EDWIN B DOYLE 1841-1915

The will of Edward B. Doyle, formerly of Lancaster, who died in the Atchison hospital Monday morning, was probated today by Ralph U. Pfouts, who drew it and is named executor.  The estate is valued at $11,000 and consists of 160 acres of land north of Lancaster and about $4,500 personal property and it is to be divided equally between five nephews and nieces who are Ida Bell Cahill of Chalcolet, Idaho; Mrs. Julia M. Ehl of Vancouver, Wash; Mrs. Jerusha Wilson, of Walla Walla, Wash.; Cap Church and Ard Church who addresses are unknown.  Three years ago Mr. Doyle deeded 70 acres of the Doyle homestead to Miss Mary Holland, an old neighbor and a friend of his and his mother’s.  Property he owned and in Lancaster he gave to Mrs. Cory Seever, of Atchison, in return for a home which he enjoyed for three years.  The will was made December 15, 1914.

This notice was published in the Atchison Weekly Globe, September 30, 1915, page 5.

The following affidavit comes from Edwin Doyle in behalf of his brother-in-law, Elias Church.

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Kansas, county of Atchison

In the matter of the pension claim of Elias Church co B 111^TH Reg

Personally came before me, a probate judge in and for aforesaid county and state, Edwin B. Doyle age 48 years resident in Lancaster Township Atchison County Kansas whose post office address is Atchison City Kansas persons of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows

Saw claimant E. Church a few days after his discharge from the U. S. Service.  He worked some around the sawmill that I was part owner of for about two months after he returned.  He was troubled with spells of coughing  more or less violent sometimes to a degree that he would have to cease his labor.  Finally, he quit working at the mill, not being able to stand the work. 

In August 1865 I was working with him again when he quit his labor as he felt unable to do more, his cough troubling him with shortness of breathing.  From Feb 20^th 1866 I lived about two miles from his residence to about 1870 and saw him frequently.  I noticed during the time  that his cough gradually grew more frequent accompanied with shortness of breath.

When I saw him he would frequently complain of getting no sleep the previous night.  His cough and shortness of breath preventing rest to the best of my knowledge I think he accomplished not more than one fourth of a full hands labor during any year of the above time.  As for claimant having lung disease, it would not be proper for one to say it was or was not.  As I understand that the best doctors are some times deserved in diseases of lungs and heart.  Above statement is from personal knowledge.

Edwin B Doyle was born 22 September 1841 in Illinois.  Most likely in the township of Northville because this is the place the family is living during the 1850 census.  Sometime between 1850 and 1860, the family moves to Richmond in the Kansas territory.  Kansas becomes a state January 29, 1861.  On 26 July, 1863, Edwin marries Amarillis Inghram in Nemaha county, Kansas.  Amarillis marries another man, Stephen F. Brown on April 21, 1869 in Nemaha county, Kansas.  This is confirmed on the 1870 census where Edwin is listed as being divorced and a blacksmith.  I believe that Edwin served in the Civil War shortly after getting married.  Amarillis shows up on the Kansas state census in 1865.  She is living with her parents and her last name is listed as Doyle.  So I don’t believe the divorce had taken place yet at this time.  The Civil War had ended by this time and I have not been able to locate Edwin on the state census for 1865.  His parents are living in Lancaster at this time and Elias is living with them and he has returned from the war and the rest of Elias’ family is living there too.

I found a record for an Edwin B. Doyle who served in the Civil War.  The record shows that this person was born in Illinois and was the age of  22 on July 1, 1863.  it also states that this person is married and served in Missouri.  Missouri is very close to the county that Amarillis and Edwin were married in so this could very likely be our guy. 

Edwin B. Doyle was the last living relative in the area and most of his property went to friends who lived in the area.  The rest was divided up between the five Church children living near Dayton, Washington.  They were the children of his sister, Mary Ann Doyle Church.  Edwin had a nice sized estate for the time he was living in.  He had ownership in a sawmill and was also skilled in being a blacksmith as well as being a farmer.  He lived with his parents until their death and most likely served in the Civil War for the state of Missouri.