Dole, George W.

Dole moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1831 and became the city's first merchant. He served on the board of trustees and as town treasurer. During the Black Hawk War, he served as first lieutenant in Gholson Kercheval's company of Chicago volunteers. Dole also served as a customs inspector during the 1840s. In September 1850, Millard Fillmore appointed him postmaster. He also sat on Chicago's Board of Alderman at various times. In 1853, he married Julia Brown, who died in 1865. Dole also became involved in the Kansas Free-Soil movement.

A. T. Andreas, History of Chicago (Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1884), 1:115, 122, 144, 147, 184, 432, 450; Ellen M. Whitney, comp., The Black Hawk War, 1831-1832: Illinois Volunteers, vol. 35 of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1970), 1:550-51; William F. M. Arny to Abraham Lincoln; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), *527; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1845-1855, 18:34, National Archives Building, Washington, DC.