James Doran was born in 1841 in Emily, Victoria, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Doran came to Bemidji with his family about 1898 and was formerly engaged in business here and was highly respected. He purchased the property at 213 Third Street in 1900 for $400. A daughter Mrs. Jennie (Doran) Plummer died at Bemidji in 1901.
James Doran and William Blocker filed with the County Auditor their intention to run for the nomination on the Republican ticket for County Commissioner in the first district in July 1902. Both were regarded as good men. In October, James Doran was the Republican candidate for Commissioner of the First District. He was paid several times by county commissioners for livery service for the county physician or for livery service to transport quarantined patients.
James Doran died on February 4, 1904. The funeral group left his house and proceeded to St. Philip’s Catholic church under the auspices of the Catholic foresters.
His wife, Ellen, became one of Bemidji’s most beloved old time residents. A resident of 607 Irvine Avenue, she entered St. Anthony hospital and died on April 23, 1920 after a confinement of several months. Surviving her were a daughter, Mrs. P. J. O’Leary of Bemidji, a son, Charles, Doran of Savannah, Illinois., a son-in-law, Charles Plummer Bemidji, a granddaughter, Mrs. Ethel Redmond of Minneapolis, and two grand sons, Arthur O’Leary and Myron Plummer of Bemidji.