(3) Willis Boyd
Willis Boyd, third son of William Boyd, was b. in McMinnville, Tenn on Feb 4,
1808 and died in Wash. Co. Arkansas on Dec 31, 1882, buried at Friendship
Cemetery about 3 miles east of Springdale, alongside his second wife. Between
them is a small unmarked grave. Willis Boyd's tombstone gives the year of his
birth as 1806, but this is in error. William D. Boyd was born in 1806 and Willis was
two years younger. The US census of 1870 shows Willis Boyd to be 62 and
William D. Boyd to be 64.
Willis Boyd married first Lucy Surratt, in McMinnville about 1828. They
came to Wash. Co. Ark., in the summer of 1830 with his father and party. This
party included the Oxfords and others. Willis Boyd and wife had four children all
born in Wash. Co. Ark., after the couple arrived there. The four children were:
1. Ezekial Boyd, b. 1-14-1835, d. 8-6-1901, married on Oct 26, 1854 to
Nancy Jane Gist, b. 7-24-1837, d. 4-20-1911 Both are buried at Friendship and graves
are marked. This is the Zeke Boyd along with his half brother "Thomp" Boyd who
were so well known in that general section of the county. (O.B. Reed NOTE) We
knew "Thomp" Boyd - "The marrying preacher" who performed many marriages
of the area.)
2. Mard (probably Margaret) Boyd, married Marion Gregg. No other
record of this couple except they are reported to be buried at Son's Chapel 5 miles
east of Fayetteville.
3. Wid Boyd married Mary Jane Walker. No other record of this couple
except they are reported to be buried at Goshen, Ark. Cemetery.
4. Jacob Boyd, married, and had five children: Charles; Bay; John;
James; and Nannie. No further record of the Jacob Boyd family.
Lucy Surratt, first wife of Willis Boyd died about 1840, leaving Willis a
widower with four children. About the same time, Willis heard that his brother
Ezekiel Boyd had died at McMinnville, leaving his widow Lucinda Watling Boyd
with three children. About 1842 Willis Boyd made the trip back to McMinnville,
Tenn., and brought Lucinda Watling Boyd and her children to NW Arkansas.
Willis and Lucinda, (b. 8-10-1817, d. 7-16-1896) were married about 1843 in
Washington County. This widower and widow then had four children of their own:
1. Amanda Boyd, b. 1844, d. 4-27-1912 married George W. Smith, b.
12-12-43, d. 4-16-1928, no record of children, both are buried at Friendship and
graves are marked.
2. J. Thompson Boyd, b. 1845, d. 1930, married Mary Hale, b. 1948, d.
1930. Both are buried at Friendship and graves are marked. This "Thomp" Boyd was
a preacher. Couple reported to have had 6 children. 5 girls and 1 boy.
3. Bud Boyd, b. 1852, d. unk, married Martha Graham, date of birth and
death unk. No other record. My information is that they are buried somewhere in
Oklahoma.
4. Arcadia Boyd, b. 1856, d. unk. Married David Smith, dates unk.
No other record. Both reported buried at Gentry, Ark, but if so, graves could not be
located.
Ezekiel Boyd went to Illinois when still in his teens, was drafted and accepted
for service Sept 29, 1864 at Mt. Sterling, 111 as a Private in Company F, 8th Regiment,
Illinois Infantry, Union Army. He is listed on War Dept records at that time as a
laborer. He was honorably discharged Aug 21, 1865 at St. Louis, still a private, on
surgeons certificate of disability.
In 1898 the veteran gave the names and birth dates of his children who were
living at the time, as:
Willis Arthur Boyd,
Elizabeth D. Boyd,
Ellis C. Boyd,
Rosa M. Boyd,
b. 2-12-1868
b. 9-12-1869
b. 10-6-1875
b. 9-18-1877
This Willis Arthur Boyd was living on a farm 1/2 mile south of Sonora, Wash. Co. in
Nov 1948, being 80 years old. When interviewed on the family, he had no dates,
except that of his own birth, but gave orally, his brothers and sisters as:
Maggie, married a Mr. Stone
Mollie, died very young
Himself, b. 2-12-1868
Louis, married Annie Stemmons
Ellis, married Edna Grant
Mae, married twice: a Mr Harp, and a Mr Bert Minor
Willis Arthur Boyd stated that he married Alice Roberts, and had 2 boys & 2 girls He
also stated that the family "generally speaking" migrated north, and that his brothers
and sisters were prominent in Illinois and Iowa.
D. T. B.
No picture is known to exist of Willis Boyd nor either of his two wives.
Neither is it known his profession - presumably he was a farmer.
Something like a couple of years after being discharged from the Union Army in
St. Louis, Ezekiel Boyd drifted back to Washington County, Ark. My father would
have nothing to do with him, nor hardly claim kin, since "he fought with the Yankees,"
and my dad thought all from Arkansas should have been Confederates. Dad did claim
kin to "Parson Thomp Boyd," who he always claimed "was my first cousin."
It seems that Thomp Boyd married hundreds and hundreds in that general
section of Washington County. I don't know how good he was on 'preaching' but he
was very popular on 'marrying.'
D. T. B,
This chapter on the Boyd family was entered onto a computer disc May 11, 2002 by
Richard C. Reed from notes sent my mother by Drury T. Boyd during the 1960's. He
spent close to 25 years traveling, writing and visiting to gather this information on the
Boyd family.
