Joshua L. Boyd ~ Lulu E. Totten

There are few professions which require the amount of diligent study and general information that are essential to a knowledge of law. One must first possess a good education in order to master legal terms understandingly, and must in addition to this have great concentration of thought. Among the gentlemen who realize the full importance of this calling and add dignity to the profession is Joshua L. Boyd, the Prosecuting Attorney of Kalkaska County. In 1876 he entered the law office of Captain Knickerbocker, of Hillsdale, where he remained until 1878, when he came to this county with the intention of teaching school; but upon his arrival here he was offered a position in the law office of Howe & Edwards, with whom he remained a few months. In the fall of the above year he was admitted to the Bar of Kalkaska, where he has since resided, with the exception of the two years he spent in practice in Hillsdale, and two years in Muskegon associated with his brother. The move to these places was made on account of his ill health, but these locations not benefiting him any, he returned at the expiration of that time to Kalkaska.

Our subject was born May 5, 1856, in Hillsdale, Michigan, to William Boyd and Martha (Todd) Boyd, natives of Ireland, the father having been born in County Tyrone, and the mother hailing from County Armagh. When fifteen years of age the former crossed the Atlantic alone, and first stopping in Genesee County, New York, stayed there while learning the carpenter's trade. The lady who afterward became his wife also made that locality her home on coming to America, and there their marriage occurred.

The parents of our subject came to Michigan in 1854, locating in Hillsdale, where his father worked diligently at his trade for a few years. He then purchased a farm in Wright Township, Hillsdale County, where he remained until 1894, when he sold it and, coming to Kalkaska County, invested his means in property here. After coming to Michigan, he associated with others, contracted for and built many of the public edifices and private residences in Hillsdale. His good wife was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and aided in various phases of church work. She died August 29, 1883.

The brothers and sisters of our subject were eight in number. Of these Fred Boyd is a prominent physician practicing in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a graduate of three noted medical colleges. He has also attained the degree of Master of Arts. William G. Boyd is engaged in the jewelry business at Waldron, this state; Joseph B. Boyd is a practicing attorney at Muskegon; Frank Boyd died February 18, 1889; Lillie Boyd is the wife of Isaiah McNett, of Hillsdale; Ida Boyd married W. D. Totten, and is now deceased; Adella Boyd is now the wife of Roy Wilson, an attorney of Waldron, Michigan; and Rena Boyd is the wife of Freeman Skinner, a railroad agent of the above place.

The original of this sketch received a fine education in both the public and private schools of Hillsdale. In the fall of 1894 Mr. Boyd was elected Prosecuting Attorney on the Republican ticket, which responsible office he held ten years ago for Kalkaska County. He has associated with him in business C. C. Jenks, and many a poor man owes his freedom to their enthusiastic and eloquent defense. Mr. Boyd is a man of unusual legal ability, and has gained many important cases by means of his unmistakable intelligence. In addition to filling the other offices mentioned, he has been Circuit Court Commissioner.

The lady to whom Joshua L. Boyd was married in November, 1878, was Miss Lulu E. Totten, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Totten, and a sister of W. D. Totten, a prominent attorney of Kalkaska, with whom our subject was associated seven years. She was born in Oneida County, New York, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of two sons, Lynn T. Boyd and Roy W. Boyd, deceased. In social affairs Mr. Boyd is a Royal Arch Mason and belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

Source: Portrait and biographical record of northern Michigan: containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States. Includes index. Microfilm of original published: Chicago: Record Pub., 1895.- FHL Film 1320650 Item 1

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