History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 422, Astoria Township
John Boyd became a residence of this county in 1840. He
was born in North Carolina in 1812. His father, James Boyd,
married Miss Rachel Danley, who bore him 6 children, of whom John was
the second. He grew up in his native State and learned the trade
of a tanner, and before attaining his 20th year was married to Miss
Margaret Henderson; two years later he started for Illinois, and during
the summer of '35 remained in Indiana, and in the autumn came to
Illinois and located at Rushville and opened a tannery; at the end of 5
years he settled just west of Astoria and erected a tannery, where he
continued in business many years. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. B. 7
children are living, - James, John H., William F., Richardson W., Nancy
J. Rachel M. and Mary E. After retiring from the tannery he
entered actively into general mercantile business; next he tried the
hardware trade. The latter years of his life have been devoted to
farming. He has held many local offices. In 1857 or '58 he
was appointed Postmaster, and for 14 years was School Treasurer and
Trustee, and has been Supervisor.
