HENRY HAMILTON DOYLE

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 940

HENRY HAMILTON DOYLE was born Sept. 18, 1843, at Rainbow, Conn., in the town of Windsor, and is a son of John Luke Doyle, who was born in Dublin, Ireland.

The elder Doyle came from Dublin to Boston in 1830, where he was married Oct. 13, 1838, to Mary Ann Williams, who was born March 27, 1818, and was a daughter of John and Amy (Daniels) Williams. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. John Luke Doyle died in Tolland, Oct. 2, 1876, and his wife passed away in the same place Dec. 16, 1896. Mr. Doyle was a wire manufacturer and was engaged in business in Rainbow many years. In 1857 he came to Tolland and settled where Henry Hamilton Doyle is now found. The farm was then known as the John Williams farm, and it was the property of his father-in-law. He had about 100 acres on the Rockville Road in Tolland, and there he died. A Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity, he was known as an upright and honorable man of industrious habits and neighborly spirit. John Luke Doyle and his wife had the following family: John T., born July 6, 1841, deceased June 21, 1845; Henry H.; Harriet, born Jan. 23, 1846, who married George O. Whitman, of Danielson, Conn., now a traveling salesman; Phillip, born April 8, 1847, who married Martha Alice Lamphear, of Chaplin, Conn., and is at the present time (1902) superintendent of the Killingly town farm; Lucy, born March 1, 1849, deceased in infancy; Alice, born Oct. 3, 1852, deceased Aug. 29, 1853; Emma Jane, born Sept. 15, 1856, married to Darius Bennett, who is a traveling salesman from Holyoke, Mass., where his home is established.

Henry Hamilton Doyle removed to Tolland, when he was fourteen years of age, and at the age of sixteen went to Windsor Locks, where he learned the machinist trade of the firm of Denslow & Chase, with whom he remained four years, thoroughly mastering his trade, and going from there to New Haven, where he worked several months in a machine shop. For about a half a year he was employed in Senyer’s machine shop at Rockville. This connection was broken into by his service in the Civil war. At its conclusion he came back to Connecticut, to spend some three years in travel, working for some time boating on the Erie Canal. Returning to Rockville, he resumed his farming labors, and at the present time has a dairy operation with his farm, and the milk of ten cows is taken to the Vernon creamery.

Mr. Doyle is a member of Burpee Post, No. 71, G.A.R., of Rockville, of which he is past commander. A staunch Democrat, he has had various political honors. In 1886 he represented the town in the State Legislature, where he served on the committee on Incorporations. In 1898 Mr. Doyle was first selectman, and since 1893 has filled the position of justice of the peace. For several years he was assessor and constable, and for several terms tax collector. Mr. Doyle has been on the grand jury a number of terms, and has acted as registrar of voters for many years. He has taken generally an active part in local affairs, and has been a prominent and leading citizen of the community.

Mr. Doyle belongs to the Methodist Church and his wife is active in the Ladies’ Aid Society of that church. Mr. Doyle was married Nov. 29, 1868, to Elizabeth Leming. She was born April 30, 1848, and is a daughter of Elias and Paulina (Grover) Leming, of Jackson township, Ocean Co., N.J. To this union were born: Charles Henry, born April 16, 1871, deceased Aug. 5, 1871; Harry Alfred, born May 16, 1872, who married Lydia Patz, and is keeping a general store in Burnside, Conn.; Robert Elias, born Jan. 4, 1876, who married Marian Rider, of Tolland, and is a farmer in that town.

The military record of Mr. Doyle is in every respect honorable and creditable. He enlisted in the 25^th C.V.I., and served a year in Gen. Banks’ expedition to New Orleans. Re-enlisting in the 77^th N.Y.V.I., Co. D, he served throughout the war, being under the immediate command of General Grant in the closing campaigns. Mr. Doyle was present at the surrender of General Lee, and saw the last scenes of the terrible drama.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.

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