Boyles, Phillip M., farmer and stock-buyer, Sec. 29; P. O. Winterset; born Canaan Twp., Athens Co., Ohio, June 5, 1823; he was the second son of George and Martha Boyles, and one of the twelve children; his father was a farmer and the son assisted him in the duties of farm life; in 1839 he moved with his parents to Elkhardt [sic] Co., Indiana and remained there until 1843, and then went to Andrew co., Mo., there he remained until 1846; while living here [sic] he witnessed the brutal whipping of a slave that was so revolting to his manly nature, that he resolved to seek a home in Iowa, and no sooner had he resolved than he acted, and the same year came to this county and settled on the land he now owns, and has resided here since that time; he has made all the improvements; he split all the rails for thirty-five cents per hundred, to purchase land warrants with which to locate his land; he has gone to Saylorville and hewn logs to purchase seed corn, and has worked at harvesting at fifty cents per day, half of which was to be taken out in trade at the store, calico at the time being twenty-five cents per yard; he served in the war during the rebellion; he owns a fine farm of 320 acres and another near the above of 177 1/2 acres, both well improved and in a good state of cultivation; for the past few years he has been devoting the greater portion of his time in buying stock; he married Miss Lydia Allison February 22, 1845; she was a native of Crawford Co., Illinois, where she was raised; their family consists of seven children: Martin, Milton, Mary, now Mrs. Seevers, Maria, Myra, Marilla and Maloy.
Source: The History of Madison Co., Iowa, 1879, pp. 606-607 (Union Township)
Submitted: Monica Schirmer Eshelman