Harrison Boyd ~ Rebecca Lewis

Harrison Boyd. But few of the farmers of Parke County have met with more genuine success than our subject, whose agricultural development has played an important part in Adams Township, where he has large landed interests and is extensively engaged in farming. Mr. Boyd was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee, May 23, 1818. He is the sixth in order of birth in a family of twelve children born to William and Huldy M. (Epison) Boyd. William Boyd was born in Albemarle County, Va., and was the son of John Boyd, who was probably born in North Carolina. The last-named gentleman served in the Revolutionary War after which he came from North Carolina to Indiana and settled in Hendricks County. He married Huldy Maria Epison, a daughter of William Epison who was a soldier of Revolutionary fame. After living in North Carolina for a short time, Mr. and Mrs. Boyd moved to Tennessee where they remained for several years, and then came to Indiana where they located in Hendricks County and engaged in farming. Here he made a good livelihood but not being wholly satisfied came to Parke County in 1835, and located in Adams Township. There are two brothers and three sisters now living. Mr. Boyd was a soldier in the War of 1812, from which he returned safely and subsequently journeyed Westward with a view to finding a location, but was taken sick and died in a place unknown to the family.

Mr. Boyd of whom we write was educated in an old log schoolhouse in Adams Township but when he had reached his twentieth year he was obliged to help support the family. In 1846 our subject was married to Miss Rebecca Lewis, who came with her parents from Ohio to Indiana about 1841 when nineteen years of age. She was born May 30, 1822, to Jason and Nancy Lewis in Columbiana County, Ohio. After his marriage our subject bought one hundred and eighteen acres of land for which he paid $50 per acre. He at once began cultivation and improving this land which he has since developed into a fine farm, and thereon has made his home ever since. His estate is well attended to, betokening a skillful management and the neat appearance of his residence, barns, and other necessary outbuildings make of the place one of the most attractive in the township. He worked early and late facing the hardships that fell to his lot was prudent and economical when it was necessary and invested his money judiciously.

The children that were born to our subject and his wife were seven in number, all of whom are living, viz.: James M. Boyd, who is practicing medicine at Annapolis, Parke County; Anna Boyd, who is how at home; Lewis Boyd, a farmer in Adams Township; William Boyd, who is an active farmer near Marshall, this county; Mary Boyd, the wife of John Hann, who lives in Beatrice, Neb., where he his engaged in the mercantile business; Albert Boyd, who is farming in Adams Township; and Elbridge, farming at home. Our subject has now one hundred and forty-one acres of some of the best improved land in this township which is under a good state of cultivation. Politically, he is a supporter of the Democratic party and has held the office of Supervisor of his Township. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and remains true to the faith. Mr. Boyd has gathered together his riches by unremitting toil, displaying good common sense, able powers of calculation, and the strict honesty in his dealings which has always characterized him as a gentleman. He is now living in retirement, feeling assured that the progress of his farm is secure in the hands of his son Elbridge. He has the reputation of being one of the oldest settlers now living in this township.

Source: Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens. Includes index. Micro-reproduction of original published: Chicago : Chapman Bros., 1893. - FHL Film 934915 Item 6

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