(4) Ezekiel Boyd
Ezekiel Boyd, fourth son of William Boyd and wife Martha McGregor, was b.
in McMinnville, Term about 1811 but exact date has not yet been nailed down. It
appears he lived and died in McMinnville and is buried there. Ezekiel Boyd did not
come to NW Arkansas in the summer of 1830, as did other relatives, the Oxfords
and others.
Ezekiel Boyd married Lucinda Watling, b. 8-10-1817, d. 7-16-1896. About
the year 1835, and to this marriage three children were born in McMinnville.
1. Washington Boyd, b. about 1836. He was brought to NW Ark., by
his mother (who after the death of her husband then married her brother-in-law
Willis) about 1842, when a lad of about 6, and d. in Wash. Co., when about 16
years of age. Never married, and place of burial not known.
2. Nancy Boyd, b. abt 1836. She was brought to NW Ark., with her
brother and younger sister at the age of about 4. She married first a Captain Stev-ens,
and second Lou (or Louis) Alien. Nothing more is know of this Nancy Boyd, except
that she is reported to have been buried in Friendship Cemetery east of
Springdale. Her grave could not be located.
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE) Lena Roberts was our close neighbor in Springdale, Ark.,
She was a fr—ly (?) woman and her 3 children very smart. We knew we were related
but just did not fully know the details.) her obituary from 1963 follows:
Mrs. Lena L. Roberts, 77, a resident of 406 Wayland Ave., died at 5:30p.m.
Wednesday Jan 1, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J.R. (Opal) Dodson. She was
born March 24, 1886 at Habberton, the daughter of James and Nancy Jane Boyd
Lewallen. She was a member of the First Methodist Church, the Truth Seekers
Class and a charter member of the Women's Society of Christian Service. Survivors
in addition to the daughter are two sons, Alonzo M. Roberts of Springdale and
Clifford Roberts of Lake Charles, La., six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday Jan 3, at the First Methodist
Church with the Rev. Ethan Dodgen and Rev. T. C. Chambliss officiating. Burial will
be at Bluff Cemetery under direction of Callison-Sisco Funeral Home.
3. Caroline Boyd, b. in McMinnville, Tenn., about 1840. She was
brought to NW Ark about 1842 with her older brother and sister, and her mother
who, it has been stated married her brother-in-law Willis. Date of death and place of
burial not known. It is known she married one Samuel Gregg, but where, when,
where they lived is not known, nor it is known if there were children.
Ezekiel Boyd appears to have died in McMinnville early in 1841 and is buried
there, presumably. His wife Lucinda Watling Boyd is buried in Friendship
cemetery, Wash. Co. Ark. The US census of 1870 lists her as a native of Kentucky.
This chapter of the Boyd family was entered onto a computer disc May 11, 2002 by
Richard C. Reed from notes sent to my mother from Drury Boyd during the
1960's. He spent close to 25 years gathering Boyd family information ending duringthe mid 1960's.
(5) Patsy Boyd
Patsy Boyd, daughter of William Boyd and wife Martha McGregor, is so far
not very well identified.
There is quite considerable evidence that Mack Boy, William D. Boyd,
Willis Boyd and Ezekiel Boyd had at least one younger sister referred to in all evidence as Patsy Boyd, or Aunt Patsy. She must have been born in McMinnville,
Term., about 1813 and brought to NW Arkansas in the summer of 1830 by her father
William Boyd and mother Martha McGregor. She apparently married a man named
Todd and they moved to Missouri, probably living in 3 different counties: Barry Co.,
Madison Co., and Livingston Co.
A letter from dads youngest brother William A. Boyd 1850-1928 states that his
grandfather William Boyd, husband of Martha McGregor, died at the home of his
youngest daughter, after doing a hard days work in the harvest field. This was in
Barry Co., Missouri (Cassville Co. Seat), and must have been Patsy Todd.
A letter dated June 21, 1906 to a Mr. J. W. Boyd of Webb City, Mo. (near
Joplin but 1 could not find relationship with him) said letter written from another
Boyd then living at Diamond, Newton Co., Mo - near Joplin, and signed Leonard
Boyd states:
"My father, James T. Boyd, remembers meeting a Mr. Todd on Kings
Prairie in Barry County Mo. in 1861 who told him that his wife was a relative of
Pa's. He thinks it might be the Mrs. Patsy Todd mentioned in (the correspondence.)
It seems that the Mr. Todd referred to as husband of Patsy was a 7th Day
Adventist, possibly but not certain an Adventist preacher.
It seems certain that Patsy Boyd Todd had at least one son John Todd who
was married twice. By the first marriage he had a son and a daughter. It appears
certain the daughter was dead in 1949, but the son is not yet identified.
The son John Todd moved to Siloam Springs, Ark., many years ago at which
time he had his second wife who was reported still living in Siloam about 15 years
ago in a rest home. It is reported the son John Todd came to Siloam Springs either
from Madison Co. Mo., or Livingston Co. Mo.
Ida Barr Bagby writes me (Nov ) that old John Todd was a relative of hers by
marriage. She writes:
"Patsy Todd who lived, for a while, and died, in Siloam Springs was a
relative on the Boyd side. The daughter (Julia ?) made me a short visit in Springdale. Patsy also had a son John Todd. This son John was quite tall and quite slender.
My father John Franklin Barr used to call a relative Claude Davis (Aunt Ar-dilla's
son) by the nickname of John Todd because he, Claude, was also tall and slender.
