Dennis James Doherty entered the world on November 9, 1889, in Chicago, IL. He was the first member of the Doherty family to be born in America. Father Callahan baptized him at the Church of the Holy Angels on November 22, 1889, just a few months after his parents Denis and Katherine were married there. His baptismal sponsor was his mother's sister Mary Moran.
Dennis was medium height and weight, with blue eyes and black hair. As a young man, he followed in his father’s footsteps, working as teamster. After that he worked as an office clerk, but struggled to remain employed. With no job and World War I raging, he was drafted into the Army on September 17, 1917 and stationed at Camp Grant in Rockford, IL. He left for Europe on February 10, 1918 and returned a year later as a Sergeant in Company B 116th Supply Train 41st Division. With the war over, he was discharged on March 24, 1919 and returned to find work as a clerk.
On September 19, 1928 he married Miss Viola Anna Ella Zeisig. Violet, as she was known, was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and 12 years younger than Dennis. They never had any children. The two lived on Drexel Boulvard, a wide street on the South side of Chicago a few blocks off of Lake Michigan with a parkway running down the middle. Dennis eventually quit his job as a clerk and by 1940 opened Doherty’s restaurant at 5008 Cottage Grove Avenue, near their apartment.
Dennis was an active Democrat. For thirty years he served as the Democratic ward organization president for Chicago’s 4th Ward. He planned to run for 4th Ward Committeeman in 1952 before being talked out of it. In 1940, he signed a petition in support of getting the Communist Party on the ballot in Illinois. His activism got his name included on a list published by the Committee on Un-American Activities.
In August of 1949, Richard Watts, a teller at the National Bank of Hyde Park, embezzled $2821.71. He was arrested and when questioned he admitted to a gambling problem that included placing bets at Dinny Doherty’s and two other bars. The police moved to shutdown these illegal gambling operations, and by 1951, Dennis had moved his restaurant to 7100 Stony Island Avenue. In November 1953, Dennis was a witness in a court case for Joseph Galvin, a police officer accused of taking bribes. Again, accusations of gambling were made. When Dennis took the stand he denied ever running a handbook at his old restaurant and claimed the money he took from Galvin was a small loan.
Denny Doherty’s Restaurant operated successfully for seven years until a massive fire raged through the restaurant in 1958. After that, Dennis separated from his business partner Red McNamara. Red reopened where Doherty’s had been and Dennis moved Doherty’s down the street to 8720 Stony Island Avenue.
Dennis died on March 13, 1960 at the age of 70. He was buried with his parents and his sister at Mount Olivet Cemetery. His tomb is honored with a military headstone.
Born: November 9, 1889 - Chicago, IL
Died: March 13, 1960 - Chicago, IL
Children: None
Baptismal Record with sponsor Mary Moran, "Mrs. Foster"
WWI Transport Record
1940 Census Record
Gambling Accusations Against Dennis Doherty's Restaurant
Advertisement for Doherty's Restaurant
Dennis Doherty Headstone
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