Lintlaw book says they were married Jan. 16, 1883, not 1884. Also says they were married in Ontario, but that means they would have had to go back, as they came out (as far as I know) in 1877 to Manitoba.
According to Lintlaw history book:
Moved originally to Morden, MB, farmed awhile there and then to Darlingford, MB. Spring of 1907, James, Bill and Clarence came to Invermay by train, with a team of horses, a few cattle and some machinery. Came north over the Nut Mountain trail to Lockharts place and stayed overnight. Then they stayed with Jack McDonald while putting up a building. James homesteaded SW 10-36-9-W2.
James commented on his first night spent at the homestead April 23, 1907 “froze hard 1st night and lots of snow yet. Feeling blue but all things will come right with God’s help.” J.B.
In the fall, James and Bill returned to Manitoba for harvesting. After harvest father returned with Gordon to spend winter on the homestead.
In 1909 the family moved by train, Furby (Thomas), Edna, Mary Jane and Arza in the passenger car. Atwell & Bill came with two cars of settlers effects on the freight train. The freight was in early in the morning, the passengers didn’t arrive until 11:00 AM. The cars were already being unloaded by father and boys. They came to Margo. Everything was loaded. Bill, Gordon and James each driving a team. Furby and Atwell were elected to chase cattle and some young colts on foot. Furby remembers one slough they crossed walking on tip toe and keeping your mouth shut so the dirty water didn’t get in. It was after sundown when the family arrived, beds had to be set up, everybody fed. It’s recalled a late night in the Boyle household.
The Boyles had one of the first threshers in this country. It was purchased from Phil Bulman in 1910. It’s believed one of the first neighbors they threshed for was Andy Smith (Gordon took care of the separator, Bill the engine). One of the first things Bill had to do was study up to obtain a steam engine license to run the outfit. This was a Saskatchewan law which wasn’t required in Manitoba.
Mr. Boyle’s records for 1911 threshing shows they threshed from Oct. 9 to Nov. 7. Their hired men with teams consisted of:
W. Martin, Atwell Boyle, E. Sewell, A. Farendail, J. Hearsy.
Records show the Boyle’s did custom sawing in 1915 in March and April.
James was the first reeve, elected into municipality in 1913. Secretary was Jack Pierce and councillors were M. Brenne and Herman Bergen. They attended council meetings in Wadena regularily every month. Records show a four day trip to Yorkton, for Weed Inspection, the expenses were as follows:
- From Margo to Sheho, livery - $5.00 - By train to Yorkton - $1.30 - Yorkton to Canora - $.85 - Canora to Invermay - $1.00 - Invermay to Margo - $.25 - Margo supper, bed and breakfast - $.75 - Sheho dinner and supper - $.50 - June 14 Canora bed and board - $.75 - June 13 Yorkton bed and board - $2.00 - Invermay - $1.00 - Margo June 16 - $1.00 - Horse keep - $1.25
Also from the Lintlaw book-James was the first Lintlaw area resident to replace a log barn with a lumber barn (34 by 120 feet).
Darlingford History book says that James homesteaded S. 1/2 32-3-7, and built a large frame house. It also says he sold out in 1909 to move to Lintlaw.
1861 census shows him as age 11, living in Huntley Township along with his father, step-mother, and siblings.
1881 census has his birth year as 1855, and married.
1891 census has them next door to John and Juliette Storey (Story). At the time, they had a farm labourer born in England, named Arthur Hibbert.
Place of marriage from Manitoba Vital Statistics record.
The 1906 census (he is listed as “Jas. Boyle”), they are showing having their post office address as Manitou, Manitoba. They had a servant living with them, named Harry Etch(?), who was a single male, aged 26, who immigrated from England in 1905.
The May 27, 1909 edition of The Morden Empire newspaper had a bit on James, on page 1:
“Mr. and James boyle, of Darlingford, were in Morden last week. They are completing arrangements for leaving for their western home in a few days. Mr. Boyle has a homestead on the Swan River extension of the C.N.R. - likewise his two sons. the new railroad is expected to pass within a couple of miles of their locations.”
1911 census shows the entire family living on SW-10-36-9, and the oldest boys are all listed as farmers.
1916 census has James & Mary, along with children William, James, Clarence, Alvin, Atwell, Fairburn (for Thomas), Arza and Edna all living in Township 36, Range 9, 2W.
The 1921 census shows the whole family still living in the same household.