In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1896) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Bureau County, Illinois (1885), The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois .. (1896)
NATHANIEL BOYD, Concord. Charles S. Boyd was a merchant tailor in New York City till 1820, when he closed out business and came to Illinois with his former partner in the tailoring business, John Dixon. They came most of the distance to the State with ox teams, and when they landed in Springfield, Ill., Mr. Boyd erected the third cabin there. Prom 1820 till 1830 he resided at Springfield, and would work at his trade whenever he could during the summer, and would often get paid for his work in cattle, so during the fall he would drive the cattle to the lead mines around Galena, and sell them to the miners, and then stay and work at the mines during the winter, and would then again return to his home. However, in 1830, he came to Bureau County, Ill., and bought the claim of John Dixon at Boyd's Grove, and remained there till 1840, when he removed to Princeton. (More of his early settlement will be found in the General History.) During the Black Hawk war he removed his wife and daughters to Ft. Clark, now Peoria, but he and two of his sons remained on the farm and made a crop of corn. Mr. Boyd was married in New York City to Eliza Dixon, a sister of John Dixon, and their three eldest sons were born before coming West, but their two daughters and youngest son were born in Springfield, Ill. The following are the names of the children: Charles, Alexander, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, John H. and Angelica. The residence of Charles is not known. Alexander, Nathaniel and Mrs. Angelica Paddock, widow of Dr. S. A. Paddock, reside in Bureau County. Elizabeth is the wife of Ebenezer Chamberlin, of Jameson, Daviess Co.. Mo. John H. Boyd went to California with the early gold hunters, then to Australia, but for many years has been on the Island of Tahiti, one of the Society Islands, as a trade with the natives. Both Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Boyd died in Princeton, In. Nathaniel Boyd was born October 1, 1820, and came to this county with his parents in 1830, and with little exception has resided here since, and most of his life has been engaged in farming. He now owns in Concord Township a farm of 425 acres. He was married in this county March 12, 1845, to Mary A. Cummings, who was born February 20, 1827, and was the daughter of Thornton Cummings. (See sketch of William Cummings.) Mrs. Boyd died September 20, 1866. She was the mother of the following children; Frances, born January 13, 1847, wife of Charles Wetherell, of Bureau County; Roxanna, born September 2, 1848, wife of Harry Rawson, of Bayard, Iowa; John W. Boyd, born April 3, 1850, now of St. Louis, Mo.; Comma, born J anuarv 18, 1 860, at home; Henry, born December 25, 1862, died June 13, 1882, and also three daughters, who died while small. In political matters Mr. Boyd is identified with the Republican party.
As printed in History of Bureau County, Illinois (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
NATHANIEL BOYD. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name initiated this review, since his mind bears impress of the historical annals of the state of Illinois from its earliest pioneer days, and with the interests of Bureau county, he has been identified for the long period of sixty-six years. He was born in New York city, September 1, 1819, but the same year was brought to Illinois by his parents, Charles S. and Eliza (Dixon) Boyd, Avho located at Springfield, where the father erected the third house in the place. He entered forty acres of land where the Illinois Central depot now stands, which he aftenvard sold for three dollars per acre and thought that he had made a good bargain as it only cost him one dollar and a quarter per acre. He engaged in farming to some extent and also worked at his trade of tailoring whenever he could find any thing to do in this sparsely settled country. In 1830 he came to Bureau county, locating at what is now Boyd’s Grove in Milo township, it being named in his honor as he was the first to locate there. Our subject was the third in order of birth in the family of seven children, five of whom are still living. One son is now a resident of Princeton.
The family endured all the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier where Indians were more numerous than white settlers. In January, 1831, their home was accidently destroyed by fire, and the inmates barely escaped with their lives. They knew they must raise a crop, however, or starve, and the younger children were taken to Fort Clark, now Peoria, for safety, while the father, our subject and an older brother remained to plow and plant their grain. Two would watch for the Indians while the other was plowing and at night they would sleep in the brush ticket so as not to be murdered. They lived at Boyd’s Grove all through the Black Hawk war. Their home was near that of the Indian chief, Shabbona, who was very friendly and often assisted them during the severe winter. On killing a deer he would cut it in two and bring the Boyd family half. He it was who gave the alarm to the white settlers when Black Hawk started on his raid, and with them he took refuge at Fort Clark. The Boyd homestead was the stopping place for the stage from Springfield to Galena, and after the house was destroyed the passengers would sleep on straw. Our subject often used a bull dog for a pillow, and one night he was offered fifty cents for the use of his dog for the same purpose by a passenger.
In 1840, the father removed to Princeton, where he spent his remaining days, at which time he gave Nathaniel and a brother a piece of land near Peru, LaSalle county, Illinois. Our subject at once took up his residence there, keep ing bachelor’s hall for two summers while he cleared, improved and cultivated the land. On the 1 2th of March, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Cummings, of Bureau county, who was born in Gallatin county, Illinois, February 20, 1827, and had come to Bureau county, in 1834, with her parents. Mr.
Boyd had made her acquaintance while peddling dry goods throughout the county. L pon his LaSalle county- land he erected a cabin, in which they began their domestic life, but the next year so many died of cholera in the locality, that her parents persuaded them to return to Bureau county. Selling out there he purchased eighty-acres of the farm in Concord township which is still his home, and subsequently entered two hundred and forty acres from the government. He erected a good frame residence, which he has since remodeled and yet finds a comfortable home.
To Mr. and Mrs. Boyd were born eight children. four of whom are still living: Maty- T.. wedded Charles Withered, of Concord township, and they have two children; Roxey is the widow of Harry Rawson. and with her three children resides in Princeton: John W. is married, and is a railroad man. residing in Texas: Cummings is a farmer of Concord township, whose sketch is given below. The mother of these children departed this life September 20, 1866, and her remains were interred in the cemetery near the family homestead.
I11 1840. Mr. Boyd cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and took a prominent part in that exciting campaign, going all the way with teams from his home in Bureau county to the rally at Springfield. Since voting for Fremont in 1856. he has been an ardent republican, but has never cared for political distinction. As a representative man of the county and an old pioneer he stands pre-eminent. His solid worth and energy of character have made him many friends in the community-, and all who know him have for him the highest regard.
As printed in The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois .. (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: S. A. Paddock William Cummings (b. 1829)
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.