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Old log home, that has since been torn down.
located in Doylestown, near Doylesburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

Biography of Philip Thomas Doyle
(September 17, 1822 to July 26, 1886)

(Founder of Doylesburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.)

   Philip Thomas Doyle was born on Tuesday September 17, 1822 to John and Mary (Mains) Doyle in the area today known as Doylestown. Philip was the fourth child of eight children and also the fourth son to John and Mary. Of their eight children, seven were sons and one was a daughter, the daughter being the sixth child born. Philip’s birth was witnessed by his aunt and uncle Edward W. and Nancy Ann (Spaulding) Doyle.

   Doylestown is the junction of the three original Doyle farms and homesteads where three springs are located. The three separate farms were established on August 16, 1816 but the land was settled much earlier. Doylestown is today located one mile south of the village of Doylesburg just along the Doylestown Road off of Route 75 or the Path Valley Road in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

   Philip spent his youth growing up in the Valley and when he was 26 years of age he married Catharine Elizabeth Heckman on Tuesday December 12, 1848. Catharine was born in Pennsylvania on Monday July 22, 1833. They were married by the Reverend Thomas Heyden at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Doylesburg. The Reverend Thomas Heyden was pastor of the Chambersburg Corpus Christi Congregation which also oversaw the Doylesburg Church. Philip and Catharine’s wedding was witnessed by Thomas John and Catharine McElhenny.

   On April 3, 1852 Philip placed a notice in the Valley Spirit Newspaper announcing preliminary arrangements for the laying out a new town in the valley called Doylesburg. The notice read, “Public Movement! Pursuant of a Call, a Public Meeting convened on Saturday the 27th of March, on the premises of P. T. Doyle, for the purpose of entering into preliminary arrangements for the laying out of a new town, when it was unanimously resolved that a town DOYLESBURG be commenced on the premises of P. T. Doyle, on a gently undulating plain lying on either side of the graded road leading from Fannettsburg, Franklin county, to Loysville, Perry county, and situate between Dry Run and Concord, 4 miles from the former place, and 3 from the latter. It was further resolved that lots be disposed of by Public Outcry on the premises, on Saturday the 1st day of May next. Sale to commence at 1 o'clock precisely. The location is naturally one of the most desirable and picturesque. Contiguous and in view are three Grist and Saw Mills, and a beautiful view of the surrounding valley. The citizens of Franklin and adjoining counties are cordially invited to attend. April 3, 1852 P. T. Doyle." ....The land was part of a larger tract of land deeded to Philip by his parents.

   Phillip was 29 years old when he had the town laid out on April 24, 1852 by Surveyor R. McCormick. The town was named “Doylesburg” in honor of his ancestors. The town consisted of 26 lots, each being 60 feet wide by 120 feet long situated along a main street with two intersecting streets named Market Street and North Street.

   Two years later on May 23, 1854 Philip was appointed the first Postmaster of Doylesburg. A position he held until April 29, 1856 when his uncle Joseph Mains Doyle was appointed. Joseph held his position until February of 1865.

   In 1851 Philip and Catharine had their first child, a son named Vincent Doyle. Vincent is said to have passed away during infancy and no other information has been found on him. Two years later in 1853 a second child was born, a daughter named Virginia M. Doyle. Virginia passed away on Monday May 2, 1864 when she was eleven years old. She is buried near her grandparents in lot 24E of St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery in Doylesburg, Pennsylvania.

   Sometime after the birth of their second child, Philip and Catharine relocated to Emmasville, Fulton County, Pennsylvania. There Philip ran a tannery using the bark from pine trees that the settlers were cutting to clear the land. This was used to tan hides for leather.

   On Saturday January 10, 1857 Philip and Catharine had their third child, a son named John Francis Doyle. John married Lida Jane Cline and they had four children. A year later on Saturday August 28, 1858 another child was born, a son named Philip Thomas Doyle, Jr.. Philip married Carrie B. Messenger and they had four children.

   In June of 1860 Philip and Catharine with their four children are shown in the Federal Census as residing in Speersville, Brush Creek Township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. Philip is shown working as a tanner.

   In January of 1861 a fifth child was born to Philip and Catharine, a son named Joseph Mains Doyle. Joseph married Sarah Effie Lemaster and they had five children. Two years later in 1863 a sixth child was born, a daughter named Georgia M. Doyle. Georgia married William T. McCarty. It is not known if they had any children at this time. Two years later in 1865 a seventh child was born, a daughter named Mary Virginia Doyle. Mary married James J. Boles. It is not known if they had any children at this time. Three years later in June of 1868 an eighth child was born, a daughter named Catherine E. “Katie” Doyle. Catherine married John William Biggs and they had five children.

   People were beginning to migrate West and the spirit of pioneering possessed Philip and Catherine. In 1869 they packed up their belongings and children and relocated to Nebraska to settle in a new home. Philip and Catharine homestead a piece of land in Crete, Saline County and began farming.

   On Monday May 3, 1875, six years after relocating with their family to Nebraska, Philip and Catharine had their ninth child, a son named Arthur Albert Doyle. Arthur married Lennie Blair and they had one child. A year later in 1876 Philip and Catharine's tenth and last child was born, a daughter named Mary. Mary became ill when she was very young and passed away from diphtheria.

   A few years after settling in Nebraska, Philip and Catharine heard of a tale about another area to farm in Kansas so they took up their belongings and children and relocated to a new homestead in Lincoln County, Kansas. As Philip prepared the land for farming he taught school to help supplement the family’s income.

   At first Philip and his family, like all homesteaders, lived in a large room or several rooms excavated into a hillside called a “Dug-out.” As soon as the land was prepared and the crops were planted and growing, they began to build a better home. Blocks of sod were cut and dried and were used to build the walls of their home. Store bought materials were very few and the settlers used the materials of the land.

   On May 20, 1876 Philip purchased 160 acres of land from John P. and Mary M. Morgan in Lincoln County, Kansas for the sum of $ 400.00.

   On Monday July 26, 1886 Philip and his son went into Lincoln to transact business. On their way back home they stopped at a farm that Philip rented out about a mile South of Union Valley. During a conversation with the renter, Philip became excited and was taken away by his son. Philip said “I am going to faint.” They were the last words that he ever spoke. Philip was taken home and passed away before the doctor arrived. Philip was 64 years of age. An inquest was held and after hearing the evidence of Philip’s death the jury came to the conclusion that Philip’s death was from heart disease. Philip was a most respected and well liked citizen and was missed by many. He was buried in St. Johns Catholic Church Cemetery near Vesper, Kansas. At the time of his death Philip resided about a mile North of the Union Valley post office in Scott Township.

   Four years after Philip’s passing Catharine passed away on Thursday January 9, 1890 at the age of 56 years in Lincoln from typhoid pneumonia. She was buried beside Philip in St. Johns Catholic Church Cemetery.