Abner Doble (1890 - 1961)

Born 26 Mar 1890 in San Francisco, California, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1961 at age 71 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rebecca Wilson [send private message]

Abner Doble is Notable.

Biography

He was born on 26 Mar 1890 in San Francisco, California, USA and was the son of Mary Emerson (Dolliver) and William Ashton Doble.

By the age of eight he apprenticed at his family's factory. Between 1906 and 1909, while attending high school, Ab and brothers John, Warren, and Bill built their first steam car in their parents' basement. It was composed of parts taken from a wrecked White steamer but reconfigured to be driven by an engine of their own design. Though it did not run well, the Doble brothers went on to build a second and third prototype in the following years.

Abner Doble first married on 28 February 1910 to Helen Augusta Davis. ^[1] They had three children and divorced in 1927. ^[2]

In 1921 he established Doble Steam Motors Corporation in San Francisco, California, USA. He was an inventor and automotive pioneer of steam cars - one of the best ever made.

Abner Doble married secondly to (Mildred) Alene Harris (1898–1980).

During legal struggles and the depths of the Great Depression, his company closed for good in 1932. Even though his company failed, he dream carried on. In later years he worked in Germany, New Zealand and England as a steam power consultant to locomotive manufacturers.

In 1937 he and his wife returned to the USA and resided in Michigan, USA.

Ill health forced him into retirement and in 1950 he moved to Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Shortly after entering a hospital he passed away of a heart attack on 16 July 1961 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA. ^{[3] [4] [5]} No burial services were held as he willed his body to the medical school at the University of California at Berkeley with remains returned to the family. ^[6]

In 1972 he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on the campus of Northwood Institute in Midland, Michigan, USA. ^[7]

Children

1. Lee Ashton Doble 1912–1984
2. Helen Augusta Doble, b: 14 Feb 1915 CA; d: 20 Jun 1998 AZ
3. Dorothy Doble
4. Abner Proctor Doble, Jr. 1919–1930.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriages published on p9 in "San Francisco Call" on 02 Mar 1910; via newspapers.com with image
2. ↑ "Mrs. Abner Files Divorce Suit" published on p19 of "San Francisco Examiner" 18 Mar 1926; via newspapers.com
3. ↑ California Death Index 1905-1939 on FamilySearch.org citing Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department in Sacramento, CA; certificate #28248; for Abner Doble, d: 06 May 1930
4. ↑ "Abner Doble, of Steam Car Fame, Dead" published on on 18 July 1961 on p1 of "Oakland Tribune"; via newspapers.com; which mentioned wife#2
5. ↑ "Steam Auto Inventor Dies in SR" published on 18 July 1961 on p6 of "Press Democrat" of Santa Rosa, California; via newspapers.com; which mentioned wife#2
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #186902572 for Abner Doble, b: 26 Mar 1890 San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA; d: 17 Jul 1961 Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA; body donated to medical science
7. ↑ "Automotive Hall of Fame" for Abner Doble

• 1910 USA Census of San Francisco, San Francisco County, California; on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#1,374,113; NARA#T624; roll#100; ed#234; sheet#5B; family#136; with Abner Doble in household of Robert L. Durham

• USA World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918 on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#1,675,202; NARA#M1509; for Abner Doble, res: 1917 Detroit City, Michigan, USA

• USA Passport Applications 1795-1925 on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#1,579,734; certificate #55447; for Abner Doble, res: 1919 California

• 1920 USA Census of Berkeley, Alameda County, California; on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#1,820,092; NARA roll#T625_92; ed#163; sheet#13A; line#36; family#254; for Abner Doble

• 1940 USA Census of Park, Ottawa County, Michigan; on ancestry.com citing sheet#8B; visit#183; which included ...

50 Doble Abner, b: c1890 California; res1935: England; occ: mechanical engineer;

39 Doble Alene (wife#2).

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Doble

Acknowledgments

• Doble-117 was created by granddaughter, Rebecca Ross