One of the early settlers of Pomona who adjusted himself to the pioneer conditions here and aided materially in the development work then being put forward, Patrick W. Doyle will be remembered as one of the worthy pioneers of this section. Born in Kildare, Leinster, Ireland, he was the youngest of nine children born to Patrick and Catherine (Wall) Doyle, the mother also a native of Kildare. Patrick W. received his education up to his thirteenth year in private schools in Ireland; the mother died when he was young, and the father brought his children to America in 1849. He followed farming near Auburn, N.Y., and later died there.
Patrick W. Doyle went to Rochester, N.Y., and there learned the carpenter trade and followed it there until 1864. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and there became a contractor and builder and followed that work in Cleveland for twenty-one years. In 1885 he came to California and located in Pomona. He bought a nine-acre ranch in the Kingsley Tract, one of the first to buy and build a home in that tract. The land was piped for irrigation and domestic use, and a pumping plant established. Mr. Doyle set out prunes on his land, but later took them out and set out oranges, Navels and Valencias. The family home is still on this ranch, situated on the corner of San Antonio and Olive avenues.
In addition to his citrus development, Mr. Doyle engaged in contracting and building in Pomona, and followed that line for many years. He built the first Catholic church here and superintended the building of the present church. He erected the packing plant at Claremont, and many fine homes and business blocks in Pomona. During all his residence here he proved himself a man of worth, with the welfare of his community at heart and willing to work toward that end, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends as well as by his devoted family. His death occurred November 17, 1917.
On January 1, 1868, Mr. Doyle married Helen Max, a native of Germany, and she survives him. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: James, now deceased; Edward, of Riverside County; Thomas, deceased; Alice M., residing at the old home; Anna, Mrs. McGarry of Los Angeles; George of Seattle; Mary; and William, traveling auditor for the Santa Fe Railway.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 8/26/08, Pages 283-284
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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