THE JOSEPH S. BOYLE FAMILY By Zenobia Kissinger Twas in the year 1885 that Joe Boyle, fresh out of college, arrived in Ottawa County. He visited his brother, John Boyle, and family near Niles for a time and went west to Colorado to railroad in the San Juan valley. Joe Boyle was born in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dorentine Boyle, had come from Ireland. This wild backwood-country abounded with bear and other wild animals. One of six brothers and one sister, the family braved the wilds in the bush and cleared the land. His education was mainly in a one-room school till he went to Kincardine to high school and college. Joe won many prizes for being the best speller in his county. His dream of the west was soon realized and railroading had lost its gleam, so he returned to Ottawa County and liking the little town of Bennington, he decided to locate there. He went into the real estate business, which he continued through the years. He was a member of the first Bennington band and their favorite tune was, ''Ach Du LieberAugustine''. He served as a member of the Bennington School Board for seventeen years and was instrumental in hiring such teachers as Mary Wilson, Leroy Owsley, Maud Fisher and Lena Shepard Rake, to name a few. He was united in marriage to Katie Essig, June 15,1887. A large. wedding was held at the William Rehberg home south of town. Only two guests present at the wedding now reside here, they being Tillie Markley and Theodore Rehberg. The Boyles settled down here and reared a family of nine children: Their oldest son, Levi, preceded his parents in death at the age of 53 years. The daughters Naomi Cole and Zenobia Kissinger served as Postmaster of our city. Naomi served four years and Zenobia served thirty-four years. Mr. Boyle assisted in the post office. Levi was the first rural carrier in Bennington. He was Justice of the Peace for many years and served as Police Judge. He was one of the originators of the Episcopal Church which was organized in 1904. In June, 1937, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all their nine children and eight grandchildren present, as was all of Mrs. Boyle's brothers and sisters, and all Mr. Boyle's brothers and his only sister, all from Canada. Again the Bennington Band serenaded the couple. Prior to his death in 1939, Mr. Boyle had watched this part of Ottawa County develop and grow into a properous land. He had seen families grow and their children are now retaining the land and businesses their forefathers began. His children, except Zenobia Kissinger, have left their birthplace and are scattered throuout the U.S.; Joe, Jr. lives in New York; Walter, in San Antonio, Texas; Nellie Partridge, in Seattle, Washington; Benson, in Hastings, Nebraska; Bentley in Medical Lake, Washington; Naomi Cole, in Lawrence, Kansas; and Christie Dewey, in Minneapolis, Kansas. W. L. BOARDMAN FAMILY HISTORY According to family records the Boardman family, of which the Will Boardman family of Bennington are descendants, came from the state of Connecticut. They moved from there to Michigan in 1841. Will Boardman came to Kansas with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Boardman his two brothers and one sister, in 1886. They first settled close to Brookville but moved to the farm north of Bennington the next year. Will continued to live here but the brothers and sister later moved elsewhere. This farm has been in the family sihce that time. The descendants of Will and Ida Boardman are: Gladwyn, of Bennington Donald, deceased Anita Boardman Rice, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Kenneth, who lived on the home place Gladwyn has one daughter, Barbara Adee, of Newton and Kenneth has one son, Dr. Robert   Boardman, of Concordia, Kansas. RETURN NEXT