Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 706 - 707 

C.W. DOYLE, dealer in real estate in the city of Wichita, is a native of Brown County, Ill., and was born June 1, 1854. He is a son of John and Irene (Mills) Doyle, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively.

            John Doyle, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a merchant, and came to Illinois at an early day, settling in Brown County. He is now a resident of Quincy, Ill. The mother died in 1872. They were the parents of ten children, of whom C. W. was the seventh. The subject of our sketch resided under the paternal rooftree and spent his early years in attending school, receiving the elements of an excellent education. He was engaged for a time in the stove and tinware business, until he was twenty-two years old, when, feeling that business in the older States was too much overdone, he removed to Lincoln, Neb., where for about three years he was engaged in operating a grocery store. He finally sold out his business in the capital city of Nebraska, and came to Wichita, arriving here on the 2d of July, 1884. Entering into the hardware business, he took a position among the leading merchants of the city, but six months later disposed of the concern, since which time he has been speculating in real estate and city property.

            The ceremony which united the destinies of Miss Ludora Jennings and C. W. Doyle took place Feb. 14, 1878. The lady of his choice is a daughter of A. L. and Jane (Crowder) Jennings, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Virginia. The latter named came to Illinois in a very early day, and were among the pioneers of Coles County, in that State, where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. They were the parents of one child, Mrs. Doyle. She was born in Coles County, I11., Nov. 20, 1860, and a resident of Quincy, Ill., at the time of her marriage. She is the mother of one son, Ira, born in Quincy, Ill., March 28, 1879.

            Mrs. Doyle is an accomplished and educated lady, of considerable reputation in literary matters. Having always been a hard-working student, bent on improvement in an educational way, she manifested, at an early age, great talent and ability. Before she was twelve years of age she had written considerable poetry, of a high grade of excellence. She has been a large contributor to many of the papers and periodicals of the country, among the principal of which are: The Christian Evangelist, of St. Louis; the Sunday Optic, of Quincy, Ill.; the Wichita Eagle; the New Republic, and the Monitor Magazine, of Kansas City. She has just finished and published a novel, founded upon facts, entitled "Edna Carlisle," a work containing about 400 pages, which has already received most favorable criticism and high testimonials from some of the leading men of the State of Kansas. Chancellor Everest, of Garfield University, says: "I have read with considerable care the recent book, entitled "Edna Carlisle," by Mrs. C. W. Doyle, of Wichita, Kan. It is a temperance story, founded upon facts, and told in a very unpretentious but effective manner." R. E. Lawrence, President of the West Side National Bank, says: "I have read carefully the book written by Mrs. Doyle, called "Edna Carlisle," and can heartily recommend it as a work of great interest, and calculated to leave a good impression on the reader." J. H. Garrison, editor of the Christian Evangelist, of St. Louis, and President of the Board of Foreign Missions, writes; "I have just finished a thorough reading of the book. I must express my high appreciation of the work. It is a capital story, well told." The volume bears the following dedication: "To my beloved brother, James M. Jennings, this story is affectionately dedicated by the author, in memory of the happy days of our childhood when we played among the scenes herein described, and enjoyed a personal acquaintance with some of the characters of this story."

            "Edna Carlisle" is written in a very simple style, and bears the impress of great genius. Not only are the characters life-like and palpable to the reader, but the language is beautiful and not strained. The story deals with the experience of a heroine with whom the reader is apt to fall in love. Many of the best literary minds of the country bear testimony to its worth, and letters of congratulation and welcome to the new author are numerous.

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