My Genealogy Hound

H. P. Doyle, chairman of the county court of Dyer County, was born in Dyersburg in 1841, and is a son of James H. and Eliza J. (Sampson) Doyle. The father was a native of McCracken County, Ky., born in 1811, being a son of John Doyle, one of the earliest settlers of western Kentucky. He continued to live in his native county until 1840, when he came to Dyersburg, where he soon after married. The next three years he clerked in a store, after which he bought out his employers, and continued the business for fifteen years. Later he engaged in farming near Newbern, in the Sixth District, where he died in February, 1861. For twelve years he served as clerk of the county court of Dyer County. His wife was also a native of Kentucky, born in 1821. She was a daughter of Isaac Sampson, an early settler of western Kentucky, and one of the first to locate in Dyer County. She died in December, 1860. To their union were born twelve children. Those now living are H. P., John F., a physician of Kutlawa, Ky.; Robert M., a first lieutenant in the United States Navy; Bradley W., a dentist in California; Hugh H., editor of the San Luis Obispo (Cal.) Register; Burton T., clerk in the second comptroller’s office of the United States Treasury Department, and Jennie E., a teacher, residing in California. H. P. Doyle served during the war as a member of the gallant Fourth Tennessee Regiment. He enlisted as a private, but was soon promoted to be first lieutenant of Company K. He participated in the battles of Shiloh and Perryville, in each of which he was severely wounded. At the close of hostilities he returned to Dyersburg, where he has been employed in various capacities up to the present time. In 1876 he was appointed deputy clerk, clerk and master of the chancery court, a position which he still holds. Since 1870 he has been a notary public, and in 1882 was elected a magistrate of the Fourth Civil District. In 1885 he was chosen chairman of the county court, and the following year was unanimously re-elected. In February, 1867, he married Bell Willis, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of James L. and Martha Willis. They have two children: Pearl and Evelyn. Mr. Doyle is a member of the A. F. & A. M., K. of H., K. & L of H., and of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife belongs to the Baptist Church.