L. F. Boyle, who carries on general agricultural pursuits on section 2, Hennepin township, was born in Putnam county, Illinois, and a life of intense and well directed activity has resulted in making him one of the wealthy agriculturists of this part of the state. His father, Albert B. Boyle, was born on Hennepin prairie and died in 1888 at the age of forty-one years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Frances C. Hartenbower, was born in Putnam county and is now living in Galesburg, Illinois, with two unmarried daughters. The paternal grandfather Buenos Ayres Boyle, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Putnam county, Illinois, at a very early epoch in its settlement and development. He aided in planting the seeds of civilization here, but died when his son Albert was a small boy. The latter became a well-to-do farmer and left quite a valuable estate. In his family were six children, of whom L. F. Boyle of this review is the eldest. The others are: Erma, now the wife of G. W. Griener, who resides near Tonica, La Salle county, Illinois; Nora, the wife of W. E. Hiltabrand, who is also living near Tonica; W. A., who makes his home with his brother; and Maye and Minnie, who are with their mother in Galesburg.
L. F. Boyle, reared under the paternal roof, began his education in the
district schools and afterward continued his studies in the Hennepin
schools. He lived upon the farm with his father until twenty-one years of
age and through the periods of vacation aided in the work of the fields.
After attaining his majority he was married to Miss Lelia Rousseau, who was
born in Hennepin, a daughter of L. C. Rousseau, now living in Texas.
Following their marriage the young couple located upon a farm of one hundred
and ninety acres of land which Mr. Boyle owned about a half mile north of
Hennepin. Five years ago he and his brother, W. A., purchased what is known
as the Reavy estate five and a half miles south of Hennepin, and he is now
one of the most extensive land owners of the county, his possessions
aggregating one thousand acres. He carries on general farming and his fields
present a splendid appearance, giving promise of golden harvests. He also
makes a specialty of the breeding and raising of Percheron and Shire horses
and has six imported studs in his barn at the present time, together with
about twenty head of full blooded registered horses. He also owns a herd of
registered shorthorn cattle and at the present writing is feeding about two
hundred head. He likewise has a fine drove of registered Berkshire hogs and
his stock-raising interests class him with the leading representatives of
this line of business in the county. He is a man of unflagging industry in
whom diligence and perseverance are recognized as strong and salient
characteristics. He is never idle in fact, indolence is entirely foreign to
his nature. His attention is unremittingly given to his business interests
and he is a man of sound judgment and keen sagacity, the capable control of
his affairs being manifest in the very gratifying success which has rewarded
him. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Boyle has been blessed with five children:
Violet, Esther, Louis A., Marshall and Frances E., all of whom are yet under
the parental roof. Mr. Boyle votes rather independently, yet his views are
largely in harmony with democratic principles. He has no desire for office,
however, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs.
He represents one of the old families of the county and the work begun by
his grandfather and carried on by his father is continued by him, with the
result that he is one of the leading and prosperous farmers of Putnam
county, having extensive land holdings, while his farms are improved with
all modern equipments and accessories.
Source: Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois authored by John Spencer Burt and W. E. Hawthorne in 1907, page 509.
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