James DOYLE

                   Relation to Catherine Doyle and John P. Ellis from Benj. F. VanMeter, Genealogies and Biographical Sketches, pp. 77-78.

From Ken Krawczyk (kenkraw@acer-access.com]: David DOYLE, Sex: M; Birth: 13 Jan 1779 in Rutherford Co., N.C.;  Death: 29 Jul 1859 in Boone Co., MO; Burial: New Salem Church Cemetery, Boone Cty., MO.

Notes:    David is indicated as residing Boone County, Missouri as per the federal census for 1840 on line 22 of page 103.  While it does not indicate names, there were two sons (census says one male ten but under 15, one male 15 but under 20, as well as himself (one male 60 but not over 70).  There also was one female 10 but not over 15, and one female 50 but not over 60.  The mystery is, who are the two young boys and the one young girl; are they their children? Quite possible, but she (the wife) would have had the children in their 30's.

Information from VEDEMARCE on RootsWeb says he was a founding member of Little Bonne Femme Church in December 1819, Sec. 3, Town. 47, Range 12, Cedar Township, Boone County, MO (from Evans and Tompson, Tombstone Records 1934, 9), and pastor of New Salem Church from December 2, 1828 until his death.  Mike Gitlin indicates that his tombstone says "Pioneer Preacher of Missouri".

At 19, he entered the Ministry and medical field.  He was a doctor and preacher, known as the Reverend Doctor.  His life was devoted to the service of God and the promotion of good.  He was beloved for all his social affairs and tolerance in religion.  His greatest ambition was to preach Christ acceptably and be useful in His church.  If eternal happiness be the reward to tender love, unobtrusive piety, kindness,charity, a life devoted to the service of God, blessed is the spirit which once animated the lowly tenant of the sepulcher (tomb).  "Bretheren; if spirits are permitted to return to earth, then after I am gone may you expect me to be about here when church meeting day comes around.  Oh, I shall want to know whether my dear children are serving the Lord. Whether His truth is preached in this pulpit, whether these children are seeking the Saviour."

David's first four children were born in Rutherford County, NC.  In 1815, the family moved to Missouri, two miles south of Thralls Prairie in Boone County.  They were one of the leading settlers of the area.  David Doyle was the first practicing physician in Cedar Township.  In 1819, the second Baptist Greenhalgh organized their own church in 1823 [?] three miles south of Harrisburg on State Highway 63.  The church was named New Salem Baptist Church and David was the pastor for 25 years.  On July 29, 1859, at age 80, David Doyle died of typhoid fever.  He is buried in New Salem Church Cemetery, Boone County, Missouri (10 miles south of Columbia, Missouri on Hwy 63).


History of Boone County, Missouri, pp. 648-49 (Western Publ. Co., St. Louis  1882):   "Dr. David Doyle.   The subject of this sketch was one of the pioneer preachers of the West, uniting within himself the qualifications of a minister and a physician.  His opportunities for doing good were varied and extensive, and he discharged his whole duty to his fellow man in the most cheerful and acceptable manner, leaving behind a memory of good works that will ever survive him.  He came to Cedar township in 1818, being among the first settlers of that portion of Boone county.  He was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and it is said that he commenced preaching before he was nineteen years old.  He also commenced the practice of medicine at an early age.  In the month of December, 1819, he with fifteen others met at the house of Anderson Woods for the purpose of founding a church, and were there and then constituted into what has since been known as the Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church.  He was the pastor of New Salem Baptist Church for twenty-nine years, having been chosen December 2, 1828.  he died of typhoid fever, July 29, 1859.  The congregation at New Salem erected a handsome monument over his grave as testimony of their great love for him as a man and their high appreciation of his services as a minister."