California Biographies, Santa Cruz County
M. 0. BOYLE. 

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

Source:
History of Santa Cruz County, California 
Pacific Press Publishing Company
San Francisco, Cal. 1892
By E. S. Harrison 

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
 

M. 0. BOYLE. 

The annals of Santa Cruz county record the name of M. 0. Boyle as a pioneer of 1858, from which year until that of his 
demise (1890) he was intimately associated with building and business enterprises of local importance. Born in Ireland in 
1805, he was a young man of twenty years when in 1825 he crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel and settled in Massa- 
chusetts. During youth he had learned the trade of a stonemason and had acquired singular proficiency in that line. It 
was not long until he was qualified to take contracts for stone work and he was thus occupied after settling in Worcester, 
Mass., where he had the contract to build the famous stone arches that are standing to this day. In addition he con- 
structed the foundations for many of the large mills of that city. From his undertakings in the east he acquired wealth 
and influence, but being fond of travel and adventure, when he learned of the discovery of gold in California, he deter- 
mined to make the long voyage to the Pacific coast. As early as 1849 he landed in San Francisco off a vessel from the 
Isthmus of Panama, Without any delay he went on to the mines of Tuolumne county and began to prospect for gold. 
Two years passed there busily and with some degree of success, but at the expiration of that period he was called back 
east by the death of his wife, who had remained in Worcester with their children. After he had settled her estate he came 
back to California, accompanied by a part of the family, for whom he built a house in Tuolumne county. During the fall 
of the same year (1852) the other members of the family came to the west. 

Leaving the mines in 1858 Mr. Boyle came to Santa Cruz county, of which he was a pioneer. At first he was engaged 
as inspector and receiver of the Major flouring mills, of Santa Cruz. After he had straightened out the financial af- 
fairs of the mill he began to engage in contracting, also farmed for a short time. During 1875 he erected the first cement 
reservoir on the brow of the hill on Logan Heights in Santa Cruz. The reservoir still stands, as substantial as when con- 
structed. Besides this he superintended the building of the stone jail, which for many years stood as a landmark of 
pioneer times, but recently was torn down to be replaced by a modern structure. In different parts of Santa Cruz he owned 
valuable real estate, including one-third interest in the Colt property on the east side. A man of honesty and integrity, 
he enjoyed the esteem of his large circle of acquaintances and was accounted a citizen of worth. Frequently he was chosen 
foreman of the grand jury and in that responsible position he proved reliable, impartial and a logical reasoner. From the 
time of becoming an American citizen he upheld Democratic principles and it was always a matter of pride with him that 
he had the privilege of casting his ballot for John Tyler as the tenth president of the United States. Both by precept 
and by example he gave his influence to the cause of prohibition, and for years he maintained an active part in the work- 
ings of the Sons of Temperance and the Temple of Honor.