(Drury continuing to my mother, Olivia B. Reed) writes:
I am of the opinion you dad Humphrey believed that grandpa Boyd had still
another daughter, not only Patsy, but another named Avery. This Avery Boyd, your
dad thought, married a Mr. Baker, and had a son Perry Baker. This Perry Baker
had, your dad thought, three daughters:
one daughter married a Sam Walker
one daughter married a Wes Oxford
one daughter married a Byrd Neil
But I have found nothing else to back this up. I have a photostatic copy of an old
letter written by my dad dated in the summer of 1906 regarding the Boyd family,
and the letter stated that he and his sister Mary Boyd Barr had been discussing the
family, and that they both agreed that their father William D. Boyd and mother
Elizabeth Oxford Boyd had brothers and sisters (family):
Mack Boyd
William D. Boyd (their father)
Willis Boyd
Ezekiel Boyd
Patsy Boyd
D. T. B.
This chapter of the Boyd family was entered onto a computer disc May 11, 2002 by
Richard C. Reed from notes to my mother from Drury Boyd during the 1960's. He
spent close to 25 years traveling, writing and visiting gathering this information on the
Boyd family.
(2) William David Boyd
Second child of William Boyd was born in North Carolina April 22, 1806, and died in
Oxford Bend in Washington County, Arkansas December 25, 1891. He was taken
with his older brother Mack Boyd to McMinnviile, Tennessee about 1807 when
something like a year old. On January 18, 1827 he was married in McMinnviile
to Elizabeth Oxford, a half-breed Cherokee, and a sister to his brother Mack's first
wife Lavina Oxford. Elizabeth Oxford was 15 years old at the time of her marriage.
Elizabeth Oxford was born March 23, 1811 in Southeast Tennessee, but the exact
location is not known. One opinion is that she was born in the little town of Athens,
Tennessee. She died July 29, 1877 in Springdale, Arkansas (then known as Shiloh) at
the home of her daughter and son-in-law Mary Ann Boyd Barr and John Franklin
Barr. Uncle Frank and Aunt Mary Barr then owned an entire block in Springdale
on the west side of the square in 'Old Town' about two blocks north of the present
business part of the town. The Methodist church owns most of that block now, with
main church and other related buildings. It was the first place the Barrs lived when
they moved in, the first time from their War Eagle farm. The lived here about 8 years
when they again moved to a farm on White River.
It seems that William D. Boyd had been to the Indian Territory to attempt to get the
family on the Cherokee rolls. After some delay he was told that his credentials
were apparently satisfactory, but since his wife had the Cherokee blood and not
him, it would be necessary to return home and bring her and she would be put on the
Cherokee rolls. He immediately left for home, but found his wife too ill to make
the trip. She grew worse and worse and died at the home of her daughter on July 29,
1877 as already stated.. Apparently she died of Typhoid fever and is buried in Oxford
graveyard in Oxford Bend. Her grave is marked with a marble head stone still in
excellent condition, although in September 1951 is has broken off and laying flat on
her grave. Search was made for a stone at the head of her husband William D. Boyd,
who surely was also buried there, but the thick growth of vines and bramble failed to
disclose an identifiable line. Many graves in this cemetery are marked with only a
rough field stone ~ no possible way of identifying who is who.
About the year 1880 Wm D. Boyd married a second time, to a Mrs Jane Moody,
herself a widow with young children. She was described as a rather fleshy woman
some years younger than Wm D. Boyd. At the time of their marriage she was living
6 or 8 miles NE of Springdale on Hickory Creek, near the Washington-Benton
County line, with a married son George Moody. It's not known exactly where Win
D. Boyd was living at the time. About the time of the marriage Uncle Will set up a
sawmill about one mile NE of the Gregg Farm and Grandpa Wm D. Boyd donated 80
acres of land on the hill just east of the Gregg farm and built a home with some of his
son's lumber. The siding is remembered as being Sycamore. Grandpa Boyd and his
second wife Jane, together with nigger Moll and Lillian (or Lennie) lived there until
Jane Moody Boyd died, probably in 1889. Then grandpa Boyd sold the 80 acres to
his grandson Humphrey Barr, and went to spend his last days at Aunt Lavina's home
in Oxford Bend where he died on Xmas day 1891.
After grandpa Boyd sold his last 80 acres to Humphrey Barr, nigger Moll and
Lillian lived here and there, and worked amongst the neighbors. It's not known exactly
where Jane Moody Boyd is buried.
William David Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd had 10 children. The first Nancy,
was born in McMinnville, Tennessee and the others in NW Arkansas. The ten
children, each a subject of separate sketch in this work were:
Nancy Boyd
Mary Ann Boyd
Malinda Boyd
Benj. Franklin Boyd
Lavina Boyd
Francis Marion Boyd
Rebecca Margaret Boyd
Albert W. Boyd
William A. Boyd
Clemantine Boyd
3-3-1828
2-23-1830
3-4-1833
3-27-1835
3-1-1838
6-14-1840
1-23-1843
8-4-1845
3-7-1850
11-23-1852
7-24-1884
+-9-1923
3-20-1852
7-27-1838
4-23-1914
4-28-1907
2-17-1926
3-17-1926
1-7-1928
9-19-1876
William D. Boyd and wife and baby daughter Nancy made the trip from
McMinnville to NW Arkansas by flat boat. The boat was 12' x 25' with crude living
quarters at each end. The family floated down the Tennessee River to the Ohio,
thence down the Ohio to the Mississippi and thence down that river to the mouth
of the Arkansas, where Wm D. Boyd hired a tugboat to pull him up to the site of
the present city of Van Buren, Arkansas. There he sold the scow, bought horses and
wagons and made the trip north over the Boston Mountains to what is now
Fayetteville in Washington County. They arrived in early February 1830, and
grandma Boyd was heavy with child. It is doubtful if there was much of a town
there, but there was a 'Wagon Yard' where the family camped. The town was then
known as "Washington Court House."
