Boyles, Miles 1820-1884

BOYLES, BOYLE, WARREN, BOWEN, PATTERSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 12/15/2019 at 17:18:12

DIED - In this city, January 21st, 1884, Comrade Miles Boyles, aged 63 years, one month and two days.

Mr. Boyles was born in Ottawa Canada; his parents were natives of Ireland, who came to this country at an early day - the father died in Erie, Pa., in 1846, and the mother died in this city in 1869; her remains rest in Oakland Cemetery.

Miles received his education in the common schools of Erie county, Pa., and when sixteen years of age learned the trade of a millwright which he followed for about four years when he embarked in bridge building, engaged in that occupation on several railroads in the east. At the time of the Erie railway war he was appointed and served as Deputy U.S. Marshal, an office he admirably filled during the terms of Marshals, Frost and Kuser. After this official service he engaged in building the H. & St. J R'y and Albermarle canal.

At the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in the 83d Pa infantry for three months service, at the conclusion of this term he re-enlisted in the Engineer corps under Gen. McClellan, acting as assistant engineer on the line of the C., R. & Petersburg R'y; from this service he was transferred to the 11th Pa Cavalry and acted as guide under Gen. Dix on many important raids into the enemy's country. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge and returned to the old home in Erie, where he remained but a short time when he came to McGregor.

In 1845 he married Isabel Warren, of Erie, Pa. Nine children were born to them, three of whom are living in this city: Ald. Alonzo C., Frank T., and Mrs. Frank Bowen. Mrs. Boyles died in 1870 her remains rest in the family burial plat at Erie, Pa.

The career of Mr. Boyles in this county is well known to most of our readers. With his son Alonzo he has engaged in bridge building the firm having had numerous contracts in the county; many miles of the best bridges built in the late years are the result of Uncle Miles' genius; he was a master-workman who laid foundations and engineered the construction with a nicety and proportion that insured strength and durability.

Mr. Boyles had many noble qualities, and like all men his faults; who, pray, has not? Now, that the grave encloses his mortal remains the uneven part of an active and energetic life may be passed in silence, and so far as mankind shall be served emulate and cherish his virtues. The family have the sympathy and condolence of the community.

When sinks the soldier brave.
Dead at the feet of wrong.
The poet sings, and guards his grave
With sentiments of song.

Go, songs he gives command.
Keep faithful which and true;
The living and dead of the conquered land
Have now no guards, save you.

And ballads, mark you well.
Thrice hold is your trust;
Go out to the fields where warrors fell,
And sentinel their dust..

And the songs in stately rhyme,
With a softly sounding tread,
Marched forth to watch the end of line
Beside the silent dead.

When marble wears away
And monuments are dust,
The songs that guard our soldiers clay
Will still fulfill their trust.

The funeral occurred yesterday at the residence of his son, conducted by Rev. Bissell.

~North Iowa Times, Thursday, January 24, 1884

Note: His 1882 biography (see link below) gives his DOB as 12/19/1820 and parents as Miles and Mary (Patterson) Boyles. Surname is spelled either Boyles or Boyle in various records.

Miles Boyles 1882 bio
 

Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen