Biographical Sketch of Charles A. Boyles, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Charles A. Boyles, ex-county clerk of Johnson county, and proprietor of the Five and Ten Cents Store of Warrensburg, is a native of Ohio. He was born January 28, 1848 in Athens county, Ohio, son of Martin and Charlotta (Francis) Boyles, the latter a native of Ohio. Martin and Charlotta (Francis) Boyles were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary E. Matheney, deceased; Minerva, who died at the age of six- teen years; Charles A., the subject of this review; and Martin A., who is a retired farmer of Athens county, Ohio. Martin Boyles died on a boat on the Mississippi river as the result of cholera, which he con- tracted while on his way to Iowa. He was taken to Keokuk, Iowa for burial and his widow then returned to the old home in Ohio. She died in Ohio at the age of 83 years and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery in Athens county, Ohio. Charles A. Boyles received his education in the public schools of Athens county, Ohio, and Miller Seminary, which is located in the same county. At the age of seventeen years he entered the teaching profession in which he was engaged until he came to Johnson county, Missouri in April, 1868. He came West with John C. Crawford and the two young men passed the examination for teachers certificates in the old Warrensburg courthouse. John C. Craw- ford, an estimable, young man and an excellent teacher, will be remem- bered by the people of Centerview who were living there in the early days, for he was employed there as teacher for six years. He then left Centerview and located in Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri. Charles A. Boyles did not follow the original plan of the two young men and engage in teaching but entered the employ of J. B. Wolfe, who was con- ducting a general store at Jamestown, Missouri. Mr. Boyles began his duties as clerk and bookkeeper in the fall of 1868 and continued in the employ of J. B. Wolfe for six years. When the hard times of 1873 came, Mr. Wolfe was forced to make an assignment and to discontinue business. Mr. Boyles was then employed as teacher in the Jamestown school, which position he held for six consecutive years teching nine months each year. In March, 1881 he bought a half interest in Theodore Hyatt's general store at Fayetteville, Missouri and after eight years in this establishment sold his interest back to Mr. Hyatt and came to Warrens- burg where he was employed as clerk by the Shepard's Dry Goods Company for ten years. Charles Boyles was then elected county clerk of Johnson county and at the expiration of his first term in office was re-elected thus serving the county faithfully and well a term of eight years. Mr. Boyles was one of the county's best and most conscientious officials. It was during his incumbency that the County Home was erected and name given to the home for the poor and destitute was the suggestion of Mr. Boyles. Judge J. A. Anderson was presiding at the time and Mr. Boyles, he, and the two other judges drove out one day to examine conditions at the county farm. They were much impressed by the sad state of affairs there and by the great need for improvement and upon their return began to make plans for the betterment of the institution and almost immedi- ately after, the poorhouse burned. A new locating was decided upon and the county purchased the present site of the County Home because of its beautiful surroundings and splendid location. The money for the new home was raised in three years' time, the amount raised by the first assessment being eleven thousand dollars. The year following the burn- ing of the old home the building of the new was undertaken and Johnson county now has as handsome and comfortable home for the dependents as is to be found in the state of Missouri. Mr. Boyles made many helpful and valuable suggestions to the board concerning the home and grounds, many of which were adopted and thus the chapel is one of the principle features of the home. Mr. Boyles also introduced several innovations while serving as county clerk, improvements relative to the systematiz- ing of the work which have proven by the test of time to be of inestimable value to the county. Two of these are the County Ward Book and the County Bridge Book. The former shows the name and date of discharge of each ward of the county sent to reformatories or prisons and the latter gives the number and specifications of each bridge built in the county. The framework of the different bridges also bears the same number of the bridge as given in the County Bridge Book, of which bridge the framework is a part. Charles A. Boyles was for two years associated with George O. Hart as manager of the general store. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Boyles opened a Five and Ten Cents store on the site of the Miller Jewelry store and three years later moved to the present location, and went into partnership with Charles D. Middleton and Harry Jennings. One year later he bought out Harry Jennings and the ensuing year, 1911, bought out Charles Middleton and has since that time conducted the store alone. He began business in 1909 with a capital of fifteen hundred dollars and now carries a stock valued at ten thousand dollars. The store building, which is located at 309 and 311 North Holden street, has a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of one hundred two feet. Both the first and second floors are occupied and the stock is neatly and conveniently arranged. Five clerks are employed by Mr. Boyles and he and his wife also assist with the sales. Extra help is secured for the Saturday trade. A ladies' rest room has been provided by Mr. Boyles for the comfort of his women patrons. He has spared no labor or expense in making his store thoroughly up to date. December 28, 1880, Charles A. Boyles and Isley O. McElvain, the daughter of Samuel and Melinda (Bosthwick) McElvain, were united in marriage. Mrs. Boyles' parents came to Johnson county, Missouri from Kentucky. Both father and mother are now deceased and their remains are interred in Oak Grove cemetery. To Charles A. and Isley O. (McElvain) Boyles has been born a daughter, Lilias May, who is the wife of Dr. Thomas W. Ross, of St. Louis, Missouri and they reside in University City, a suburb of St. Louis. By a former marriage with Dovie Kerren, Mr. Boyles has a son, Emmet C., who resides in Chicago, Illinois. Since he was twelve years of age, Charles A. Boyles has been a member of the Presbyterian church and he has been active in church work practically all his life. He was appointed field secretary of the Ministerial Sustentation Association of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, but the work, though pleasant, kept Mr. Boyles away from home so much that after one year he resigned his posi- tion. He was elected commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which met in Denver, Colorado in 1909, and both he and Mrs. Boyles attended. For twenty years he was permanent secre- tary and member of the executive committee of the Sabbath School Assembly of the Synod of Missouri, the meetings of which were held annually at Pertle Springs where the best talent in the United States was brought. Mr. Boyles is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons with whom he affiliated at Jamestown in 1871. He has been Worshipful Master for the past five years. Charles A. Boyles is one of Johnson county's most prominent and progressive citizens. He has always been deeply interested in all movements which have for their object the improvement and moral uplift of the community. For several years, he conducted a free employment bureau at his store, and in many ways he has contributed much towards helping his fellow man. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================