WILLIAM C. BOYLE, merchant, was born may 6, 1819, in Somerset County, N.J. At the tender age of two and one-half years, his mother died, at which time he went to live with his uncle, William Boyle, where he lived twenty years, and had a comfortable, happy home. At the age of twenty-one, he received a fall from a hickory tree, a distance of fifty-five feet, from which he received injuries that are a discomfiture to this day; his business had been farming; he next bought a store and sold goods for three years, while in New Jersey; later made a trip to Illinois for two seasons, and moved to this State in fall of 1848, settling in Jersey County. In 1851, he moved from Jersey County to Coles County, Ill; here he remained until 1867; he then went to Mattoon, where he lived nearly two years (visiting his New Jersey home eight months of this time). He then moved to Ashmore, in 1869, where he remained three years; thence to Oakland one year, keeping livery in connection with farming; thence to Arcola in 1873, and has been a resident here ever since, traveling and selling goods; he has been quite succesful in business, and is classed among the goood responsible citizens of the county.

He was married in 1843 to Mary A., daughter of William and Sarah Annin, of New Jersey; eight children blessed this union - Robert A., of the Sixty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry (was taken prisoner at Resaca battle, thence to Andersonville, and although all possible means have been used to learn of him, he has never been heard from since; it is quite presumable that he starved in that prison); Martha, the wife of J. V. W, Annin, lives in Coles County; Anna A., the wife of H. V. Ames (deceased) ; Arah E., deceased ; Mary L., the wife of Conrad Theobold, of Mason County; Henry M.,; Lydia A., the wife of Robert Cross, of Macon County; Catherine. Mrs. Mary Boyle died May 30, 1860, at the age of forty. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr B.'s second marriage, December 4, 1860, was to Jane E. Taylor, of Illinois. They had three children, two of whom died in infancy. Isabella G is still living. The mother died January 5, 1866, at the age of thirty-nine. She also was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. B's third marriage, March 3, 1870, was to Clementine Todd, Daughter of Thomas Todd, elsewhere mentioned. They have one child - William Herbert. Both Parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. B. is a Republican, with strong Prohibition tendicies.

William C. Boyle's great-grandfather, Soloman Boyle, was supercargo on a vessel, and was robbed by the notorious Blue Beard.

William's great-grandmother, wife of the above (Susannah Peltro) was a French Huguenot, and escaped massacre by taking food in her apron, and telling the sentries she was going to visit a sick woman. On arriving at the wharf, she took passage on a waiting vessel and escaped.

Original data: County of Douglas, Illinois : historical and biographical : with an outline sketch of the Northwest Territory and of the state of Illinois.. Chicago: F.A. Battery & Co., 1884.

Re: William's son, Robert: U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, says that Robert survived the war. His father (William) filed for Robert's pension on June 8, 1885, so it seems that Robert died before that date.
Contributor: Prairie Mary (47510724) •