The name Fayetteville was not adopted till many years later.
During the day Grandpa Boyd scouted the country side in all directions on horseback
and finally located desirable territory on White River about 5 miles east of town.
There the party moved and started building. There in what was later to be known as
Oxford Bend. The second baby was born in a wagon bed on February 23, 1830, no
doubt among the crudest of surroundings and little if any care, but this seems by no
means to have been a detriment to the baby's good health, for she died in 1923 at the
ripe old age of 93. (RCR NOTE: This is our ancestor Mary Ann Boyd Barr)
It is not known exactly how many traveled on the river scow, but is seems that
there were six; the three others being two negros slave boys about 15 and a wench,
about 18. This wench may have been nigger Moll. After the negros were freed, the
men slaves owned by Grandpa Boyd "took out," but nigger Moll stayed on with
the family. Grandpa Boyd apparently made the boat trip and overland trip alone
(with no other boats), but on arrival in NW Ark he sent word back to Tennessee that
NW Ark was ok and another party of quite a number came - his father (and
mother?) and older brother Mack, the Oxfords, and others. They arrived in NW
Arkansas in the late summer of 1830. There was then plenty of land (free) for all.
The boat trip was quite an experience. Grandpa Boyd had sold everything he had,
and carried only a couple of trunks, and a leather bag of gold. To the pioneer families
floating westward the wilderness, particularly along the Ohio presented a constant
threat. Indians, eager for a scalping party lurked in the cane breaks. Long stretches
of the forested banks were literally alive with river pirates. Once flatboat families
shoved off downstream they landed no more than necessary - and then preferable
by day. Drifting by night, with no moon to see by - the family man, turned flatboat
pilot, used an old navigation trick taught him by old river men - one calculated to
keep his craft from swinging too close to shore. He whacked the side of the boat with
the flat side of an axe, and listened to the echo. The time it took for the banks to
bounce the warning sound back to the scow told him which way to steer to keep in
midstream. This method of dodging danger is typical of the special skills the pioneer
had to learn to keep his family safe.
William David Boyd was by occupation a farmer. He was described as rather short
legged, somewhat stocky, with blue eyes and a fair complexion. His first wife
Elizabeth Oxford plainly showed the Cherokee blood in her black hair, dark skin
and black eyes. Wm D. Boyd, 55 years old in 1861 when the Civil War broke out.
He did not serve in any way, but remained at home with his wife and son William A,
Boyd, and daughter Clemantine, and grandson B. F. (Tank) Stone. It is recalled that
he hid more than once from Federal troops. He had two sons, F. M. (Francis Marion)
Boyd (my father) and A. W. Boyd in the Confederate Army.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Grandpa Boyd owned 3 slaves, two men and a
woman known as Nigger Moll. The men were never heard from again, but Nigger
Moll stayed on with the family until Elizabeth Oxford Boyd died in 1877, indeed
even then stayed on till he married again. After that she lived about wherever she
could. She made an excellent hand in the field. Nigger Moll was an exceptional
person - in cleanliness and her aversion to all other negros. She just would not associate with them. Her only child was a mulatto girl named Lillian (called Lennie)
whose father was a Washington County white man (possibly named Pierson, or
Pillson or Pittston???) Nigger Moll reported to Grandpa and wife one day that she
had been raped on a lonely road by a white man. The family always believed her.
About 1890 Nigger Moll and daughter moved to Wagoner Okla, or rather Indian
Territory where Moll died about 1891. Lennie later married, either a negro or mulatto,
and a member of the Boyd clan last saw and talked with Lennie in Wagoner in 1898.
This is the last known record of Lennie.
Elizabeth Oxford Boyd, wife of Wm D. Boyd was a sister of Mack Boyd's first
wife Lavina Oxford Boyd. Like her sister, Elizabeth was one half Cherokee.
Some of the Boyd family have been rather hesitant to acknowledge this Cherokee
blood. But facts are facts, and the individual himself determines his station in the
world and not his ancestors. Descendants of old chief John Rogers of Georgia,
Chief of the Cherokee more than 175 years ago, have generally viewed with
satisfaction and interest; yes even with pride, the Cherokee Indian, Sequoyah.
(This chapter of the Boyd family had been transcribed by Richard C. Reed from notes
to my mother from Drury Boyd gathered over a period of 25 years from 1940 to the
mid 1960*s.)
1 Nancy Boyd
Nancy Boyd, first child, was born in McMinnville, Tennessee on 3-3-1828
and died in Washington County, Arkansas 7-24-1884, and is buried in Son's
Chapel cemetery. She was brought to NW Ark., by her father and mother, by flat
boat and wagon, arriving in Washington Court House (later Fayetteville) in Feb
1830.
