Francis Boyland, late of Wyoming township, and of Kent county’s representative Irish-American citizens, was a native of county Monaghan, Ireland, where his birth occurred in the year 1846. When but four years of age, just after the great famine, he was brought by his parents, Edward and Ann (Fay) Boyland, to America, and until he reached maturity the family resided in the state of New York. Beside Francis there were in the family two sons, James and Edward both of whom were respected citizens, the latter now deceased, and one daughter, Margaret, who married Dennis Murphy, of Grand Rapids, where she died a few years since. All became residents of Michigan in 1870, locating on the present home farm in the township of Wyoming, near the village of Grandville.

Previous coming west, Francis had spent some years as a clerk in Buffalo, N. Y., but after settling in Michigan turned his whole attention to the pursuit of agriculture, which he carried on quite extensively for a number of years. In connection with his farm he engaged in the dairy business, which proved more than ordinarily remunerative. The several members of the family owned, in common, a valuable tract of land consisting of 200 acres; but after a division was made Francis obtained possession of the home place of 110 acres, upon which he established the dairy above mentioned. He expended considerable capital in dwellings and appliances necessary to the successful prosecution of that feature of his business, and also greatly improved the farm in various ways, making it one of the handsomest, most convenient and valuable estates in this section of Kent county. This beautiful home is situated one mile east of Grandville, skirting the Grand river, and its well kept condition superior improvements and general appearance of thrift, never fail to attract the passersby, and elicit from them remarks complimentary to the owner of such a place. Mr. Boyland carried on dairy quite successfully for a period of ten years, and was thus engaged when death called him from the scenes of his earthly labors. He served as deputy sheriff of Kent county for four years, and also filled the office of township treasurer, in both of which capacities he proved an obliging and efficient public servant. In politics he was a supporter of the democrat party, and held no minor place in the estimate of its leaders.

On the 22^nd of February, 1871, Mr. Boyland and Miss Mary Barry were united in the holy bonds of wedlock—a union blessed with the following children: Mary E., an accomplished musician and teacher, popular with her many friends and influential in the community; Margaret, a refined lady of many social qualities; John, who has charge of the farm; Charles, Robert, Florence and Lyman, all of whom are still with their mother under the parental roof. Mrs. Boyland is a native of Erie county, N. Y., and a lady of culture and refinement greatly beloved by her family, universally respected in the community for her genial disposition and many acts of charity, both in and outside of the church of which she is an active and devoted member. The children are worthy the pardonable pride in which they have ever been held by the parents, being exceptionally intelligent young ladies and gentlemen, possessing the confidence and esteem of the entire community. The family are members of the Catholic church, belonging to St. Andrew congregation, in which they are active workers.

Sufficient has already been said to indicate Mr. Boyland’s standing in the community, where for over a quarter of a century he was such a potent factor in fashioning and promoting the general welfare. He was widely recognized as one of the substantial Irish-Americans, who by many excellent qualities of head and heart drew to himself hosts of friends who mourned his taking off as a great personal loss. Of kindly nature and generous impulse, his hand was ever helpfully extended to the needy, and his warm sympathy will always be cherished by many unfortunates who never appealed in vain to his generosity. He died as he lived, an upright man of God, exemplifying in his life the maxim of our Savior "whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them;" and left to his family a reputation unspotted by the slightest tinge of unworthy act or motive. He departed this life on the 16^th day of August, 1896, in the fifty-first year of his age.