(from History of Minnesota, Vol. 2 by Henry A. Castle, 1915, pg. 964)
Michael Boylan. The City of Virginia has no more enterprising and vigorously public spirited citizen than Michael Boylan, who has been identified with that community since 1905, and while engaged in building up substantial prosperity for himself has likewise been actively concerned with community affairs and is the present mayor of that flourishing city of Northern Minnesota.
Michael Boylan was born at Boscobel, Wisconsin, August 18, 1880, a son of Michael and Ella (Hickey) Boylan. His father was a farmer, both in Wisconsin and Michigan. Michael Boylan was educated in the parochial schools of Kalamazoo, Michigan, learned telegraphy, and for three years was an operator with the Lake Shore Railroad. That profession was exchanged for the trade of plumbing and sheet metal working, and he followed the trade as a journeyman for ten years. Coming to Virginia in 1905, Mr. Boylan worked at his trade four years, and then established the plumbing business of Boylan & Company, incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. Mr. Boylan is its president, and has built up a splendid business.
In 1907 he was elected alderman from the First ward, and by re-election served six years. In 1914 came his election to the office of mayor, and the results of his administration are already in evidence in the continued progress of the city both as to municipal affairs and in its growing importance as a commercial center. When Mr. Boylan first became officially connected with the city government there were only six blocks of pavement. He was chairman of the street committee which constructed fifteen miles of pavement, and Virginia now has what is probably the best lighting system of any town of its size in the United States, and that improvement was one vigorously advocated by Mr. Boylan. He is a member of the Virginia Club, the Virginia Commercial Club, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His church is the Catholic. On October 20, 1905, Mr. Boylan married Helena Lindstrom of Eveleth, Minnesota. They are the parents of two children: Mollie Elnora and John Patrick.
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