Her husband was William M Henson, born in Tennessee 4-1-1818 and died
Wash. Co. Ark 8-14-1884 and is buried in Son's Chapel cemetery, along side
Nancy Boyd Henson. W. M. Henson had been married previously, to a Miss Mary
Gregg, a sister of old Andrew Gregg of Wash. Co. By this Gregg wife old Uncle
Bill Henson had only one son John Nathaniel Henson, born in Wash. Co. Ark 6-301844. This son apparently went to Texas when a young man and married there Annie
Abernethy, a Texas girl. He died 8-24-1920 in Stephenville, Texas and is buried there
in West End Cemetery. John Nathaniel Henson and wife had 12 children, but since
neither he nor she had any Boyd blood in their veins we will carry the record no
further. Late in 1844 Mary Gregg Henson died, but it is not known where she is
buried.
Some time in 1846 William H. Henson and Nancy Boyd were married in
Fayetteville and spent the entire remainder of their life in Wash. Co. Ark in the Oxford
Bend section. Their old home was about 3 miles on east from Son's Chapel, on the
road to Goshen, just as the old road comes off the mountain, entering Oxford Bend.
It was the first house on the north side of the road, known later as the old Dr.
Slaughter place.
It seems the children of Wm. H. Henson and Nancy Boyd one by one went to
Texas. Their older half-brother John Nathaniel was the first to go, and sent back
glowing accounts of that wonderful state.
Issue:
1. William Henson, 3-9-1848 / 10-7-1881 buried in Pottsville cemetery, near
Hamilton, Texas. He married Amanda Jane McPherson of Arkansas on Jan 6, 1869;
her dates 5-27-1853 / 1-15-1928. William and Amanda had 5 children, 3 sons and
two daughters. The first and third sons died in very early childhood. The middle son
H.M. Henson died 7-20-1937. He was married on Dec 19-1900 to Susan Lewis. H.M.
and Susan had 7 sons and 1 daughter.
The 2 foregoing daughters of William and Amanda are:
Nancy Malinda Henson, born 7-19-1874. She married a Mr. Conner, at
last accounts she was still living. This couple had 3 sons, last accounts, all alive and
living in Califormia.
Willie Pearl Henson, born 4-8-1882 at Comanche, Texas. She married
William H. Burton on March 14, 1902 at Comanche, Texas, where each were born and
have always lived. Children were 3 sons (the oldest died at 2 1/2 years) The living
sons are J.R. and Sidney Burton and living daughter is Linda Lou, now Mrs. Gayle
Rippletoe: home Comanche, Texas.
2. Thomas Andrew Henson, born 12-1-1850 and died 10-21-1932. He is
buried in Green's Creek Baptist Cemetery, 7 miles west of Stephensville, Texas.
He married first Jennie Jenkins of Arkansas. It seems they had no children, but
reared a girl Birda, who took the name of Henson, who it appears was a daughter
of Jennie Jenkins sister. I have no recollections of T. A. Henson, but I remember
well Jennie Jenkins Henson and Birda Henson, who lived on Dickson street in
Fayetteville near the Frisco Depot, along about 1903-1904. Birda was then about
18 years old and taught piano. T.A. and Jennie were apparently divorced many
years previously, and Jennie was later married to a Mr. Williams about 1905 in
Fayetteville. Mr. Williams was himself then a widower with children: one boy Safford Williams is remembered. One record says Jennie died in 1908. The family
seems to have moved to Santa Monica (or Santa Barbara) Calif in 1906. Along
about 1900 T.A. Henson came to Stephensville, Texas with a second wife Emma,
of which little or nothing is known, except one record says her name was really
Emma Henson a very distant relative, and she and T.A. were married in
Gainesville, Texas in 1902. There was a stepdaughter Willie, and later on Oct 3,
1903 a son Alvin was born. It seems that Emma left her husband T.A., taking with
her, her own daughter Willie, and neither was ever heard from again. T.A. and
small son, Alvin, whom he adored, lived on in or near Stephensville, Texas until
Alvin drowned on June 25, 1910. This nearly 'killed' T.A., but he lived on, along,
With his memories, near and among his sisters and brother until his death in 1932.
3. Molly Henson, born 12-7-1852 in Wash. Co. Ark died in 1915 in Texas.
She is buried in Pottsville Cemetery near Hamilton, Texas. She married John
Lovelace, of Texas. (No other record. No record of children, if any. One report
Says there were children, but that all died young.)
4. Emma Henson, born Feb 10, 1854 in Wash. Co. Ark; died in 1936 in
Texas. She is buried in Green's Creek Baptist Cemetery, 7 miles west of Stephensville, Texas. She married Timothy Slaughter. This Timothy Slaughter was
administrator of his father-in-laws estate, that of William M. Henson. It is believed
that Emma and Timothy had one son, Elmer, when last heard from was living near
Tahaka, Texas, and one daughter Mintie T. Henson, born 8-26-1879 and died 1-91892, and buried in Green's Creek Baptist Cemetery.
5. Alice Henson, born 3-30-1856 and died 3-26-1926. She is buried at
Green's Creek. Married Jacob Cabe of Cincinnati, Ark., by which there were at
least 2 children, a son Frank living in 1949 near Brownsfield, Tex and a daughter
(Mrs. Virgil Leatherwood) living in 1949 at Coleman, Tex. It appears Alice Henson, left a widow, married a second time, to a Mr. Newton Matthews, but there
were no children to this second marriage.
