John Boyd

Son of James Boyd and Catherine Engle

Grandson of Barbara Garlitz

John BOYD b.  24 JUN 1838 in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio Died 1909 in LaGrange Co., Indiana Married 2 March, 1865, Albion, Noble County., Indiana to - Amanda LANDIS who was born 15 SEP 1846 in Eden Twp., LaGrange Co., IN. and died 1931 LaGrange County, IN. Both John and Amanda are buried at the Bethel Cemetery in LaGrange County, Clay Township

Children:

Estella (Della) BOYD b: ABT. 1866 in Indiana

Alma BOYD b: ABT. 1868 in Indiana

Dayton BOYD - Spanish American War Veteran b: 1871 in Indiana d: 1923 LaGrange, In. bur. Bethel

Canton BOYD b: 30 DEC 1873 in Indiana d: Sept 11, 1896 bur. Bethel Cem

Anna E. BOYD b: 1876 in Indiana D: 1912 bur at Bethel Cem.

Clarence BOYD b: JUL 1879 in Indiana 

Bessie E. BOYD b: 6 AUG 1881 d: 1916 bur at Bethel Cemetery

Loren M. BOYD b: 1886 d: 1916 bur. Bethel Cem. Jan 1842 Moved to Noble Co., In. Oct 1854 Moved to Clay twp., LaGrange Co.,

In. 1858-1862 John worked on a salary Aug 1862 John enlisted in the Army, Co. B. 88 Indiana Volunteers Infantry. In the battle of Perryville, Ky Discharged for disability. 1865-1867 He farmed in Noble Co., In. Came to Clay twp. where he farmed for two years. 1867-1875 Also worked at carpenter trade. 1875-1880 He took a contract of improving 700 acres of land in NE part of Clay Twp. known as "Hobbs Marsh". 1880- Returned to farm in Clay twp. Spring Moved to LaGrange on North Canal Street where they lived the latter years of their lives. He did carpenter work for some years and then retired.

John and Amanda were members of the Lupold German Baptist Church (Dunkard) Amanda remained in the home after her husband's death and tenderly cared for her several children who came home ill and died there. Amanda was of a kind and sweet disposition interested in people and their whereabouts She kept in touch and visited relatives and friends. Even with all the sickness and deaths in her family, she always wore a smile and kept up her cheerfulness to the end. She once remarked that she did not believe in inflicting her troubles on others but did her grieving by herself.

"HOBBS MARSH" From "LaGrange and Noble County History" Volume in Public Library, LaGrange, IN. This was a large marsh in Clay twp. and one of the most extensive of huge deposits of muck and decaying vegetable matter. While ditching in this marsh, Mr. John Boyd discovered the preserved skull of a mastodon but other portions had disappeared. The bones were found about 3 feet beneath the surface. He was offered as much as $75.00 for them but refused to sell and exhibited them at Ligonier, and LaGrange and other places in Indiana. He finally sold them for a small amount.

John's biography appeared in the LaGrange County history:

JOHN BOYD, son of James and Catherine (Engel) Boyd, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 24, 1838. His parents were natives of Somerset County, Penn.

The subject, from the time he was twenty, worked on a salary until in August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in the battle at Perryville, Ky., and served with his regiment until discharged for disability.

After his marriage, March 2, 1865, at Albion, he farmed two years in Noble County, then came to where he is now living, in this township. He farmed two years, then worked at carpentering until 1875, when he took a contract of improving 700 acres of land in the northeast part of the township, returning to his farm in the spring of 1880.

Mr. Boyd is one of the inventors of a patent buggy-top adjuster, and also invented a patent hay rack.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the German Baptist Church, and parents of seven children, viz., Estella, Alma, Dayton, Canton, Ann E., Clarence and Bessie E.

Mrs. Amanda Boyd is the daughter of Michael and Mary (Colt) Landis, natives of Ohio, and parents of three children. She was born in Eden Township, this county, on the 15th of September, 1846.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co., - Clay Township
[In Frances' notes it states that he also invented an ironing board.]

CHILDREN OF JOHN BOYD AND AMANDA LANDIS

Children: Alma Stephenson and Gordon Stephenson

1893 Della went to Chicago, working in a large dressmaking shop. 1896- They lived in Chicago, Il. 1934 Fred worked for the American Express Co. later known as Railway Express Co. 1935 They moved to Oak Park, Il. After her husbands death Della and son Gordon moved to Riverside, Il. After Gordon's entry into service she kept house for him in Philadelphia and Washington; when he was sent to Lexington she returned to live with her daughter, Alma, at Glencoe, Il.

