029

 

 

Daniel Doyle

 

 1818/30 - 1894

The Daniel Doyle, whose descendants we are, was born on the Emerald Isle c. 1818-1830. It seems quite certain he was born in County Kerry, that county which many praise as the most beautiful in Ireland.

Why the confusion as to the time of birth? Consider these conflicts:

		Translates to
	Tombstone-says born County Kerry, 11 May 1818	11 May 1818
	Death Cert.(l) says 64 yrs. 3 mo., 10 dqys	5 Feb 1830
	1850 Census says 22 yrs. of age	1828
	1857 Census says 30 yrs. of age	1827
	1860 Census says 33 yrs. of age	1827
	1875 Census says 60 yrs. of age	1815
	1880 Census says 63 yrs. of age	1817
	Obit.-Le Sueur Sentinel says 73 yrs. of age	1821
	Naturalization Index Card(2) says born 1827	1827

It would be easier researching today if Daniel and/or Margaret had been a little more consistent in reporting Daniel's age. It is possible that Margaret was older than Daniel and their attempts to hide the fact may be at the root of the problem.

Daniel's parents(3), brothers and sisters are still to be discovered, though there is strong reason to believe Daniel had at least one brother, Michael(4), who homesteaded on the property adjoining Daniel's homestead in Le Sueur County.

Daniel, upon leaving Ireland, appears to have sailed to Canada and, from the previously mentioned index card found in Montgomery County Courthouse, Crawfordsville, Indiana, his port of entry was Burlington, Vermont and the year, 1847. Very likely he was escaping from those dreaded famine days in Ireland. The potato famine of the 1845-50 period was one of the worst.

While Burlington, Vermont seems to be an unlikely port of entry, checks with the U.S. Customs personnel at Burlington indicate this was a popular entry port at that time. The crossing fare from the British Isles to Canada was lower than the fare to New York, so the poor Irish sailed to Canada and then boarded lumber boats from Montreal to Burlington, Vermont, via Lake Champlain. It was therefore at Burlington where theypassed through Customs and into the US. It seems quite evident that records of entries by name index were not kept.

Next, Daniel is located in Montgomery County, Indiana where he shows on the 1850 Census of Union Township as Daniel Doil(sic), age 22, born in Ireland, laborer. He shows as living in the household of Henry Lamising(sp.), Railroad Contractor, age 55, born in Ireland. This contractor may have also run a boarding house for his employees as several of the 25 or so people listed there are male, single and from Ireland. Several members of 2 Ryan families are also listed in the house. A Patrick Ryan is later involved with Daniel in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.

On 29 Jan 1854 Daniel married Margaret Scully in Montgomery County, Indiana. (l) The marriage was solemnized by a Father William Doyle. We have had no success to date in establishing a relationship between Daniel and this priest. Catholic Church records indicate that Father William Doyle was born 12 miles South of Pittsburgh on 31 Aug 1820, was ordained 18 Dec, 1847 at Vincennes, Indiana and in 1853 was assigned to Terre Haute attending to Greencastle and Crawfordsville, Indiana.(2)

Back to our Daniel Doyle - a son, Michael, was born on the 17th of March (St. Patrick's Day) 1855 or 1856.

Then on 1 Aug 1856, we find Daniel and family making a homestead claim on the s.w.¼ Sec. 13, Tyrone Township, Le Sueur, Minnesota.(3) Daniel was not entitled to homestead himself, but as was common in those days, he found an available land patent granted as a military bounty and purchased it from the owner. In this case Daniel purchased the 160 acre land bounty from Anestra Rose, the widow of Robertson Rose of the Rhode Island Militia - War of 1812, who had been given the land patent as a bounty for serving in that war. Final papers were signed by Mrs. Rose and notarized in Exeter, R.I . on 1 Aug 1864. (The editors have a copy of this document.)

Prior to final closing, the records indicate that on 18 Jun 1859 Daniel had to "prove up" on his homestead. Records indicate this was done by the affidavit of a Patrick Ryan who swore he knew Daniel Doyle, his wife and child, that they settled on the land 1 Aug 1856 and by chopping logs built a house 13' x 14', one story high with a board roof and floor and one window and one door into which they moved on 1 Oct 1856. (Editors have a copy of this document) (1)

In 1860 or 1861 a daughter, Mary was born in Le Sueur County to Daniel and Margaret. This appears to be the extent of their progeny, though there could possibly have been one other son who died in childhood.

In 1864, for taxes ($5.43), Daniel bought the 160 acres adjoining his property which had been homesteaded by his brother(?) Michael Doyle. Michael and his wife, Jane, were on the 1857 Census and homestead papers continued to be completed through 15 Aug 1860. At this time Michael and Jane disappear and Daniel acquires their property at auction.(2) What happened to them? Family tradition hints at a history of someone having been killed by the Indians. Could this be the case? It was in 1862-63 that the big Sioux Uprising took place in the Minnesota River Valley. (3)