6. Nannie Henson, born July 15, 1858 and died in 1927. She is buried in
Pottsville Cemetery near Hamilton, Tex. She married first Elmer Lovelace of Tex:
three sons, Milton and Otto, both deceased and John Lovelace, believed to be living
in 1949 at Indian Gap, Tex. It appears that Nannie married a second time to Will
Mayfield; two daughters Bertha Mayfield and Lilly Belle Mayfield. The latter is Mrs.
Arthur Innis of Ft. Worth, Tex.
1. Belle Henson, born Oct 18, 1860 in Wash. Co. Ark., died Oct 27, 1922.
She married Dr. Perry L. Johnson of Arkansas (apparently no children.)
8. Araminta Frances Henson, born Dec 10, 1861 died Feb 26, 1948 buried at
Green's Creek. She married George T. Matthews. Apparently they were married
about 1880 or 81 and lived for a while in Wash. Co. Ark where they had one son
Lafayette, born July 30, 1883 who lived less then a month dying Aug 16, 1883 and
buried at Son's Chapel along side William M. Henson and Nancy Boyd Hen-son. In
Sept 1951 the small head stone was broken oif and flat on the ground but was still in
fair condition and legible. Later Araminta and George Matthews went to Tex., where
it appears they did adopt a girl, Edith Darnell, reported to have been a very beautiful
girl -just a natural rustic beauty. Edith, it appears married Earl pate of
Stephensville and there was a son Earl Reid Pate which Mr & Mrs Matthews
reared. Earl Reid Pate is married and has two children; home is Stephensville,
Texas.
9. Isaac Bird Henson, youngest child of Nancy and William M. Henson, was
born in Wash. Co. Ark on March 21, 1866 and died in Stephensville, Tex on March
15, 1955, the last surviving child. He went to Tex when a young man about 19 years
old. Married on Oct 13, 1890 to Geneva Lorena Hickey, born Dec 8, 1873 near
McKinney, Tex. They had nine children
a. William Fay Henson b. 9-16-1891 d. 6-17-1893
b. Thomas Lorenzo Henson b. 5-29-1893 in Tex. Was living in 1949 in
Amarilfo. He married Mittie Lee Mobley of Stephensville on May 21, 1917 in
Dublin, Texas. They had one son
i. W. C. 'Bo' Henson b. 3-10-1918 in Stephensville, married
Frances Murphy of Amarillo Tex on 6-1-41 and they have two sons
1. John Michael Henson b. 4-6-43
2. Dennis Hughes Henson b. 11-5-46
c. Ora Henson b. 6-12-1895 d. 1-3-1896
d. Frederick Lee Henson b. 11-9-1896 in Grath Co. Tx., was living in
1951 in Elsa Tx., married first Gertrude Adsit of Vacaville, Ca 7-18-1927 in Dallas
they have one daughter Remona Louise Henson, b May 5- 1928 in Houston.
Frederick Lee Henson was divorced, was married second to Willivere Royal of
Pleasantville (or Pleasanton) Tx on Aug 24, 1947.
e. Unnamed infant b. 11-12-1898 d. 11-24-1898 This baby was born in
Erath Co. Tx buried in Hickey cemetery near Stephensville.
f. Alta Ellen Henson, b. 11 -22-1899 in Erath Co, Tx was living Dec
1954 in Stephensville. She was married Jul 9, 1932 in Lake Charles, La to Joseph
Theodore Cullen of Galveston, Tx. No children. Alta Henson was (and still is) a
trained nurse.
g. Coy Bertie Henson, b. 1-15-1903 in Erath Co. Tx., was living in 1949
in Weslaco Tx. She married on Jun 4, 1931 in Edinburg Tx to Alien (or Al-lynn)
Simmons of Lubbock Tx. They have three children:
1. Beverly Gail Henson
2. Sharon Louise Henson
3. Joy Bertie Henson
b. 6-17-34
b. 10-27-37
b. 2-26-40
h. Owen Herman Henson b. 7-4-1905 in Erath Co. Tx, was living in
1950 in Corpus Christi, Tx He married on Dec 29, 1933 in Mineral Wells, Tx to
Gladys Keithof Stephensville. They have two sons:
1. Gary Owen Henson
b. 9-8-40 in Oklahoma City
2. Donald Alfred Henson b. 2-3-42 in Dallas, Tx
ii. Dayne Bird Henson, b. 5-11-1908 in Erath Co. Tx., reported living in
1949 in Weslaco Tx. She married first Herman Martin of Celina, Tx on 6-18-28 in
Houston. They had one daughter: Patricia Ann Martin b. 11-23-1930 in McAllen,
Tx. She married second Andrew Frank Agnew of McAllen Tx on March 24,
1940. No children
j. I.B. Henson, Jr. b. Nov 2, 1910 in Erath Co. Tx was living in April
1949 in Elsa Tx. He married in Ft. Worth on May 16, 1936 to Christine Humber-son
of Stephensville. They had three children
1. Janis Ellen Henson
2. I. B. Henson III,
3. David Gregory Henson,
b. Oct 4, 1937 in Amarillo, Tx
b. Dec 12, 1939 in Okla. City, OK.
b. Oct 22, 1946 in Mercedes, Tx
k. Biflie Blant Henson, b. 3-2-1913 in Erath Co. Tx and was living in
1950 in Bowie, Tx. He was married in Stephensville on Nov 19-1934 to Leola
Smith of Bowie, Tx. They had two children:
1. Billie Blant Henson, Jr. b. 11-3-1939 in Bowie, Tx
2. Lorena Frances Henson b. 7-27-1947 in Bowie, Tx
Isaac Bird Henson died at Stephensville, Tx at his home at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday
March 15, 1955, just six days before his 89th birthday. Buried in West End
cemetery in Stephensville. He was the last survivor (and youngest) of the children of
Nancy Boyd and William M. Henson. I.B. Henson remarked to me in the fall of
1951 that he never revisited Wash. Co. Ark after he left in 1884 or 1885, altho he
often planned to.
