The Portland daily press., 1884-12-30

John d. Coyle, Esq, died at his home in
Deering, at 80 o'clock this morning, from the
effects of a paraly tic shock sustained Friday
last.
John Brown Coyle was native OF a small
villsge few miles below Norwich, Conn,
on the Thames river. His ancestry was
scotch-Irish, his father having been in the
English service, and participant in the bat
tie OF Long bland in the Revolutionary War.
The subject Of this sketch was born in 1905
and was therefore In his SOsh year The quail
tiles that mark the two races from which he
spraDg were developed to marked degree 10
Mr.. Coyle. From small beginnings by Scotch
thrift and prudence added TO Irish impu]siye-
ness and amiability he grew to fortune and to
the position OF one of the leading steamboat
men in this country. He was apprenticed as
boy to shoemaker but his taste drew him to
the banks 0. the river, where steamboats, were
just in their infancy, and he soon ran away
from his bench and got berth on one of the
boats plying on Long Island Sound. Daring
vacation when he was not running on any of
the boats he went to the Allaire Works in New
York, then the only machine shop of promi-
nencs, and acquired the machinist's trade.
After that he piled for long while as engi-
neer both on the Sound and on the North
River steamers
In 1885 Mr.. CoIls was invited to Portland as
assistant engineer of the old propeller Mac
donough. During that year the Portland was
built and Mr.. Coyle was promoted to chief en-
giueer of that craft in 1886, and to captain in
1888. Then he was captain of the Express
unn infVf x0r. oyd 60 \
wards captain OF a steamer running from Nor
witch to New York. y
Ia 1S43 Capt. Coyle founded the Portland
Steam Packet Company. assisted by others,
and this line has been run successfully be.
tween Portland and Boston for forty-one years
without the loss of single life, and to great
pecuniary profit, although for several years in
the company's infancy, Captain Coyle mort
gagged his house to carry the load He founded
the New England and Nova Scotia Steamship
Company and the International Steamship
Company, and undss his supervision fifteen
steamships were built, from the old-fashioned
propeller to the elegant sidswheelers, Fall
mouth, fremont and State of Maine.
Mr.. Coyle was a long time vestryman of
st. Stephens Church and the intimate friend
OF the then rector, Rev. DIR. Perry. OF late
years he had often attended Chestnut Street
Methodist Church with his wife who had
membership there
Mr.. Coyle was Mason of Importance; one
of the few charter members of Portland Com
mandery, the Oldest living past master of An
Gent Landmark Lodge, an old member OF Mt
Vernon Royal Arch Chapter, and had taken
oil the GoupnI 1aOpapa IL ola -
the earliest presidents Of the Mechanic Asso-
citation.
He married Sabrina Merrill of East Hart
ford, Conn, who deceased short time ago. by
whom he leaves Gaorge, Matilda, John B.,
Jr., Edward and Julia He was one OF the
kindest Of husbands and fathers, man hon.
ored and respected By all our citizsns, and ia
his death Portland suffers severe loss
In conversation some time ago with 8 re-
porter, Captain Coyle said that the old Mac
donough, of which he was chief engineer, was
commanded by Capt. Sidney K. Howard. The
company was known as the Cumberland
Steam Navigation Company and ran the
Chancellor Livingston as we'll az tbs Mac
donough. The Portland was built at the foot
Of High street in 1885 and the engine of the
Livingston was put in her. The Captain
could remember the old Patent and Connect.
icut, the original steamers raRning on the
Boston route commanded by Seward and Will
liam Porter The Portland Steam Packet
Company built the Atlantic, st. Lawrence,
Montreal, Lewiston, Forest City and fremont,
and bought tie John Brooks. He spoke in
high praise of the faithfulness of all the en-
p]oye3 the connany had aver had and he
lieved that liquor bars on steamboats, were at
the bottom of much mischief. He early closed
the bars on the boats of his line.