Boyd, James S.

BOYD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 13:53:07

JAMES S. BOYD
born June 10, 1837, Ohio

James S. Boyd, a successful farmer of Belmont township, Warren county, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 10, 1837, a son of Robert and Rachel (Frame) Boyd. Of their children who were born at the old homestead in Guernsey county, we make record as follows: Martha, wife of James Bell, of North Salem, Ohio; Thomas, a clergyman of Portland, Oregon; Joseph, a minister in the Presbyterian Church at Des Moines; William, a traveling salesman at Pana, Illinois; Robert, who served in the Fifteenth Ohio Regiment during the late war, resides in White county, Illinois; James S., the subject of this sketch; John, who was a member of Company F, Seventy-eighth Ohio Regiment, resides on the old homestead; Eliza, wife of Mr. Baird, a farmer of Perry county, Illinois; David, a carpenter by trade, also owns a good farm and resides in Kenton, Ohio.
All of the children are still living, two engaged in preaching the gospel, and four were soldiers in the late war. Their father, Robert Boyd, was born near Belfast, Ireland, and after coming to this country he made his home in Philadelphia for a time, removing thence to Guernsey county, Ohio. Two years afterward he was joined by his parents, Joseph and Martha Boyd, and their children –William, Mary, Eliza, and James. The grandparents of our subject, as well as the good father and mother, have long since passed away. Uncle James Boyd is the only survivor of the family, and he resides in Oskaloosa.
James S. Boyd, the subject of this sketch, attended the common schools, and afterward took a three years’ course at Muskingum College. While in his junior year his patriotism became manifest, and he enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Mansfield, Ohio, September 6, 1861. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, and was discharged in March, 1863. He then became a member of Company K, One Hundred and Seventy- fifth Ohio Infantry, took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and was discharged when the regiment was mustered out of service. Mr. Boyd next entered the One Hundred and Eighty- ninth Ohio, Company F., and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus Ohio, October 6, 1865. Three years afterward he came to Iowa, locating in Clayton county. In 1871 he removed to Corning, Adams county, this State; in July, 1871, became a resident of Henry county, in the fall of 1873 removed to Liberty township; and since 1885 has resided in Belmont township, Warren county. Mr Boyd is prominently identified with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. After returning home from the war Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Anna J., a daughter of David Noble, a native of Pennsylvania. When fifteen years of age she accompanied her parents to Ohio, and in 1852 her father died of cholera in St Louis, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have had seven children, namely: Emma, wife of William Hall, a farmer of Liberty township, Warren county; William, at home; Sadie, deceased at the age of two years and five months; Robert, who died at the age of one and a half years; Walter and Mary, twins, and both at home, and James Garfield, also at home. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.402