Bio: Doyle, Peter (1845 - 1907)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Doyle, Harrington, Calahan, Michand

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 699-700

Peter Doyle, who for two score years was prominent among the successful men of Eau Claire county, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1845. As a boy he attended the common schools of his native place and was later variously employed, and while yet a young man, emigrated to the United States, thence to Wisconsin, and for a time resided at Portage City, Columbia county, coming to Eau Claire in the early sixties. In those days the lumber business was the chief industry, and steamboats plied up and down the Chippewa river and on one of these Mr. Doyle found employment as pilot, a position he held for some time. In 1884 he went to Altoona and for sixteen years conducted one of the principal hotels of that place. In 1902 he retired from active business and returned to Eau Claire, where he died October 31, 1907, at the age of 62 years. Mr. Doyle was characterized by his promptness, good judgment and conservatism, and all who came in contact with him, esteemed him for his honorable and upright methods and his passing away was mourned as that of a good man, a useful citizen and loyal friend. He was prominently identified with the St. Patrick's Church, and was a charter member of the Catholic Foresters of Eau Claire.

In 1872 Mr. Doyle married Miss Belinda Harrington, daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Calahan) Harrington, and by this union four children were born as follows: Angie A., Joseph A., Margaret M., and Francis L.

Daniel Harrington, father of Mrs. Doyle, was also a native of Ireland, and was born in 1834. He, in early life, came to the United States, and was one of the early settlers of Eau Claire county. He was an engineer of occupation and for many years was in the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company. He was a man of public spiritedness, clear foresight, sound and reliable, and always ready to do his part in furthering any project looking to the betterment of his city and county. He married in Massachusetts, Miss Margaret Calahan, also of Ireland, a woman of rare domestic virtues, and to them eight children were born as follows: John, Belinda, Timothy, Joseph, George, James, Francis and Loretta Harrington. Daniel Harrington died May 19, 1885, his widow surviving until October 24, 1911, when she, too, passed away, honored and respected by all who knew her. They were members of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of Eau Claire.

Joseph Harrington, son of Daniel, and brother of Mrs. Doyle, married Artie Michand, of Bemidji, Minn. John and James Harrington are deceased, the former having died January 30, 1884, and the latter March 9, 1900. Mrs. Doyle, who died February 3, 1914, was held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.