John W. Doyal

BIOGRAPHY JOHN W. DOYAL 1802 - 1885 John W DOYAL, [a.k.a. DYAL and DOYLE] a son of John DYAL and Christina DAVIS, was born 17 January 1802 in that portion of Mason Co., KY that later became Lewis County in 1807. He married Matilda HOWARD, a daughter of Samuel HOWARD and Ellen (Eleanor) FORT in Lewis Co., KY, 27 May 1830 at the age of 28 years. His wife, Matilda, was 23 years old. John and Matilda had five children. Amanda M DOYAL and Samuel Howard DOYAL were born in Lewis County in 1834 and 1838 respectively. The family moved to Boone County, Indiana when Samuel was about 6-months old in the fall of 1838. The other three children; John L DOYAL, born ca 1843; David D DOYAL, born 4 Aug 1845; and Emily C DOYAL, date of birth unknown died in infancy. These last three children were born in Boone County, Indiana. The first record we find of this family in Indiana was 3 Nov 1838 when John DOYAL purchased 40 acres of land in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter section of land in Boone Co for $200 from MENOAH and July Ann SMITH. This transaction had a limited qualification withholding one acre of that land for Edmond SHIRLEY, who lived there. This land might have been in Section 12, Perry Township. The Post office address was White Lick, Indiana. A couple of years later John W DOYAL bought an additional tract of land consisting of 20 acres for $150 from Caleb and Mary SHIRLEY [Presumably related to Edmond SHIRLEY mentioned above.] This additional land provided John and his family about 60 acres of farmland in Township 17. The second land purchase was witnessed by Elisha SHIRLEY. John W DOYAL bought additional land 11 April 1848, paying $150 for twenty acres from William W and Mary M RIGDON. This land was also in Township 17. At that time the land was a wilderness but from which he redeemed an excellent farm. Gradually he increased his land holdings to 360 acres. John W DOYAL was a prominent man socially. In politics he was a Democrat. He served as Perry Township Trustee for two years, (1863 & 1864); was Justice of the Peace for eighteen years, and assessor for two years. He and his wife were devoted members of the Christian Church as they had been in the Fairmont Christian Church in Lewis County, KY. Confusion about the spelling of the family surname seems to have been eliminated by a recently discovered affidavit in the Lebanon, Boone Co., IN, Miscellaneous Record Book 10:314. "David M. BURNS resident of Boone County, Indiana gives oath and says: that I am acquainted with John DYAL [sic] formerly of Perry Township (Boone) Indiana, a brother of Edward T. DYAL; that John DYAL [sic] told me his name was spelled DYAL but the proper way to spell it was DOYAL and that he was teaching his children to spell their name DOYAL instead of DYAL; But he would continue to spell his name DYAL; that Edward T DOYAL, a brother, at one time owned a farm in Boone County near Hendricks County line. Signed, David H. BURNS. Oath made 28 Feb 1901." David H BURNS was Boone County Assayer. Evidently John was highly regarded by John F MADISON. On 20 Apr 1859 John was given Power of Attorney by Mr. MADISON to cancel a montage assigned to Mr. & Mrs. William CLINE, due 25 Dec 1858, consisting of 80 acres. Since John MADISON was then living in Winasset [Winterset?], Madison Co., Iowa he authorized John DYAL to execute full power of attorney for this transaction and to receive all monies due MADISON. On 14 Dec 1859 John W DOYAL presented the last will and testament of William TURNER, deceased, to the Boone County Court Clerk, Henry SHANNON. Daniel TURNER, James T TODD, John W DYAL [sic] , and E.T. DOYLE [sic] attested to the will. John W DOYAL, Willford DARNELL, and James T TODD, witnessed the Last Will and Testament of Lemuel COX (s/o John COX & Rebecca HOWARD). On 26 Sep 1860 DYAL and DARNELL filed the will and it was admitted to probate by A. C. DAILY, Court Clerk, Boone County. John B HOWARD willed his wife Lydia (née COX) HOWARD all his estate for as long as she should live, after which Tevirller E HOWARD is to be heir to 40 acres located in Hendricks Co., IN. His married children [unnamed] to receive equal property and those married and those single at Lydia's death to have support from the farm lying in Boone County. This will was witnessed by E. T. DOYAL [sic], and he presented the 21 May 1863 will to the Boone County Clerk's Office on 3 Aug 1870. John B HOWARD died 31 July 1870. John W DOYAL sold a section of land (less about five acres assigned to other parties, leaving