Michael Dougherty (1844-1930) was an Irish immigrant and Union soldier who served in Company B of the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry during the American Civil War. He emigrated to the United States from Falcarragh, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1859 at the age of 15. At 17, Dougherty enlisted in the Union Army and joined the Second Irish Dragoons, a cavalry battalion composed entirely of Irishmen. Captured in 1863 during the Battle of Jefferson, Virginia, he endured harsh conditions in several Confederate prisons, including the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp in Georgia, spending 23 months and 17 days as a prisoner of war. During his imprisonment, Dougherty kept a diary, which documented the brutal conditions and the resilience required to survive.

Dougherty was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Jefferson, where he led a detachment of his company across an open field, dislodging Confederate forces and defending their position against repeated attacks. Following the war, Dougherty returned to Bristol, Pennsylvania, where he served on the Borough Council from 1880 to 1882 and worked at the US Mint in Philadelphia. He was also a member of the Bristol Fire Company and was well-respected within the community. Dougherty married Rose Magee, and they had 12 children, three of whom died in infancy. His wife, Rose, passed away in 1906. Dougherty remained active in veterans' organizations, including the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), and participated in commemorative events such as the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. He was also instrumental in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, serving as the first Secretary of Division.