Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 199-200; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Capt. William Boyd, Deputy County Clerk and Assistant Treasurer
of Fulton County, has long been connected with the civic life of this
part of Illinois, and no public official is held in higher estimation
for practical ability and fine personal character than he. He was
a brave officer in the Union ranks during the late war, and did noble
service for his adopted country.
Capt. Boyd was born August 1, 1830, in the province of Ulster,
County Antrim, Ireland. His father, John Boyd, was a native of
the same county as was his father, Hugh Boyd, who was of early Scotch
ancestry. He was a farmer, and so far as known, spent his entire
life in County Antrim. The father of our subject was
well-educated, and when a young man taught school, and was also engaged
as a music teacher, and as a civil engineer. He spent his entire
life in the county of his birth, dying in 1840, when sixty years of
age. The maiden name of his wife as Ann Taggart, and she was born
in the North of Ireland. She was twice married, the name of her
first husband having been Keenan.
After the death of the father our subject, his mother came to
America with five of her eight children, setting sail from Port Rush,
early in April, proceeding from there to Liverpool, and thence to New
York, landing in that city early in June. She went directly to
Wooster, Ohio, and there her remaining days were passed, her death
occurring in 1851. The names of her children were: Hannah
(daughter of her first marriage); Hugh, Ann, Jennie, John, Robert,
William and James. John died in County Antrim, and the others
came to America. Hannah died a few years after her arrival here;
Ann married Hugh Price, and settled near Columbus, Ohio; Jennie married
Joseph Woods, and settled near Gallion, Ohio; Hugh located in Wooster,
and died there; Robert also died in Wooster; James located in Columbus.
The subject of this biographical sketch was but twelve years old
when he came to America with his mother. As she was in limited
circumstances, the brave, manly little lad had to set about earning his
own living at an early age. When he was thirteen years old, he
commenced to learn the trade of a shoemaker, and followed that until
1849. In that year he went to Columbus, and in 1857 came from
that city to Lewistown, where he was engaged at his trade until 1862.
Capt. Boyd was mostly reared and educated under the institutions
of this country, and early imbibed a love for it and became thoroughly
Americanized. During the first months of the great struggle
between the North and South, he watched the course of events with
intense interest, and as soon as practicable, laid aside his work to
take up arms in defense of the country that had given him a home.
In the month of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and
Third Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in as First Lieutenant at
Peoria, August 2. In November, he was sent with his regiment to
Bolivar, Tenn., and thence to LaGrange. In December he started
for Vicksburg with Gen. Grant. Communication being cut off
Grant’s army went to Jackson, and there the regiment of our subject was
quartered for the winter. On the return of spring, he and his
comrades returned to La Grange, and there spent a short time, and were
dispatched to Vicksburg from that place to guard the rear of the
Federal army, and aided in defeating Johnston’s attempt to reinforce
that city. After the fall of Vicksburg, our subject went to
Jackson and fought gallantly in the battle with the enemy at that
place. From there his regiment pushed on to Black River, and
rested until fall, and then marched to Chattanooga, and did good
service in the battle of Missionary Ridge. The men were next sent
to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, and then retired to Scottsboro,
Ala. A few weeks later our gallant young officer accompanied by
his men, started for Georgia, having been sent there to attract the
attention of the rebels and draw them away from Sherman, who had gone
on his Meridian raid. Returning to Scottsboro, the One Hundred
and Third Illinois, after a short rest, went on another reconnoitering
expedition, marching to Cleveland, Tenn., and back to Scottsboro.
May 1, 186, it joined Sherman’s forces, accompanied him on the Atlanta
campaign, doing noble service in the principal battles on that long and
ever memorable march. Capt. Boyd and the soldiers under him aided
in the siege and capture of Atlanta, fought the battle of Atlanta Pass,
and after that went with the army to the Chattahoochie River. Our
subject received an injury that resulted in the loss of one eye, and he
was obliged to resign his commission and give up military life for
which he was so eminently fitted. His course throughout his
service had marked him as a soldier who was prompt in obeying orders,
was cool and courageous in any emergency, and as an officer inspired
his men to brave deeds. His superiors, appreciating these fine
qualities, had promoted him to the rank of captain before his
retirement.
After he left the army, Capt. Boyd returned to Lewistown, and in
1865 established himself in the hardware business, and continued it
until 1873, when he was appointed to his present position as Deputy
County Clerk, and he then sold out his business interests. As
before mentioned, he is Assistant Treasurer, and has made a good record
in both offices. His political affiliations are with the
Republicans. Religiously, he is a sound Presbyterian, and both he
and Mrs. Boyd are church members. He is identified with the
Independent Order of Mutual Aid.
Our subject has been twice married. In 1852 Sarah S. Miner
became his wife. She was a native of Gratiot, Licking County,
Ohio, and a daughter of Francis and Myra (Jordan) Miner. Her
death occurred in 1860. Of the three children born of her wedded
life, two are not living; Carrie married Alexander Wetberell, and lives
near Lima, Ohio; Ida married Dr. H. P. Stipp, of Sonora, Cal. The
Captain’s second marriage, which was solemnized in 1861, was with Miss
Lucy J. Foote, a native of Iowa. There are two children living of
the second marriage; Mrs. Grace Lilie, of Lewistown; and Willard.