Alma BOYD b. 1867 d. Warren, In buried there. Never married Alma taught various schools in LaGange Co., In. 1899- She became ill, she had "dropsy" and was home for several years. As she said "With effort, care and prayer" she recovered. 1932- After her mother's death she went to Chicago with her sister Della. She lived at Methodist Home (for mentally ill) at Warren, In

Dayton BOYD b. 1871, Clay twp., LaGrange co., In d. 1923, at the home of his mother in LaGrange, In. bur in Saylor-Bethel cem. HE never married Dayton went to Bisbee, Arizona where he worked in the mines for a number of years. He became ill and "came" home to die and was cared for by his mother.

Canton BOYD b. Dec. 30, 1873, Clay twp., LaGrange co., In. d. Sept 1, 1896, Home of his parents LaGrange. He never married. He graduated from high school in LaGrange, In. Learned painter's trade, worked in Sturgis, Mi. Became ill from paint, came home and was cared for by his parents, until his death.

Clarence Boyd b. 1879, Clay twp., LaGrange Co., In d. buried in San Francisco area married Oct. 26 1909, Carbondale, California Emma K. Weiss who died soon after their marriage Children: none 

Clarence went to California. After his wife's death he became so depressed he took his own life.

Bessie BOYD b. August 6, 1881, Clay twp., LaGrange Co, IN. d. May 7, 1896, LaGrange, In. buried in Saylor-Bethel Cemetery

Loren BOYD b. Sept. 6, 1886, LaGrange In. H-2-91 d. 1916 LaGrange, In. married 1905 LaGrange, IN Gypsey Kern 

Alma Stephenson b. Feb. 20, 1897, Chicago, Il. d. m. March 31, 1920, Chicago, Il. Vincent Richards Bliss s/o Gertrude (Richards) DDS and Louis Bliss, DDS Children: Paula Bliss and Vincent Richards Bliss, Jr. 1919- Alma graduated from the University of Chicago 1920- Vincent was manager, Albert Pick 1934 & Company 1934- With Earle Ludgin & Co. . Now 1956 President of the Company Living in Barrington, Il 

Gordon Stephenson b. Feb. 15, 1899, Chicago, Il. d. Jan. 16, 1952, killed in accident buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Chicago, Il 1919- Gordon attended the University of Chicago 1921 1938- Lived at Riverside, Il. with his mother. 1942 1941- Vice President in charge of operations for Sears Roebuck Co. He was responsible for straightening out unprocessed paperwork and setting up a better system. 1942- Enlisted in U. S. Signal Corps, Washington, D. C. 1942 Assistant Director of Supply Services 1942- Charge Distribution Section 1943 Office Chief Signal Officer 1943- Coordinating officer and Director, 1944 Storage Division, Philadelphia, Pa. Signal Depot 1944- Director Supplies, Lexington, Ky, 1945 Signal Depot 1945- Commanding Officer, Lexington Signal Depot 1946 Post War work; Director supplies and surplus Property Div. Washington, D. C. May 11, 1946 Discharged, Washington, D.C. Title of Colonel. Received "Legion of Merit" decoration. Colonel Gordon Stephenson, one of the most extraordinary personalities in World War II Signal Corps Operations, was killed in an automobile accident, Jan 16. He was buried from the Euclid Ave. Methodist Church, Oak Park, Il. Some observers give Stephenson the major credit for the building up of the Signal Corps supply System into the splendidly efficient operation it is today. His experience with procurement and distribution and warehousing in the Giant Sears scale had developed in him a vast ability for shaping a big supply system and it has been said that he left a "Master's touch" on the depots where he had been assigned, and of the entire system. Dynamic and brimming with ideas, he had too a gift for picturesque language, which his admirers aver with some awe, was not the least of his talents. The Chief Signal Officer, Major General George A. Black stated: "The Signal corps has suffered a great loss with the passing of Colonel Stephenson. His contributions to the success of the Signal Corps operations during World War II were major in character. He will be missed by his many admirers in the Corp."

The University of Chicago Magazine for June, 1953 carried a notice of his bequest, which in the final analysis amounted to much more, to the Cancer Fund of that Institution.

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