Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-01

his parents. his father having been APP
pointed Indian agent at that place in
1918
Col: George Boyd was employed by the
government all his life, acting as special
agent for them in carrying dispatches
to the peace commissioners at Client
during the war Of 1872, and afterwards
purchasing arms and materials in Eu-
rope to rebuild the capitol and white
house which had been burned by the
British during that war. He married
Miss Harriet Johnson, q sister of Mrs.
John Quincy Adams.
On both his fathers and mothers side
the Boyds were of Scotch descent; on
the fathers side tracing back from the
younger son of the third Earl of Kilmar-
mock James Boyd attended school at
Mackinac, having at one time w. M.
Ferry, the father of the late Senator
Thomas w. Ferry of Michigan as a
teacher
In 1892 Col Boyd was transferred to
Green Bay, where he removed with his
family in June of that year. just be-
fore the Black Hawk war commenced.
Soon after landing III Green Bay
James M. Boyd enlisted and served dur
ing the campaign of the Black Hawk
war, attaining the rank of lieutenant,
which rank he held at the end of his
term of service.
The next year after his return from
the above campaign he came to Eau-
kauna and purchased 400 acres Of land
on the south side Of the river, this in
Guiding Beaulieu's addition and lands
along the river bank. In company with
E. Beaulieu he built sawmill on the
land and cut up the adjacent timber.
The Stockbridge Indians, who were
located here, moved to Calumet county
at this time and as their market for
lumber now began to fall Mr.. Boyd
sold his interest and removed to a farm
that he bought midway between Green
Bay and Depere.
On November IA, 1889, he married
Maria Al. Lave, daughter Of Judge John
Lave Of Green Bay. He continued to
live upon this farm until 1872, when he
sold it and moved to Depere, where he
built a brick block in which he opened a
furniture store He continued in this
and other business ventures until 1879.
when. owing to the death of his wife,
he gave up ali business. and in 1881,
returned to Kaukauna to live with his
only daughter, Mrs. II. B. Tanner.
Mr.. Boyd had raised large family
their lives in the war for the Union.
One of them had both feet amputated
and died on Dayid's island, n. Y. and
the other contracted consumption while
ia the service and died soon after his
discharge. The children of the deceased
PiohtcA nave d1i pdSSeu AWAY except MS
daughter, Mrs. III. b. Tanner of Kau-
'cauna, anu enc son, n. G.. B. Boyd of
Stevens Point
, Mr.. Boyd. by virtue of having acted
as administrator for the estate of his ia
ther and father-in-law, had accumulated
Il very large collection of letters and
documents relating to the early history
of Wisconsin The greater part of this
collection has been presented to the Wis
cOnSln Historical society at Madison and
now forms what is called the Lave.
Boyd and POrlier papers, comprising 11S
bound volumes. This is the most valu-
able collection of old papers relating to
early times in this state that the society
has ever received.
Mr.. Boyd was man of strict intec-
rity and one who believed in doing every
thing well. He practiced in his life the
maxim that if thing was worth doing
at all it was worth doing well'' His
early intercourse with the Indians gave
him good command of their language.
and besides he spoke several other Ian
guages so well that be was employed a
number Of years as Interpreter for the
government.
p 1ieut. James Madison Boyd was the
only surviving commissioned officer of
the Black Hawk war in the state of Wis
consin and probably the only surviving
member of the two companies who went
out from Green Bay to that war
Mr.. Boyd's funeral took place today
from his late home. DR.. Tanners resi-
deuce i'll South Kaukauna. at 1890 a.
M The interment will be in WoodlaWn
cemetery at Green BAY