CHIEF:  Dr Robin Boyd, MA (Oxon); MB BS; LRCP, MRCS; DCH; AFOM, 8th Baron Kilmarnock

Richard G. Boyd

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

RichBoyd (at sign) Charter.net

Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, PA
supervised by John W. Jordan, LL.D and James Hadden, New York,
1912 Lewis Historical Publishing Co.

Pg. 352 BOYD:  The BOYDs came to Fayette County from the Shenandoah
Valley of Virginia, the family seat being near Winchester. They were an influential family, and of frequent mention in Virginia Records. The founder of the Fayette county family was William BOYD, who moved from the Shenandoah valley to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1874, settling in Bullskin Twp.; there he founded the BOYD family, made illustrious by his sons, his grandsons, and his great grand sons. His farm, "Springhill", on "Mount's Creek", consisted of 240 acres, which was patented to him in June 1786, by the government, is yet owned in the family. He bore a commission as justice of the peace, dated 1792. He was a man of education, and held high positions in the township. He was a slave owner and brought with him from Virginia several slaves, and six Negro children were recorded as being born to these between 1795 and 1809. He died in 1812 and was buried on the homestead farm. He married and had issue: Thomas, John, Robert, James, William, Jeremiah, and a daughter. The oldest son, Thomas, inherited the farmstead and died in 1855. John died in 1857. Robert of further mention (next sending) James died in Tyrone Township. William moved to Ohio. Jeremiah became a physician.

Pg. 353  (II) Robert, son of William BOYD, was born in Bullskin Township, Fayette County, PA, where he was educated and grew to manhood. After his marriage he settled in Menallen Township, where he became a prosperous farmer and a leading citizen. He was one of the associate judges of Fayette county, appointed in 1841, serving until 1845. He married and had issue, including a son William.

(III) William (2), son of Judge Robert BOYD, was born in Menallen Twp, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and there received his education and followed the calling of a farmer. He was well to do and a man of influence in his town. He was a Democrat and a man of correct Christian life. He married Jane C. BURGESS, and left issue.

(IV) Albert Darlington, son of William (2) and Jane C (BURGESS) BOYD was born in Menallen twp, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 31 December 1845.   (Continued in next sending)

Pg. 353 (IV) Albert Darlington Boyd , son of William (2) and Jane C (BURGESS) BOYD was born in Menallen Twp, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 31 December 1845. He was educated in the public schools, alternating his winter terms of study with summer work upon the farm. He obtained a good English education, and when a young man taught several terms in the township schools of Fayette county and one year in Connellsville. He supplemented his public school study with two terms at Morgantown Academy (West Virginia) and while still teaching began the study of law under the able preceptorship of Judge Alpheu E. WILSON. He prosecuted his legal study with all the energy of his nature, and in 1869 passed the required examinations and was admitted to the Fayette county bar.  He made rapid progress in his profession after locating at Uniontown, was admitted to all federal and state courts of the district, and commanded the patronage of the best class of clients. His natural oratory gifts brought him into prominence as a public speaker, which in turn so impressed the rank and file of his party that in 1871 he was chosen the Democratic candidate for district attorney.  He was elected by a handsome majority, serving with distinction until 1874. He then retired to private practice, and did not again appear prominently in public life, save as chairman of the Democratic county committee until 1898, when he was elected state senator by an overwhelming majority from the district compromising the counties of Fayette and Green. He ably represented his district in the senate, served on important committees, and as a legislator added to the fame already gained as a lawyer. He continued in active practice until his death. Senator BOYD was learned in the law, and seemingly carried the contents of his valuable law library in his head so ready was he with quotation of precedent in cases of similar import, printed and used as judicial authority. He had a large practice, and was so unselfish that his memory is lovingly cherished by men than young at the bar whom he helped with their first cases. Among the older strong men of the bar he stood without a superior in legal attainment or political prominence. He began practice at the age of 24, and in his 2nd year successfully prosecuted a murderer who was defended by the ablest Uniontown lawyers.

For many years he was engaged in nearly every noted criminal case in Fayette county, either for the prosecution or for the defense.  He gradually withdrew from criminal practice and devoted his talents to civil law, securing even higher position in that branch of his profession than as a criminal lawyer. He was essentially the lawyer, his political offices coming to him as a tribute from his fellow citizens, and not as the rewards of a self-seeking politician. He was very popular and had a host of loyal friends, to whom he was also most devoted. He was a good citizen, always interested and helpful in all public improvement and a willing worker for the public good. His estate, "Locust Hill", in the east end of Uniontown, was purchased shortly after his marriage, and there he spent his  happiest hours.  He married, 21 Sept 1872, Annie Elizabeth, daughter of Robert PATTERSON, of Uniontown, who survives him, a well-known lady of Uniontown. (see PATTERSON) She was born in Uniontown, Penn, educated in Uniontown schools, now a member of the Presbyterian church and allied societies. Children, all born in Uniontown: 1. Edward Wilson, a well-known lawyer, associated with his father until the death of the latter. 2. Samuel Patterson, an attorney, associated with his father and brother in legal practice until the latter's death.   3. Albert Darlington, a civil engineer, of Uniontown, Penn.   4. Wallace Burgess, a civil engineer, now of Oklahoma.   5. Mary Elizabeth, wife of Charles S. BOWMAN; one child, Charles S., Jr.

PATTERSON, an excerpt.  Robert PATTERSON, was the 5th son of James and Sophia (STEWART) PATTERSON, born on a farm named Enity, 4 March 1808, at Manor Cunningham. He married  Lucinda, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Ethelinda  (ROBERTSON) WINCHELL.

Pg. 357 - This is another branch of the BOYD family descending from William
BOYD, of Virginia, who came in 1784, a land owner and slave owner of Bullskin Twp, surveyed to him in June, 1786 as "Spring Hill".

