Josiah Leslie Boyd ~ Laura J. Hewitt

The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has overcome the obstacles in his path and has become an important factor in business circles. This is a progressive age and he who does not advance is soon left far behind. By the improvement of opportunities by which all are surrounded Mr. Boyd has steadily and honorably worked his way upward and is today one of the wealthy and substantial citizens of his community. He makes his home in Palmer and is now engaged principally in farming and in buying and selling stock.

A native of Christian county, he was born near the present site of Palmer, April 25, 1850, and is a son of Alfred Boyd and Zillah A. (McCormick) Boyd, who were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, but spent the early part of their married life in Christian county, Kentucky, where the father engaged in farming and tobacco raising. In 1839, accompanied by his wife and four children, he came with a brother to Christian count, Illinois, the journey being made in a prairie schooner and consuming several weeks. At length they arrived at their destination and located in what is now Bear Creek township, a mile and a half from Palmer, where the father entered a tract of government land, the place being now owned by his eldest son. He continued to reside in Bear Creek township throughout life. In November, 1880, he was killed by a train. His wife died July 9, 1897. This worthy couple were the parents of thirteen children of whom nine reached years of maturity and eight are still living. Four of the number are residents of Christian county, these being Mrs. John F. Anderson, of Taylorville; Joseph Boyd, of Bear Creek township; James M. Boyd and Josiah L Boyd., both of Palmer. During their early residence in this county the family endured many of the hardships and privations which fall to the lot of the pioneer and the father often went to St. Louis to do his shopping, driving an ox team across the unbroken prairies.

Our subject acquired his education in a district school situated two miles from his home and in going that distance he had to cross three swamps, so wet was the land at that time. Until twenty-one years of age he continued to attend school off and on during the winter season after the crops were harvested in the autumn. He remained on the homestead farm until thirty-one and then removed to Palmer, where he opened a mercantile establishment carrying a full line of goods usually found in a first class general store. He retired from the active management of the same in 1902, when he sold an interest in the store to A. L. Shrout, who is now in charge. In 1897 Mr. Boyd bought the elevator at Palmer, having two years prior to this time embarked in the grain business but he sold out in 1902 and now devotes his entire time and attention to his farming and stock dealing. He is the owner of seven hundred and eighty acres of land in Johnson, Greenwood and Bear Creek townships, all under cultivation and well improved and he gives his personal supervision to the operation of two hundred and sixty acres of this. He not only buys and sells live stock but he also raises and feeds considerable beef cattle for the markets, and in his business undertakings has met with marked success being a man of sound judgment and keen discrimination.

On the 6th of may 1875, Mr. Boyd married Miss Laura J. Hewitt, of Taylorville, and to them have been born ten children of whom Francis A. Boyd died at the age of four years. Those still living are as follows: Anna Zillah Boyd, wife of A. L. Shrout, by whom she has one child, Helen Ione Shrout; Laura Eunice Boyd, Olive Edna Boyd, Lotus Emma Boyd, William Leslie Boyd, Velma Gertrude Boyd, Ross H. Boyd, Byron B. Boyd and Ruth V. Boyd, all at home.

Religiously Mr. Boyd and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and fraternally he holds membership in Morrisonville Lodge, No. 681, A. F. & A. M., of which he is junior warden. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, having several times passed all the chairs in Palmer Lodge No. 501, I. O. O. F. He also belonged to the encampment at Palmer, which is now abandoned and twice served as a delegate to the grand lodge of the state. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Army of America. In politics Mr. Boyd is a pronounced Republican and the fact that he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors in a Democratic township plainly indicates his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He also served as president of the village board two terms and has been a member of the school board and clerk of the same. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen and he well merits the high regard in which he is held.

Source: Past and present of Christian County, Illinois by J. C. McBride. Micro-reproduction of original published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1904. - FHL Film 825560

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