Charles J. Boyd ~ Mary E. Conkling

Charles J. Boyd, the junior editor and proprietor of the Middletown Press, was born a newspaper man, so to speak. Early he took a deep interest in the "art preservative," and had, at the age of ten years, an outfit with which he published a miniature paper. While attending school he spent his Saturdays in the Whig Press office.

Mr. Boyd was born of Orange County parents, in New York City, February 19, 1847, on Greenwich Street, near Warren, then a residence section, now a busy mercantile thoroughfare. *His ancestors on his father's side were Scotch, descending from a younger so of the illustrious lord, the first High Steward of Scotland, who was murdered by Macbeth, the usurper, in 1043. The name came from Simon, the third son of Alan, the second Lord High Steward, whose eldest son, Robert, being of fair complexion, was named "Boyt" or "Boyd," from the Gaelic meaning "fair". His great-grandfather Boyd went to Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War. His maternal ancestry was the numerous French family of Fosters, who settled in Newark. The father of Charles J. was David Robertson Boyd, who became a druggist and chemist in New York, which business he gave up to join a colony seeking gold in California, and spent seven years, from 1852 to 1859, in the mines within sight of Mt. Shasta. He died in Middletown in 1881. His mother was Miss Frances Amelia Jackson, with whom his father became acquainted at Montgomery, to which place Mr. Boyd's family removed when he was a lad.

*Note: Most modern Scottish Historians discount this relationship between the Boyds and the Stewarts.

Charles J. was an only child. He received his education in the Middletown schools, and in 1862, at the age of fifteen, entered the Whig Press office as apprentice under the administration of John W. Hasbrouck. Abraham Lincoln's call for troops almost depleted the Press office of its force the first year of his apprenticeship, and he gained rapid promotion. The last two years that he served Mr. Hasbrouck he was foreman and assistant editor. In 1866 Mr. Boyd entered Wallkill Academy, and graduated December 6, 1866, delivering the valedictory of his class before an audience that packed "Gothic Hall" t the very doors. It is somewhat remarkable that in his later years as a journalist he should labor in the same building - for the former Gothic Hall is the home of the Press, which has grown from a small weekly until now it holds an influential place in the newspapers of the county, having daily and semi-weekly issues.

The next day after graduation from Wallkill Academy (December 7, 1866), Mr. Boyd entered Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie. Before graduation at Eastman's, a fine opening presented itself in the city of Newburgh as confidential clerk to John R. Wiltsie, Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue for that district, who also controlled a large and increasing insurance and real estate agency. In 1868 a business opportunity brought him back to Middletown, where his school days were passed, and he entered the insurance agency of Selah R. Corwin, who was also Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue.

In a short time he became a partner with Mr. Corwin, and as a member of the firm of Selah R. Corwin & Co. he was actively engaged in that line of work until 1880, when Mr. Corwin retired by reason of age. Soon thereafter he accepted a proposition to return to his favored profession, and became a partner with Mr. Slauson in publishing the Press, and sold his insurance interests to Douglas & Dolson.

Mr. Boyd early manifested an interest in the Republican party. His first nomination for official position was as Inspector of Elections in the village of Middletown, and while the Democratic ticket was successful at that election, he was chosen by three majority. He always looks back to that with pride as the greatest triumph of his life. In 1875 he was appointed Village Clerk, which included at that time the clerical work of the Water Board, and held that position for seven years. His next office was that of Supervisor of the Second Ward, for which he was nominated by acclamation when Middletown became a city. He has had six successive nominations by acclamation, and is still holding this office. He was the only Republican elected in the city in 1890, his ward showing a Democratic Alderman and other Democratic ward officers. His largest majority was the last time he ran, in 1894, when he received one hundred and ninety-seven votes more than his opponent, who had both the Democratic and Prohibition nominations.

In 1892 Mr. Boyd was honored with the position of Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and again, without soliciting the office, he was unanimously chosen to the position of Chairman in 1894. In the month of June last, while absent from home, he was selected by Governor Morton as the Representative of this the Second Judicial district on the new Commission of Prisons for the state, which commission was provided for by the new Constitution and had the first intimation of his selection by reading the announcement in the telegraphic dispatches from Albany.

Mr. Boyd has twice represented his district in the Republican State Convention of 1891 and 1895. In 1892 he was selected to make the canvass for Member of Assembly in what had for thirty years been a strong Democratic district, and, while defeated, he polled a vote fully equal to that given General Harrison for President.

For many years Mr. Boyd was a Director in the First National Bank of Middletown, and has since its organization, been the Treasurer of the Homestead Building and Loan Association, the assets of which now reach $3000,000. He is identified with the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias orders, with Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company, and the First Presbyterian Church, in all of which he has held office.

Mr. Boyd is clear, positive and convincing in his editorial writing, and of late years has contributed his share of the political articles which have made the Press an influential party journal. He is firm in his party convictions, and , while dealing hard blows, has the respect and confidence of his political opponents. His family consists of a wife, Mary E. Conkling, daughter of Stephen S. Conkling (who was a lumber dealer in Middletown during his business life), and two daughters: Ada Stewart Boyd, sixteen years of age; and Helen Ames Boyd, in her fourth year.

Source: Portrait and biographical record of Rockland and Orange Counties, New York: containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the U.S; New York: Chapman Pub. Co., 1895. - FHL Film 17886

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