John Boyd, a progressive farmer of Richland Township, was the son of Thomas and Annie (Miller) Boyd. John was second in a family of six. Allen, his brother, died while serving in the Civil War, (the same day as President Lincoln) on April 15, 1865. John came to Decatur County in 1855 and taught school in the winter months until 1878, when he purchased 280 acres in Richland Township, and thereafter farmed full time. He married Elizabeth Bullock and they became the parents of seven children: Henry Russell (married Margaret Edie), Mattied (married Henry Bryant), Curtis (married Susan Fear), Ida (never married, taught school). Nora (never married, worked as a cashier), Frank and Laura (twins). Frank married Mary (Mayne) Judd and Laura married Boyd Gale.