John Boyd
John Boyd, who resides on his well improved farm of 120 acres situated in Ross Township, Jefferson County, is an honored survivor of the great Civil War and a comrade of Harry Hale Post, No. 427, G. A. R., at Richmond, O. Mr. Boyd was born March 10, 1844, at Amsterdam, O., and is a son of David and Barbara Ann (Lyman) Boyd.
David Boyd was born in Hancock County, Pennsylvania, and during the greater part of his life he followed the tailor's trade at Amsterdam. He married Barbara Ann Lyman and they had a family of thirteen children, of whom eight are now living. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and at death they were buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at that place.
John Boyd attended school at Amsterdam and acquired a good education. He then learned the blacksmith's trade with David Stein, of Amsterdam and had almost completed his apprenticeship when the War of the Rebellion broke out and he enlisted as a soldier. He became a member of Company I, 40th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Captain Kemper, of Stark County, Ohio, and for three long years he remained in the service, being with the 4th Corps, Army of the Cumberland. During all this time he performed every soldierly duty with courage and was fortunate enough to escape injury, but was once made a prisoner. He was recaptured, however, two hours afterward and never again fell into the hands of the enemy. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in June, 1865, and returned to Amsterdam. Mr. Boyd was employed for one year as a blacksmith with H. Burk, at Steubenville, O., and then built his own shop at Mooretown, in Ross Township, where he remained for eighteen years. He then retired from blacksmithing and moved on his present farm where he has made many improvements and has done considerable building.
In November. 1866, Mr. Boyd was married first to Miss Margaret M. Hess, a daughter of David Hess, and they have seven children, namiely: William, of Ross Township; Charles, a resident of Carroll County, Ohio; Mary (Wallace), of Carroll County; Katie (McMasters), of Bergholz, O.; Edward, a physician residing in Ludlow, Ill.; Maurice, residing at home; and Emma (Shilling), residing at Somerset. The mother of these children died and was buried at Simon's Ridge, near Kilgore, O. Mr. Boyd married for his second wife, in October, 1884, Miss Jennie Casey, a daughter of John and Sarah Ann (Dennis) Casey, old residents of Mooretown. They have one son, John Raymond, who remains at home. Mr. Boyd is not an active politician but he is a good citizen and lends his influence to all that promises to be of benefit to his neighborhood. He votes with the Republican party.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910