James P. Boyd ~ Susan S. (McGovern) Packard

James P. Boyd was for a number of years a prominent attorney of Decatur and was well known among the early settlers of the city. He took up his residence here about 1855, when Decatur was still a struggling town, giving little promise of its present prosperity, progress and improved condition. Born in Pennsylvania on the 17th of November, 1820, he was a son of Samuel Boyd and his wife, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. For many years the father engaged in farming there and then removed to a farm near Cambridge, Ohio, where he continued to carry on the tilling of the soil until his death. He developed a good property and annually harvested large crops which returned to him a gratifying income for his labors. Both he and his wife died upon the old Ohio homestead.

James P. Boyd began his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania and continued his studies in Ohio. He was reared in the usual manner of most farm lads, but did not find the work of the fields entirely congenial and decided to enter upon a professional career. He therefore began the study of law in his native state and after the removal of his parents to their farm near Cambridge, Ohio, he became a school teacher in that vicinity, devoting his leisure hours outside of the school-room to the further reading of law. There he resided until 1855, when he came to the west and Decatur was his chosen field of labor. Entering upon the practice of law in this city in partnership with James Lake, he soon gained a distinctively representative clientage here and was connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of Macon county at an early day. His knowledge of the science of jurisprudence was comprehensive and exact and he applied his knowledge with great accuracy to the points at issue.

Soon after his arrival in Decatur Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Mrs. Susan S. (McGovern) Packard, a native of Kentucky, born October 21, 1827, and a daughter of Edmund and Malinda (Huddleston) McGovern, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and at an early day came to Illinois, settling in Morgan county during the pioneer epoch in its development. There both parents resided until death. Mrs. Boyd was first married to Dr. Edmund Packard, a representative of the old and prominent Packard family of Decatur. The Doctor was one of the first residents here and a physician of prominence in this city. He practiced both in Quincy, Illinois, and in Decatur until 1849, when attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made his way to the Pacific slope in the hope of rapidly acquiring a fortune there. Death, however, interfered with his plans for he passed away in the Golden state in 1850. Three children had been born of this union; Charles Packard, who married Ella Gosshorn and resides in Decatur; Katie Packard, now deceased; and Lilly Packard, who is the widow of Monroe Robertson and resides with her mother. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd was blessed with six children, namely: Frank S. Boyd, who wedded Ida Hampsher and resides in St. Louis; Lizzie Boyd, the wife of Roy Loughborn, of Decatur; Laura Boyd, who died in infancy; Iola Boyd, the wife of John E. Baker of Mishawaka, Indiana, by whom she has three children, Forest, Donald and Dorothy; James P. Boyd, who married Sarah Taylor and is living in Spokane, Washington; Ada Boyd, the wife of Augustus Mecklenburg, of Mishawaka, Indiana.

After his marriage Mr. Boyd continued in the practice of law in Decatur until the Civil war broke out. He watched with interest the progress of events and when he saw that the war was to be no mere holiday affair and that the Union needed the aid of its loyal sons he offered his services to the government and became a lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment. His regiment was in many important battles and engagements including the siege of Vicksburg in which he was shot through the lung. He was then in the hospital for a short time, after which he was brought home to Decatur. His wound was very serious and, hoping that he might benefit his health by a change of climate, he began traveling in the south, spending four years on this way. He visited New Orleans and other southern cities and then at the end of four years he returned to his home in Decatur. He died on the 11th of October, 1868, his demise being the direct result of the injury which he had sustained upon the field of battle and thus he gave his life for his country just as truly as those whose graves were dug on southern battlefields.

While in New Orleans Mr. Boyd had been appointed circuit judge, but on account of illness he refused to serve in that position. In politics he was a Republican and he kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, believing it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to exercise his right of franchise in an intelligent way in the support of the measures in which he believed. He was a member of the Grand Army Post of Decatur and enjoyed the high regard of his brethren of that order. His scholarly attainments and broad learning made him the companion of the best people of Macon county and at the bar the members of the legal fraternity recognized his ability and accorded him a prominent position in their ranks. Before going into the service he became the owner of a large farm in Niantic township, Macon county, which he rented and which remained in possession of his heirs until recent years when it was sold. He was very successful in his business affairs and in his practice here and was indeed a prominent, influential and honored man. Mrs. Boyd still lives in Decatur, owning a nice home at No. 506 West Williams street, where she and her daughter are living, and it has been her place of residence for over half a century. She is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Decatur and is a lady whose many excellent traits of heart and mind have endeared her to all with whom she has been brought in contact.

Source: Past and present of the city of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois. Micro-reproduction of original published: Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.,1903. - FHL Film 825590

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