William M. Henson was about 53 years old in 1861, when the Civil War
broke out. He did not actively serve in the Confederate Army as a soldier under
arms, but rendered valuable service as a scout, reporting quietly on the locations of
Union Armies. He has been described as "one of the best men who ever lived,"
honest, capable and high ideals. He was by occupation a stockman, not a dirt
farmer. He was among the first in Washington County to promote careful and selective breeding of his stock. His father and grandfather were born in Tennessee.
His great-grandfather came from England in 1750. Old Uncle Bill Henson (as every
one knew him) had two brothers in Washington County, Ark., Andrew Hen-son and
Issac Bird Henson, and a sister not named who married a Mr. Swarlord.
William M. Henson and Nancy Boyd Henson died within 2-3 weeks of each
other and are buried side by side in Son's Chapel Cemetery in Wash. Co. Ark. The
graves are marked with stones still in very good condition after 75 years. Timothy
Slaughter was administrator (he was a son-in-law) of the estate of old Uncle Bill
Henson and arranged for the stones to be cut, prepared and erected by I. W. Daniel on
Sept 3, 1885, at a cost of $25.00 each.
W. M. Henson was an active member of the Methodist Church and it is
probable that Nancy Boyd Henson was also a member. This does not mean that he
was narrow minded nor a fanatic.
A very excellent tintype of William M. Henson and Nancy Boyd Henson is in
the possission of Alta Henson Culien of Stephensville, Tx.
An added note from Drury Boyd to my mother Olivia B. Reed, a descendant of
Mary Ann Boyd - Dick Reed
Olivia...
The foregoing gives you an idea of what 'treatment' 1 give to each of the
children of Wm. David Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd. Nancy was their first
child - the second was your grandmother Mary Ann Boyd, and the others follow in
order. As you look over this chapter on Nancy you can get some idea of the time, and
money, and travel, and letters and work, work, work to get the information together.
And a couple of years later it is out of date.
Although you and I never saw nor will ever meet the great majority of these
people, still they are our kin, and go to make up the millions of plodding souls
making their way through this vale of tears! Good luck and good health to them all!
Is the foregoing too much detail for you? - Obviously there would be no end to
the detail if it were kept up to date very minutely.
But even so, is not geneology very interesting - very fascinating? As we watch
the marching forward of generation after generation, it strengthens our belief in the
immortality of the soul! But doggone it, the questions immediately arrises; -are our
kids interested in these things while we are alive and still here - or will they, like us,
wait 25 years after our deaths, and then go to work??
Best Wishes
DTB
Dick Reed NOTE
As 1 type this from Dairy's handwritten papers, I have been somewhat faithful to copy
exactly as it appear, altho at times I have spelled out the state or abreviated it
differently then he has. The format of dates of birth and death, may also have been
changed somewhat.
(2) Mary Ann Boyd
Mary Ann Boyd, second child of William David Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford
Boyd was b. in Wash. Co. Ark., on Feb 23, 1830, a few days after her father and
mother and their 3 slaves and their first child Nancy ended their trip from East Tennesses. She died at Fayetteville, Ark,, on April 9, 1923 at the age of 93. She is
buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville in the Barr family plot. She lived the
longest of her brothers and sisters, but by no means was she the last survivor. She
was married in 1850 to John Franklin Barr, a native of Lawrence Co. Alabama, b.
12-27-1829. John Franklin Barr became much better off financially, and by middle
age had acquired a far handsomer competency than the average man of those days.
He was one of seven children of Isaac and Sarah Holt Barr. Sarah Holt Barr and her
7 children moved to Washington County, Ark., after the death of her husband Isaac
in Alabama. She later married Andrew Jackson Neill, and to this second union one
child was born, a son, named Albert Neill, who married a Miss Rainwater. Sarah
Hold Barr died about the year 1845. Albert Neill was born in Oxford Bend.
The old John Franklin Barr family home was a farm near White River and
War Eagle Creek. Here the family lived for many years, and most of the children
were born here. In Nov '73 the Barrs sold the farm and moved to what is now
Springdale, but in those days known as Shiloh. It seems they lived there about 7
years when the family again moved to a farm near the old home place, but only
stayed on this place about a year and a half, and about 1882 again moved in to
Springdale. During his residence in Springdale in the late 1880's John Franklin
Barr served a time on the Sprindale Board of Aldermen. About 1891 or 92 the
family moved to Fayetteville in order that the children might attend the University of
Arkansas.
John Franklin Barr crossed the plains to New Mexico via the Santa Fe Trail at
the age of 17 returning the following year. He spent the years 1852-1856 in
California and Oregon, having crossed the plains in a Prairie Schooner drawn by 4
yoke of oxen, taking 7 months on the trip. In 1856 when he returned home he went by
boat to the present location of the Panama Canal, crossing the Isthmus of Panama
and by boat to New Orleans.
