B. T. Boylan Biography


	This biography appears on pages 947-948 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	B. T. BOYLAN, one of the influential citizens and business men of 
Armour, Douglas county, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having 
been born in Beaver Dam, Dodge county, on the 19th of August, 1858. He 
was the second in order of birth of the eleven children of Howard and 
Delight (Howe) Boylan, and of the number nine are still living, namely 
Charles F., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Mitchell, 
this state; B. T., who is the subject of this sketch; Lucy M., who is 
the wife of B. I. Salinger, of Carroll, Iowa; Daisy D., who is the wife 
of F. W. Lindsay of Arelia, Iowa; Samuel H., who is a law student at 
Carroll, Iowa; Thomas H., who is chief clerk in the office of the Iowa 
state railroad commissioner. in Des Moines; Nellie, who is the wife of 
J. W. Powers, of Mitchell, South Dakota; Henry A., who is agent for the 
J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company at Mitchell; and David W., who is 
court stenographer at Carroll, Iowa. Howard Boylan, the father of the 
subject, was born in the state of New York, and when he was still a boy 
his parents removed thence to Dodge county, Wisconsin locating near 
Beaver Dam, where he was reared to maturity. He there learned the trade 
of marble cutting and was engaged in this line of enterprise in Beaver 
Dam for a number of years, during which time he continued to reside on 
his farm, in the immediate vicinity. In 1877 he removed to Cherokee 
county. Iowa, becoming one of the honored pioneers of that section 
where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which 
occurred in 1884. He rendered valiant and arduous service as a 
government scout during the war of the Rebellion, and the results of 
this rigorous service were to so seriously impair his health that he 
died in the prime of life, having been about forty-eight years of age 
at the time of his demise. He was a staunch Republican in politics and 
his religious faith was that of the Methodist church, while he was a 
man of sterling character, commanding the respect of all who knew him. 
His devoted wife, who was born in New York, is now living at Aurelia, 
Iowa.  

	B. T. Boylan remained at the parental home until he had attained 
the age of seventeen years, while his early educational advantages were 
such as were afforded in the public schools. In 1876, in company with 
his brother Charles, he went to Cherokee county, Iowa, settling on a 
farm owned by their father, who joined them there a year later, 
whereupon our subject and his brother purchased farms of their own in 
that county, where he continued to devote his attention to the 
cultivation of the same until 1882, when he came to South Dakota, 
locating on a homestead claim nineteen miles northwest of the present 
town of Armour. He proved up on this farm, and two years later, in 
1884, took up his residence in Grand View, which was then the county 
seat of Douglas county, where he engaged in the implement business. In 
1887, when the town of Armour was platted and established he removed 
his business to this place, where he has since conducted operations in 
the line, though he now handles only heavy farm machinery. In 1899 Mr. 
Boylan also engaged in the real estate business and he is now one of 
the successful operators in this line in the state.  

	In politics Mr. Boylan gives a stanch and unequivocal allegiance 
to the Republican party. In 1894 he was elected county treasurer, 
giving a most careful and able administration and being chosen as his 
own successor two years later. In 1900 he was elected to represent his 
district in the state legislature, serving one term and proving a 
valuable working member of the house. Fraternally he is identified with 
Lodge No. 97, Free and Accepted Masons, in Armour; the chapter of Royal 
Arch Masons, at Mitchell, and Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, in 
Mitchell. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of the Maccabees. 

	In November, 1886, Mr. Boylan was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
E. Lawrence, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and they are the parents of 
three children, Lawrence H., Baird T. and Lulu.