TEXAS DICTATIONS (Grayson County.) 1887.
H. H. Bancroft Collection
Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley
Department of Texas
L. S. Hatch, Manager

Denison, Texas
June 27, 1887

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.

Some facts are clearer, however, McDougall came to Denison from Kansas in mid-life and by 1876 was operating a wine and liquor store called Bank Exchange at 227 West Main Street and living at the same address.  Here Charles H. Moulton was employed as a bartender.



The Denison Herald
July 25, 1972

FROM SCOTLAND - John McDouglass was a native of Glengarry, Scotland, and on eof Denison's most substantial citizens.
He was identified with the city from the start and served on the City Co uncil.
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
Laredo Weekly Times
Sunday, November 7, 1920
pg. 7

AN OLD PIONEER
By Associated Press
Denison, Texas, November 1 - Colonel James [sic] B. McDougall, pioneer Grayson County resident who died here recently at the age of 1010, was one of the last survivors of the early days in North Texas, when the "six shooter" was the guarantee of a man's safety and when the law was in the hands of the powerful.
Col. McDougall was a heroic figure and his rugged nature and strong constitution kept him fit for business until ten days before his death.  He was acting vice-president of the Denison Bank and Trust Company at the time of his death and a director in various other financial institutions and concerns in Denison and North Texas.
The early settlers of North Texas recall "McDougall's Bar", a haven where good cheer and charity were dispensed with the beverages by the genial but tactiturn colonel.  Colonel McDougall came to Texas in the early 70's.  He amassed a fortune estimated at close to $1,000,000.

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.

Inn of Many Faces Bed & Breakfast
412 W. Morton St.
Photograph by Bryan Christopher Hander, c2010

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.