BOYLE, Harry D., b 1862; 1905 Bio, Montrose County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/montrose/bios/boylehd.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 7, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Harry D. Boyle The scion of an old family whose history in various places on the Atlantic slope is altogether creditable from early colonial times, and whose record in peace and war, in public and in private life, in Ireland where it was domesticated from time immemorial, was among the best of the prominent families in that country, Harry D. Boyle, of Montrose, residing on the old Chief Ouray ranch, is true to the traditions and aspirations of his forefathers, and like them has been a prospector in new territory and a conqueror of the wilderness. The early American members of the family helped to colonize Maryland and to plant the banner of religious liberty on the soil of that state, and from there in time went forth into the interior of the country, extending the blessings of the freedom and civilization of which they were always strong and prominent advocates. Some of them were among the first settlers of Kentucky, and it is to this branch of the family that Mr. Boyle belongs. He was born in 1862, at Chillicothe, Livingston county, Missouri, whither his parents moved from the Blue Grass state while they were young, the father coming at the dawn of his manhood and the mother with her parents before she reached years of maturity. They became acquainted in Missouri and were married there, and there the father passed the rest of his life engaged in bridge building and other mechanical work, dying in 1883, aged sixty-five years. He was an ardent Democrat in politics and, like others of the family elsewhere, was prominent in the local affairs of his section. His widow is now a resident of Oklahoma, and has reached the age of seventy-seven. Their children number nine, of whom the son Harry is the seventh. The first fifteen years of his life were passed in Missouri, and were in no respects worthy of special notice different from those of other boys in his class and locality. At the age of fifteen he took up the burden of life for himself by making his way to the pan-handle of Texas and joining the army of daring men and boys who were there conducting the stock industry. After an experience of thirteen years in this dangerous but exhilarating life he came to Colorado and settled at Silverton, remaining there for a year, and thereafter going over the greater part of the Western slope by easy stages and making an extended trip through Arizona and the intermediate country into Washington and the Alberta country in Canada. He also spent a year in the livery business at Telluride, this state, and did contracting and team work there. He then came to his present location on the old ranch made historic as the former home of the Ute Indian Chief Ouray, on which the old government supply house is still standing. The residence of the chief in his day and now of Mr. Boyle, on this ranch cost about ten thousand dollars, all the lumber used in its construction being freighted from Pueblo. It was built in 1876, and since then has sheltered many distinguished men and cultivated ladies, among those who have brightened its chambers with their cheer or darkened its portals with the shadow of an ominous presence being soldiers and civilians of high degree, cattle kings and cowboys, and moist, merry men in moods of mirth. Mr. Boyle here conducts a general farming and stock industry of large proportions, keeping the standard of his products high and the breeds of his stock pure. He also buys and sells cattle extensively. In 1891 he was married to Miss Cora Rhodes, a native of Colorado, a daughter of M. and S.J. Rhodes, and has four children, Maud, Mellie, Susie, and Rosa, who died May 20, 1904. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.