Rev. John Julius Doherty, D.D., was born on November 20, 1820 at Dungrood Castle, a small estate owned by his father in Vale Sharlow, County Tipperary, Ireland. He came to America in 1836, taught in a series of public schools in New York and began to study law. He became seriously ill with typhus and while recovering changed from law to theology and became a priest. He was assigned to St. John the Evangelist parish in Honesdale, PA in 1855. During the 37 years he lived in Honesdale, Father Doherty was a force for good, using his considerable talent for public speaking to raise money for charitable purposes and to champion the less fortunate. He was also instrumental in building a new church on the Cherry Ridge Road, now Terrace Street.

He died on April 7, 1896. One of the stipulations of his will left stock in the Honesdale National Bank in perpetuity to provide coal for the poor of Honesdale.

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society 810 Main St., Honesdale. The museum and research library are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and museum only 12 noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.