about 35 acres sold) to Nicholas N DAVIS, Jr. and his wife Margaret E DAVIS for $370 on 20 May 1864. Then on 8 Aug 1866 John W DOYAL and Matilda (née HOWARD) DOYAL, and Samuel HOWARD & Elizabeth HENDERSON, [Matilda's brother & sister-in-law] conveyed to John COX for $1300 and in Township 17 (except 5 acres conveyed to others in town lots) containing some 34 acres. This deed was recorded 6 Feb 1867 at the county clerk's office. John W DOYAL and Matilda (née HOWARD) DOYAL conveyed to Nicholas N (A?) DAVIS lot No 19, in the original plat of the town of Fayette (with appurtenances) for $250 on 30 Dec 1868. John and Matilda conveyed about 40 acres in Township 17, plus additional, in all approximately fifty acres, more or less, for $450 to David DOYAL [David D DOYAL, their son who married Margaret Raider, 13 Nov 1881]. John W DOYAL, who had been born in Lewis County, and lived most of his life as a DYAL, died in Boone County, Indiana as a DOYAL, on 13 Jan 1885,at age 84 years, 11 months, and 21 days. He was survived by his wife Matilda (née HOWARD) DOYAL, who died in Boone County, 16 Jun 1888, at the age of 81 years, 3 months, and 19 days. They were buried in Howard Cemetery, Perry Township, Boone Co., IN. Note the tombstone for John W DOYAL shows the date of death as 8 Jan 1886, age 84 yrs, 11 months, and 21 days. This does not agree with the county Death Record Book. David D DYAL and his brother, John W deeded 129 acres of land on Quick's Run, Lewis County, Kentucky, to Charles ORME in 1837 according to Lewis Co., KY Land Records. Book F, page 372 (or page 572, the writing was not clear). I feel the sale of this land was in preparation of John W DOYAL'S departure to Indiana in 1838. John W DOYAL was given a bill of sale for personal property by David D DOYAL, in 1836, according to Lewis Co., KY Land Record Book G, page 399. John W DIAL was granted 60 acres of land on Quick's Run in 1836, by David D DIAL, according to Lewis Co., KY Land Record Book, G, page 356. John W DOYAL'S family is shown on the 1850 Indiana Federal Census Boone County, Page 135, Line 40, Dwelling 54, Family 1066, enumerated 6 Sep 1850, by H. G. HAZELRIGG as: DOYLE, [sic] John W, 49 yrs, M, Farmer, Real Estate $1500, born KY. DOYLE, [sic] Matilda, 42 yrs, F, born KY. DOYLE, [sic] Amanda M, 17 yrs, F, born KY. DOYLE, [sic] Samuel, 12 yrs, M, born KY. DOYLE, [sic] John, 8 yrs. M, born IN. DOYLE, [sic] David, 5 yrs, M, born IN. Also shown on the 1850 Indiana Census in Boone County, District No 7 is Simon DOYLE, age 39 yrs, born Kentucky, living with his family, page 201, house number 566, Family Number 577. Parentage of this Simon DOYLE has not been determined. Further research might identify this family. It is felt this family is NOT a part of our group from Lewis County, Kentucky. The 1860 Boone Co., IN Census (Perry township), page 745, Line 33, Dwelling 869, Family 847, shows John's family as: DOYAL, John W, age 59, M, Farmer, born KY, Real Estate $2600, Personal $1000. DOYAL, Matilda, age 53, F, born KY DOYAL, Samuel H, age 22, M, Farm Laborer, Personal $200, born KY, attended school. DOYAL, John L, age 18, M, Farm Laborer, born IN, attended school. DAVIS, William, age 16, born KY (Relationship not mentioned.) DOYAL, David, age 12, M, born IN, attended school. The 1870 Perry Township, Boone Co., IN Census, Page 193, Line 14, Dwelling 61, Family 61, shows John's family as: DOYAL, John W, M, age 69, Farmer, Real Estate $1350, Personal $1200, born KY DOYAL, Matilda, F, age 67, blind, born KY DOYAL, David A, M, age 24, farm laborer, Real Estate $500, Personal $200, born IN DEMOSS, Martha J, age 20, domestic servant, born IN; (married Miley N ZENIS, 7 July 1889.) The 1880 Perry Township, Boone Co., IN Census, page 6, Line 33, Dwelling 49, Family 51, Enumerated 4 June 1880 by Daniel Comisky, shows John's household as: DOYAL, John W, age 78, M, Married, Farmer, born KY, Father born VA, Mother born? DOYAL, Matilda, age 73, F, wife, Keeping house, Blind, born KY, Father & Mother born MD. DOYAL, David D, age 33, M, son, Farmer, Single, Born IN. (Married Margaret RAIDER, 13 Nov 1881.) FRAZEE, John M, age 20, M, Single, grandson, born IN, (Amanda's son), father born KY. SMOCK, Christina, age 19, F, cousin, single, housekeeper, born IN, Father, James W SMOCK born IN; Mother, Elizabeth Ellen DAVIS, born KY; (Married Geo W HALEY 9 Apr 1882). A granddaughter of Nicholas N DAVIS; KUHN, Philip, age 42, M, single, boarder, laborer, Hesson, Father & Mother born Hession. Information provided by : Dean & Eloise Doyal