BOYLE, GEORGE E.

BOYLE, BROWN, LEWIS, BUTLER, CANNON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/21/2004 at 15:07:33

Biography reproduced from page 140 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

George E. Boyle, who has been a resident of Kossuth county for more than a third of a century, is a prominent factor in financial circles as the president of the Whittemore State Bank, in the organization and incorporation of which he assisted in 1893. His birth occurred in Geneva, Walworth county, Wisconsin, on the 26th of July, 1846, his parents being Charles and Margery (Brown) Boyle, the former a native of Harpers Ferry, Maryland, and the latter of Enniskillen, Ireland. Charles Boyle, whose natal year was 1818, accompanied his parents on their removal to New York at an early date and in 1836 went with them to Wisconsin. In that state he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, following farming until called to his final rest on the 6th of May, 1869, when fifty-one years of age. His wife, who was born in 1817, passed away in June, 1891.

George E. Boyle was reared and educated in the state of his nativity, gaining his early knowledge in a log schoolhouse on his father’s farm. He resided at home until thirty-one years of age and at the time of his father’s death had been made executor of the estate. In 1877 he came to Kossuth county, Iowa, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land five miles north of Whittemore, which he improved and cultivated for thirteen years. On the expiration of that period he leased the property and took up his abode in Whittemore, where he was engaged in buying stock and also in writing insurance for one year. Mr. Boyle and Corry Ridgeway then opened a bank, conducting the same until 1893, when the former became one of the organizers and incorporators of the Whittemore State Bank. He was chosen president of the institution and has held that position continuously since, his fellow officers being as follows: J. M. Farley, vice president; Thomas Carmody, cashier; Mark Boyle, assistant cashier. Mr. Boyle is a man of excellent executive ability and keen discrimination in financial matters and his able management has been an important factor in the continued growth and success of the bank of which he is the head. He has mining interests in Alaska and Montana and also owns land in Minnesota and North Dakota. At one time he conducted a real-estate office in Whittemore and still owns considerable property here.

Mr. Boyle has been married twice. On the 17th of November, 1869, he wedded Miss Anna Lewis, a daughter of James and Catherine (Lewis) Lewis, both of whom were natives of England. Their union was blessed with two sons, namely: Lewis C., whose demise occurred on the 18th of July, 1909; and Mark, who acts as assistant cashier of the Whittemore State Bank. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in October, 1893, passing away after an illness of four years. On the 20th of January, 1902, Mr. Boyle was again married, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Butler, a daughter of J. C. and Mary (Cannon) Butler, natives of Ireland. They emigrated to New Jersey at an early date and subsequently removed to Illinois. In 1890 they came to Kossuth county, Iowa, where Mr. Butler purchased a farm, being actively engaged in its operation until he passed away on the 6th of November, 1891. His widow, who has now attained the age of seventy-six years, makes her home in Whittemore.

In politics Mr. Boyle is a stanch republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Algona. His wife is a devoted communicant of the Catholic church. While giving close attention to his personal interests, he has never lost sight of his duty as a citizen, being deeply interested in all matters pertaining to the public welfare and giving of his time and means toward the advancement and promotion of the community at large.