Ernest Houston Boyd / Mattie Ragland

Ernest Houston Boyd, prominent attorney of Cookeville, TN is a man of wide and
varied interests. He was born in Cookeville, on the 1st of October, 1880, a son of Alvin Whitten and Mary (Goodpasture) Boyd, both natives of Tennessee. For many years his father engaged in the practice of law at Cookeville, and for several years he held the office of clerk and master of the chancery court and he represented the tenth senatorial district in the general assemblies of 1897 and 1899. His demise occurred in 1912.

In the acquirement of his early education Ernest Houston Boyd attended the schools of Cookeville and subsequently attended both the literary and law departments of Cumberland University. He was graduated from that institution in 1911, with the LL. B. degree and immediately engaged in practice at Cookeville in partnership with his father, under the firm name of Boyd & Boyd. Prior to taking up the study of law Mr. Boyd engaged in teaching school and was county superintendent of schools of Putnam county from 1903 to 1911. His law practice now takes up his time and attention, and since 1912 he has held the office of county attorney of Putnam county. Mr. Boyd brought to the profession innate ability and thorough training and he well merits the success he has achieved.

On the 21st of August, 1912, he was married to Miss Mattie Ragland and to
their union five children have been born: Alvin Whitten, William Hardin Ragland, Mary Butler, Avo Dyer and Houston Goodpasture.

Mr. Boyd has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. He was assistant clerk of the state senate for one term, 1907. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons. He was grand patriarch of the Grand Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Tennessee during 1908-09; was grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Seattle, Washington, in 1909, and at Atlanta in 1910; and he has been chairman of the judiciary committee of the Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Tennessee for several years. Mr. Boyd was formerly a member of the board of trustees of the Odd Fellows Orphanage at Clarksville and for several years he was a member of the city board of education of Cookeville. Mr. Boyd's religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he is an Elder in the local church. He has frequently served as Moderator of his Presbytery and in 1916 he represented the Cumberland Mountain Presbytery in the general assembly of the Presbyterian church at Atlantic City. He has been deeply interested in Tennessee history from childhood and has written a great deal on the subject. He has frequently delivered lectures on Tennessee history to State Teachers' Institutes and other educational
meetings. He is a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission. As may be
gathered from the preceding statements, Mr. Boyd is essentially public-spirited and is highly esteemed in Cookeville for his integrity and sterling worth.

Tennessee The Volunteer State Vol 2, Biographies of professional individuals
residing in Tenessee from 1769-1923

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