CHIEF:  Dr Robin Boyd, MA (Oxon); MB BS; LRCP, MRCS; DCH; AFOM, 8th Baron Kilmarnock

Napoleon (Pole) Bonaparte Boyd  ~ Nancy E. Clift

Alabama to Texas

1845-1937

by Ruby Lois Wells - May, 1978

Napoleon Bonaparte Boyd was born  in  Madison County, Alabama  on  May 8, 1845.  He  was  married  to Nancy Elizabeth CLIFT  in  Limestone County, Alabama  on 12 March 1868.

In 1870, Pole Boyd  with  his  wife  Nancy  and it is believed one son, Chester, moved  to  Texas.  He purchased a tract of land  on  the  North side of Tehuacana Creek, Southwest of Wortham.

Living in a small frame house, he established a broom factory  travelling  by  horse  and  buggy  in nearby areas, selling brooms.

He continued to buy land and  began  farming.  He was considered a  successful  farmer,  later  owning  and operating  his  own cotton gin.  The gin sat behind a larger house  he built and occupied about one-quarter mile north  of  his  first residence established when coming to Texas. He occupied this home until he died.

Being  a  man  with a warm personality, though stearn and with great  energy  and  ability, he continued to purchase land and near the turn of the century he had acquired over four hundred acres of land.

His  fore-sight  to  continue  buying  land  became a reality, when, on November 22, 1924, the Boyd  #1 oil well was brought in.  Many others followed.

Although his property was  in  Limestone Co., Wortham was considered his home-town for doing  business  and shopping.  He was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors  of  the  First National bank of Wortham in 1919,  and  it  has  been  said,  he  never  missed a Director's meeting.  He  was a member  of  the  First Methodist Church of Wortham.

Nancy E. Boyd died in January  of  1904 and is buried in the Wortham Cemetery. Pole Boyd later married Lucy L. SANDERS of Tehuacana who also predeceased him.

A Confederate veteran,  Pole Boyd was a member of the Joe Johnston Confederate Veterans Camp 94 having been elected as Commander of the group in both 1933 & 1934. He attended many National Veteran Conventions.

On August 26, 1937,  the  death  of  Napoleon B. Boyd closed  a  long  rewarding life as a successful Texas citizen. He was 92 years of age and was buried beside his wife Nancy in Wortham Cemetery.

The nine children born to  Napoleon  and  Nancy were: Chester Boyd, Mollie Boyd SELLERS, Andrew Boyd, Josie Boyd HICKMAN, Lenora E. Boyd DAUGHERTY, J. Emmett Boyd, Henry Thomas Boyd (died in infancy), J. Frank Boyd and Maud Boyd MILLIGAN.

Brooks S. Boyd                                                                                  1914B Nantucket                                                                            Houston, TX  77057

NOTE: Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts in original sources.

Back to Main Page

New Books

Copyright 2001- 2011 © Clan Boyd Society International. All Rights Reserved.

Do not duplicate in any form without permission of Clan Boyd Society International.