Samuel L. Boyd ~ Caroline Crook

Samuel L. Boyd. Nature has sometimes been accused of partiality in endowing some of her children more richly than others with those qualifications which insure them success in life, but when such provision supplements the disadvantages of a lack of education and means, everyone must rejoice at such endowment. The subject of this sketch was in very early life thrown upon his own resources fro support, and his advantages for an education were extremely limited, but he was more fortunate than many in being possessed of excellent judgment and good sense and more than ordinary business ability, which have thus aided him in making a success of life.

Our subject was born in Garrard County, Ky., September 9, 1822. His father, Andrew Boyd, was a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and his grandfather, Moses Boyd, emigrated from Scotland to America and was one of the first settlers in Allegheny County, Pa. He was one of six brothers that came to America and he died in the service of his adopted country during the War of American Independence.

Andrew Boyd was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania and removed from that State to Kentucky, thus becoming one of the pioneers of Garrard County. He was a blacksmith by trade and a man who did honor to his business, as every conscientious worker must. He followed this line of business for some years in Garrard County, which he made his home until called away from earth in August, 1833. His wife's maiden name was Melinda Forsythe and her native home was Lincoln County, Ky. She accompanied her children to Macoupin County, Ill., where she died in 1866. Her six children are named Moses Boyd, Samuel L. Boyd, Priscilia A. Boyd, Elizabeth Boyd, Catherine Boyd, and James A. Boyd.

Samuel L. Boyd was only in his eleventh year when orphaned by the death of his father, and he became one of the main stays of his widowed mother, who was left in limited circumstances with six young children to care for and support. This brave boy at once went to work to assist in the support of the family and it is almost pitiful to related that in this brave endeavor he received, for some time only, the mere pittance of ten cents a day. After some years he obtained a situation as overseer on a plantation at $7 a month. He continued in that work until 1851, when he removed to Illinois where he was employed on a farm for eighteen months. He returned in October, 1853, to Kentucky, and arranged for the removal of his mother and brothers.

Our subject and his brother James Boyd formed a partnership to engage in farming. Their capital consisted of a team with wagon and harness, and $60 in cash. They rented land for a time in Scottville Township, and in 1861, were able to purchase. The first land they ever owned was a tract of ninety acres for which they paid $2,200. The brothers continued in partnership until the death of James, since which time Samuel has continued alone. He now owns fifteen hundred and fifty acres of land, all in Macoupin County. His happy marriage in October, 1885, united him with Caroline Crook, a native of Western Mound Township, this county. This lady is a daughter of George W. and Eliza (Kinkaid) Crook. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have been granted three children who are at once the care and the joy of their parents. They hear the names of May Boyd, James C. Boyd, and Caroline Boyd. Mr. Boyd is one of the most successful business men of Scottville Township, and is a stockholder and one of the original movers in founding the Bank of Palmyra.

Source: Portrait and biographical record of Macoupin County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, governors of the state and of the presidents of the United States. Includes index. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co. 1891 - FHL Film 924426 Item 1.

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