B. T. Boylan (b. 1858, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin) was a prominent businessman and politician in Armour, South Dakota. After moving to Cherokee County, Iowa, with his family in 1876, he later settled in Douglas County, South Dakota, in 1882. Initially farming, Boylan transitioned to the implement business in Grand View before relocating to Armour in 1887. He expanded into real estate in 1899 and served as county treasurer from 1894 to 1898 and as a state legislator in 1900. A staunch Republican, Boylan was active in Masonic and other fraternal organizations. He married Mary E. Lawrence in 1886, and they had three children.
B. T. Boylan, one of the influential citizens and business men of Armour, Douglas County, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born in Beaver Dam, Dodge County, on the 19th of August, 1858. He was the second in order of birth of the eleven children of Howard and Delight (Howe) Boylan, and of the number nine are still living, namely: Charles F., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Mitchell, this state; B. T., who is the subject of this sketch; Lucy M., who is the wife of B. I. Salinger, of Carroll, Iowa; Daisy D., who is the wife of F. W. Lindsay, of Aurelia, Iowa; Samuel H., who is a law student at Carroll, Iowa; Thomas H., who is chief clerk in the office of the Iowa state railroad commissioner in Des Moines; Nellie, who is the wife of J. W. Powers, of Mitchell, South Dakota; Henry A., who is agent for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company at Mitchell; and David W., who is court stenographer at Carroll, Iowa. Howard Boylan, the father of the subject, was born in the state of New York, and when he was still a boy, his parents removed thence to Dodge County, Wisconsin, locating near Beaver Dam, where he was reared to maturity. He there learned the trade of marble cutting and was engaged in this line of enterprise in Beaver Dam for a number of years, during which time he continued to reside on his farm, in the immediate vicinity. In 1877 he removed to Cherokee County, Iowa, becoming one of the honored pioneers of that section, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1884. He rendered valiant and arduous service as a government scout during the war of the Rebellion, and the results of this rigorous service were to so seriously impair his health that he died in the prime of life, having been about forty-eight years of age at the time of his demise. He was a staunch Republican in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Church, while he was a man of sterling character, commanding the respect of all who knew him. His devoted wife, who was born in New York, is now living at Aurelia, Iowa.
B. T. Boylan remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of seventeen years, while his early educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools. In 1876, in company with his brother Charles, he went to Cherokee County, Iowa, settling on a farm owned by their father, who joined them there a year later, whereupon our subject and his brother purchased farms of their own in that county, where he continued to devote his attention to the cultivation of the same until 1882, when he came to South Dakota, locating on a homestead claim nineteen miles northwest of the present town of Armour. He proved up on this farm, and two years later, in 1884, took up his residence in Grand View, which was then the county seat of Douglas County, where he engaged in the implement business. In 1887, when the town of Armour was platted and established, he removed his business to this place, where he has since conducted operations in the line, though he now handles only heavy farm machinery. In 1899 Mr. Boylan also engaged in the real-estate business, and he is now one of the successful operators in this line in the state.
In politics, Mr. Boylan gives a staunch and unequivocal allegiance to the Republican party. In 1894 he was elected county treasurer, giving a most careful and able administration and being chosen as his own successor two years later. In 1900 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, serving one term and proving a valuable working member of the house. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 97, Free and Accepted Masons, in Armour; the chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Mitchell; and Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, in Mitchell. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights of the Maccabees.
In November 1886, Mr. Boylan was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Lawrence, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and they are the parents of three children: Lawrence H., Baird T., and Lulu.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.