Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-01
Death Due to Disease Peculiar to Old Age
that Worked Steadily.
r OVER YEAR FIGHT FOR LIFE WENT ON
Born in Foreign Land, Became Leader as an
American Statesman.
HoNoREp BY POLITICAL FRIEND AND FOE
Coming 60 Nebraska in Its Infancy
He Helped Build state which
bows in sorrow at His
Death.

Former Governor James ,E. Boyd died at /
his residence. 1sOs Davenport street, Mon
day afternoon. The end came calmly and
without pain after "a long struggle for life
At the bedside we're the governors three
children-Mrs. Bierbower. Mrs. d. o. CLARK
and James Boyd OF ST. Louis. HIS brother
Thomas =. Boyd OF Sioux City, who was
with him up to Sunday had left for Dbl
home in Sioux city.
The death Of Governor Boyd follow
closely upon the death Of former Governq
Thayer whom Boyd succeeded as chi M
executive Of Nebraska and with whom I'd
was embroiled in one of the most bit -
political contests in the history Of NE
state. but with whom he became cord k1ly
associated in friendship later. a friend hip
warmer because Of the other relations hat
Rad existed 1t was the source OF Geen
regret on the part OF Governor Boyd that
he could not attend the funeral Of hisH dear
friend. Governor Thayer, in Lincoln lbout
a month ago.
Governor Boyd had been in poo health
peouliar TO old age for over a yC For
months his life had been despaire bf. He
took a trip to Texas in Januar in the
hope Of regsining strength. but be visit
beside the southern waters prov Of no
help and he returned to Oman a little
while ago worse than when he Since
that time he had been closely & hhned TO
his home and bed. His death lad been
momentarily expected since Sur ay even
Inc.
James Il. BOyds II
James f. Boyd was born in 1unty Ty-
rome. ireland, September 0. 1ss and lived
there With his parents until he was
years old. His father, Joseph yd, owned
and operated a mill the 7lackwater
river. and in 1sA emigrated. tnging his
family TO the United States, lie crossing
from Liverpool being stoI by one re-
aulring forty-two days The ii billy was es-
tablished on a farm in BelmRpt county.
Ohio, where James e Boyd VIC led during
the summer and attended scho in winter
Financial reverses compelled seph Boyd
to give up farming and take Employment
as a miller at GAINESVILLE VIII he was IA
years old the boy worked a, grocery
store later entering carper p shop and
learning the trade With his fother. John
NJ. Boyd. he came west In E6,l stopping
first at Des Moines where &hey worked
as carpenters. When they completed
house for Hoyt Sherman, a other to the
late Senator Sherman of Obi they hired
wagon to convey tools and lggage, there
being no railroads west of IVA City, and
pushed forward to OmahRS riving August
a. 1s5s.
Early Work in pAhs.
The brothers at once fop employment
with Root g. Visscher. a car inter firm with
a shop on the present site pf the Millard
hotel They worked for NJ weeks at Ss.75
day. and then began biness as car
penters and joiners on ID 81 own RESPONSE
bility. The following winter is reputed
the most severe In the Mates history, but
the Boyd brothers stayeNl and in the spring
built the first Douglas Ibunty court house
at Sixteenth ana FarrkJn streets on land
now occupied by the Fl4ton block. They
also built one OF thu first churches.
meeting house for thd Congregational de-
nomination. In November OF 1887 James Il.
Boyd was elected to 1.-THE first of a long
series OF political ofncfs, the premier being
a county clerkship. lie did not know he
was 70 be candidate until noon Of election
day, and appointed his opponent. c. p.
Burkett his deputy, blowing the deputy TO
perform the duties OF the ONCE and eventil-
ally resgnipg. as he was too busy with
other things to devote time to the posi-
tion.
He married Anna H. Henry OF New York
August q 1855. the ceremony being per-
formed In the Paclnc house at Council
Bluffs. They went to Buffalo county and
took up a farm near the present town
OF Gibbon, breaking leo acres of virgin soil
He opened a general merchandise store
here and also at Kearney. The first house
he built was a double log house. and It
wRs the finest habitation for many miles.
Mr.. Boyd remained on his farm on Wood
river for nine years. farming, raising stock
and nliing contracts with the government
Cor hay and grain at Fort Kearney. The
contracts were large and profitable, as
fraI, -,
tiers ana all supplies were moved by
beasts OF burden. In 1885 he Engaged in
tho business OF freighting across the plains
ana In 1855, when the Union Pacific railroad
was built TO a point forty miles east OF
Kearney, secured the first of a number OF
grading contracts for the line. In four
years he graded more than 800 miles OF the
first railroad across the continent and made
the nucleus Of his fortune. Mr.. Boyd
was sent from Buffalo county to the first
legislature that convened after Nebraska
was made a state. OF that OF 1854 In the
Cheyenne Indian raids and r1assacres OF
1854 Mr.. Boyd his fsmAy ana property
had narrow escapes from annihilation. He
became a private IN a company OF the
First Nebraska regiment the same year
and never was mustered out to his knowl-
edge.
R~rmanent Home I'm Omaha.
Mr. Boyd and his family. which had in.
creased by the addition Of q daughter
came back 20 Omaha in 1865. when the
residence at 1905 Davenport street. there
after the permanent home Of the Boyds
was purchased. Ar. Boyd bought a con,
trolling interest IN the Omaha Gas com
pany and for two years managed ths
corporation In the winter OF lS6S-lO h,
organized the Omaha a Northwestern Rail
road company and was elected its frs
president He eonatruceed the road undei
personal supervision. from Omaha to Teka
nah. supplying one-sixth OF the fund
from his own rksouroes. This railroad &
now part Of the main line OF the Chicago
Minneapolis, 81 Paul a Omaha system
He was one of the organizers OF the Cen
tral National dank OF Omaha, and wa
ecSutnu q on second PaseI