My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM BOYLE, farmer, P. O. Fayetteville, son of William and Elizabeth Boyle, was born in Perry Township December, 9, 1826; he was married in 1876, to Sarah, daughter of Michael and Ann Bohan, a native of Ireland. Mr. Boyle has a well cultivated farm about one mile from Fayetteville, on the Georgetown pike; he also has 120 acres in Clay County, Ill. Mr. Boyle enlisted in Fayetteville, in October, 1861, in Company D, Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. R. H. Higgins; he was in a number of engagements, and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, in the right shoulder; his case is on record in the medical annals of the United States Army. The ball entered the shoulder-joint and lodged in the arm-bone, completely destroying the use of the shoulder; was removed from the field of battle to the hospital; suffered for a long time with little or no relief, till he was taken to St. John’s Hospital, Cincinnati, where the eminent Professor of Surgery, Dr. George C. Blackman, performed the operation known to surgeons as ex-section of the shoulder-joint. For a long time his life was despaired of, but by the skill of the eminent surgeon, and kind nursing of the Sisters of Charity, he recovered his strength and the partial use of his arm, and is at present enjoying perfect health. Mr. Boyle has always taken an active part in politics, and has been repeatedly elected to office, and has always enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people; he was elected Assessor in 1863, and has since held that office — twelve years; his father, William, and uncle, Edward Boyle, were the first Catholic settlers in this township, his father being the agent of Gen. Lytle, and did much to effect a Catholic settlement in this part of the country.