition, he helped found the State National Bank. 300 West Main Street, and Southwestern Surety Insurance. The year 1907 saw some changes in McDougall's properties. He closed the opera house and opened the Palace Theater at 227 West Main, to show moving pictures. The Palace closed in March, 1908, after only one season. McDougall
died in 1920, and his businesses passed to
his stepson, George D. Moulton.
The Wichita
J.B. McDouglall was buried in
Calvary Cemetery, Denison, Texas, alongside
his wife, Margaret, who died in 1917. McDougall's splendid residence at 412 West Morton Street, after passing through several private hands, became the inn of Many Faces Bed and Breakfast. It is the scene of weddings, parties, and weekend outings for guest from far and wide.
In October 14, 2016 the sale of the former McDougall House by Judy Johnson & Pat Gunter was completed and the house became the property of Glen and Doris Davis; they renamed the house Davis on Morton. Both Margaret and John B. McDougall are buried in Calvary Cemetery. The three stained-glass windows behind the altar at St. Patrick's Catholic Church were placed there by McDougall in memory of members of his family.
 
In 1886 J.B. McDougall donated the bell to St. Patrick's Catholic Church; two years later he purchased an organ for the chapel of the Sacred Heart Convent where his daughter was attending school. Biography Index  Susan Hawkins ©2025 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message.  |