(II) James, son of William BOYD, was a farmer of Tyrone Twp, Fayette County,
PA. He married and had male issue.

(III) George W., son of James BOYD, was born in Tyrone Twp, Fayette county,
PA, where he became a prosperous farmer, retiring late in life to Mount Pleasant, PA, where he built a large brick house which was his residence until death. He was a minister of the Baptist Church and a man of influence. He married Martha SMITH 18 Feb 1846; she was also a Baptist. Children (1) James Smith, of whom later;  (2) Catherine May, b 1848; married George SHRADER, a farmer, and moved to OH, both still living.  (3) Emily, b 3 March 1851, deceased; married John MOCK, now a farmer of OH;  (4)   Smith, b 25 Apr 1853; married and now living in West VA;   (5) Mary, b 11 March 1855; married Peter LACAS (sp.?), of Scottdale, whom she survives.  (6)  Demsey, b 17 Aug 1857; married May McMASTERS; he is a merchant of  Merrittstown, PA; both living.  (7) Martha, b 7 Feb 1860; married John METCALF, a traveling salesman, now residing at Lawrence, KS.  (8) George M, b 24 Dec 1861; marr. And d. in Joplin, MO

Pg. 357  - James Smith, son of George W. and Martha (SMITH) BOYD, was born near Morgan Station in Upper Tyrone Twp, Fayette County, PA 23 Dec 1846. He attended the local public school and grew to manhood on the home farm. After his marriage he lived two years on his father's farm, then until 1855, lived at Detwiler's Mills as manager of Grandfather DETWILER's farm and also did the mill hauling. In 1855 he moved with his family to Cawker City, Kansas where he purchased 160 acres of land. He prospered and in 1893 purchased another 240 acres on which he moved and lived until 1906. In that year he sold his 160 acres and bought one hundred acres near Wichita, KS. He has devoted himself to mainly to raising alfalfa, that wonderful crop that has brought prosperity to the west. He also conducts a line of general  farming operations on his two farms. He is a Republican in politics and has served on the school board for many years. He is a member of the United Brethern church, as is his wife. He married Susan Catherine DETWILER, b at Detwiler's Mill's, Bullskin Twp, Fayette County, PA, 13 Jan 1852, daughter of Samuel and granddaughter of Henry and Susan (STAUFFER) DETWILER. (Then there is a long run down on several generations of DETWILER, available for any of their descendants)

Children of James Smith BOYD (and Susan Catherine DETWILER):  (1) Albert
Mason, of whom further.   (2) Harry Elsworth, b 3 Oct 1875, now living on his
father's two hundred and forty acre farm in Kansas; married Della CRAM.  (3)
Frank Hanby, b 3 Jan 1878; now assistant superintendent at the Waltersburg
Coke Works in Fayette county; married Laura HUMPHREYS.  (4) Bessie Marie, b 7 July 1879; married Edward Anderson, an employee in the freight department of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Scottdale, PA.   (5) Samuel Detwiler, b 31 Oct 1881; now manager of a plumbing establishment at Denver CO; married Mattie KELLER. (6) Ruth Van Grundy, b 14 Oct. 1884, residing with her parents.  (7) John Clyde, b 22 Oct. 1885; died in infancy. (8) Anna Josephine, b 12 Sept 1886; married Mark BOHRER, a tinner, now residing at Smith Center, KS.   (9)  Ralph Harper, b 31 Oct. 1890; residing at home, unmarried.   (10) Azalia Belle, b 1 April 1893; resides at home.  (11) Max Dewey, b 15 May 1896, resides at home.

Pg. 358  Albert Mason, eldest son of James Smith and Susan Catherine
(DETWILER) BOYD, was born near Morgan Station in Upper Tyrone Twp, Fayette County, PA, 18 Aug 1874. He was a year old when his parents moved to Detwiler's Mills, where his boyhood days were passed and his early education acquired at the Gault school in Buckskin Twp. He was 10 years of age when the family moved to Kansas where he completed his studies in excellent public schools. His father there was cultivating about six hundred acres of land, and as the eldest son, Albert M., soon became his valued and trusted assistant. He, however, insisted upon having as education, attended Cawker City high school, where he was graduated in 1894. He then attended Kansas State Normal at Emporia, and taught school for three terms. He returned to Fayette County in 1898 and entered the employ of the Union Supply Company at Leisenring No. 3, remaining 11 months. He then engaged with the W. J. Rainey Company in their store in Elm Grove, Fayette County, as meat cutter. After two years he was appointed payroll clerk, serving as such 11 months, then became yard boss t the coke works, continuing one year. In June 1903 he was appointed manager of the Elm Grove store, a responsible position, which he now most acceptably fills. His home is in Elm Grove, and he also owns a tract of 320 acres in Kansas. He is a Republican in politics and has served as school director. He is a Mason of high degree, belonging to James Cochran Lodge, No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons at Dawson; Connellsville Chapter, No. 283, Royal Arch Masons; Uniontown Commandery, Knights Templar; Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, and Pittsburgh Consistory, ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he holds the thirty-second degree. He is a member of Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and interested in all the work of his church. He married, 19 September 1907, Melissa McBURNEY, b in Franklin Twp, Fayette County, PA, daughter of Robert and Susan (BUTE) McBURNEY. Children: Susan Mildred, b 15 Sept 1908; Grace Antoinette, 7 November 1921.
 

Tyrone, Upper and Lower Townships, Fayette County, Penna

p805
STEWART STRICKLER........... The children living in Fayette County are:
Mrs Maria Strickler BOYD;..........

Source: History of Fayette County, by Franklin Ellis, Philadelphia,
L.H. Everts and Company, 1882.

NOTE: Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts in original sources.

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