My Genealogy Hound

CHRISTOPHER S. BOYLE, a retired merchant residing in Benton Harbor, was born in the city of New York on Christmas Day, 1829. He is the son of John Boyle, a native of Ireland, and a pioneer of Webster Township, Washtenaw County, Mich., who settled on a farm near Ann Arbor in May 1836, and there resided until his death, in October, 1870. The mother of our subject bore the name of Bridget Quirk, and was born in the Province of Munster, County Tipperary, Ireland. Her father, Daniel Quirk, served for twenty-one years in the British army, and died in the Emerald Isle. Mr. Boyle was also born in the Province of Munster, County Tipperary, Ireland.

At the age of six years our subject removed with his parents from New York to Michigan, where he grew to manhood on his father’s farm in Washtenaw County. In the spring of 1852, he joined the Argonauts who were journeying Westward to seek their fortune in the new El Dorado. Driving five yoke of cattle, he made the long journey from St. Joseph, Mo., to Placerville, Cal., in one hundred and twelve days. Upon arrival at his destination, he engaged in gold-mining and also for a time worked in a sawmill. In February, 1855, he returned via the Isthmus of Panama to New York City, and thence came direct to Washtenaw County, Mich.

After working on a farm in Washtenaw County for one year, he went, in the spring of 1856, to Osawatomie, Kan., but returned in a few weeks. On his return he removed to Watervliet, Berrien County, Mich., and there secured employment in a sawmill, remaining in that position for two years. Later he worked on a farm in Bainbridge Township, engaged as a tiller of the soil for three years. In the spring of 1861 he removed to St. Joseph, and for one year was proprietor of a meat-market there. In the spring of 1862 he opened a meat-market in Benton Harbor, which he conducted for five years. Then, disposing of that business, he opened a grocery store, and soon gained a large and profitable trade with the people of Benton Harbor. In January, 1890, he closed out the business and retired from active labor. He is the owner of valuable real estate in the city, including his residence on the corner of Territorial and Fourth Streets.

Politically, Mr. Boyle is a Democrat. For two terms he served as Trustee of the village, and in the spring of 1892 he was appointed Sewer Commissioner, which position he still holds. He is a man who takes an intelligent interest in local affairs as well as in matters of general importance, and has decided opinions upon all subjects of the day. Socially, he is identified with Lake Shore Lodge No. 298, A. F. & A. M.; Calvin Brittain Chapter No. 72; and the Council at St. Joseph. His marriage took place on the 31st of March, 1857, and united him with Miss Carolina Scherer, a native of Germany, and a daughter of David Scherer. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are the parents of two sons and one daughter: William C, David C. S. and Carrie H.