Doolittle Home

The Doolittle family was among Cheshire's early settlers, and this undated historic image, with the residents standing proudly in the front yard, illustrates the simple homesteads of these early residents. The fence in front and the shed in the rear are a reminder that most 19th century Cheshire residents were farmers, working lands behind their homes and sometimes also leasing land at a distance. Mark Doolittle came to Cheshire from Connecticut in 1814, liked what he saw, and returned the following year with his family of 15 in a prairie schooner. The Doolittles settled up and down Main Street, including Lyman W. Doolittle and his family, who lived in this home around the turn of the 20th century. The industrious Doolittle family included farmers, harness makers, a tax collector, and the dealer in boots and shoes up the street.