Mary Ann Boyd was much smaller in stature then the average woman, but
was remarkably lively all her life. Her memory of events which took place in her
Early childhood was remarkable. Most of her later years was spent visiting among
her children. She was veiy frugal, was a shrewd purchaser of good and spent no
money unnecessarily, and was economical almost to a fault. During her husbands
stay in the west in the 1850's he sent home considerable money earned at high
wages. When he returned home he was dumfounded to find she had saved virtually
every dollar - had indeed spent but only a little of it! To this union apparently 9
children were born:
1. Isaac Byrd Barr, b. 4-4-1851 and d. 3-7-1864. Although only 13 years old
in 1864 he was taking a man's part, and had taken a yoke of small oxen to what is
now Monte Ne, to a mill. During the trip he camped in the open in bad weather and
contracted pneumonia. Buried in the old Oxford graveyard in Oxford Bend -had a
very well preserved headstone.
2. Nancy Ardilla Barr, b. 11-30-1857 at the original home on War Eagle and
died at Siloam Springs, Ark., April 19, 1933. During the last years of her life she
suffered a severe nervous breakdown. She is buried in the Barr lot in Fayetteville.
She was married in 1875 to Wilson Mack Davis who was b. in Missouri in 1852.
They probably lived in more different homes in their married life then one could
conveniently count! They were living in Springdale in the late 1880's at which
time Mack Davis was serving on the city council. Along about this time he was
elected to the State Legislature and for a while was Speaker of the House, at Little
Rock. It can be said that he was a school teacher all of his life: Their children:
1. Maude Davis, b. probably around 1875 or 1876 at Springdale. She
married Burch Enos Grabill, a native of Ohio, and a photographer by profession in
Fayetteville where he had located, opening a studio. B. E. Grabill was a soldier in
the Spanish American War. Mr Grabill later located in Shreveport, La., and is believed buried in Shreveprt in the Spanish American Veterans Cemetery.
1. W. Fletcher Grabill, b. in Fayetteville in 1907, graduated
from the Univ. of Ark., in 1930, Joined the Air Corp, learned to fly, resigned and
went to work for T.W.A. as a pilot.
2. Billy Burch Grabill, b. in Fayetteville in summer of 1913.
Believed to be running a studio in Shreveport. Married, and after a few years
adopted a girl, then later had 2 girls of their own.
2. Grace Davis, b. Oct 20, 1883, and died in Siloam Springs, Ark.,
Aug 13, 194I.She married Bert Pyeatt, a native ofNW Ark in 1910 in Fayetteville.
They had one daughter, b. in Fayetteville, May 15, 1912 named May Elise. She
married a Mr. Max Condon. Grace Davis Pyeatt is buried in Prairie Grove, Ark.
3. Claude Davis, b. ? , and d. May 30, 1950 at La Place, La., is buried at
New Orleans. He married Clarabell Larsen. They have two children:
1. Richard Larsen Davis
2. Mary Louise Davis
4. There was another daughter, by name Ina or Inez, who died in Rogers (?)
when about 8 years old of typhoid fever. Date of birth and death not known, but
lelieved she is buried in Springdale.
3. Albert Clinton Barr, b. at the old home place, Feb 10, 1860 and died 3-1-1863 of
pneumonia, during the Civil War. Buried in Oxford graveyard. Has a well preserved
headstone.
4. Belle Barr (a twin) b. at the home place Feb 12, 1863 and died in Okla on Nov 18,
1946. She is buried along side her husband, James Phinley Woolsey who had died 10
or 12 previously. Their family:
1. Alta d. 1893 buried in Rogers, Ark.
2. Pearl
3. Earl
4. Wyatt
5. Juanita
6. Barr
5. Melle Barr (a twin) b. 2-12-1863 at the old home place on War Eagle, died
Lowell, Ark., Dec 22, 1940. Married Leonidas P. Davis, b. 3-30-1850 and died
Aug 23, 1935. L.P. Davis was a brother of Mack Davis who married Ardilla Barr.
Melle and L.P. family:
1. Hill Davis, b. 3-12-81 at Lowell, Ark., married Zula Guinn, had one
daughter, Mrs L.M. Drury. Hill graduated from the Univ of Ark 1903 in Civil Engineering.
2. Ray Davis, b. 1883, graduated from West Point, was a LTC USA Ret in
1943. Died and buried in San Antonio in 1953.
3. Ross Davis, b. 1885, thought to have gone to Canada about 1914, and
never heard from again.
4. Don Davis, b. 1890, married, had 3 children. Died on vacation in Kenya in
1962. Cremated there.
5. Lucille Davis, b. 1894 married a Mr. Garnett, lives in Norman Okla. One
daughter, Jane, b. about 1923 died in 1974, cremated.
6. Annabelle Davis, b. 1900 married a Jr. Joe Bates.
7. Jessie May Davis, b. 1903, married a Mr. Theiss, had 3 children, died of
heart trouble. Had lived in Pawhuska, Okla.
6. James Humphrey Barr, b. 3-31-1865 two weeks prior to Abraham Lincoln's assassination. He was born on the home place on War Eagle, Married Willie Arnold
Sept 7, 1893. She was a native of Wash. Co. east of Springdale, Ark., Humphrey
died Jan 27, 1962 at Springfield, Mo., buried at Rogers, Ark., the last living child of
Mary Ann Boyd Barr. Willie Arnold Barr died May 3, 1961 in Houston, Tx and is
buried in Dallas, Tx. Their children:
1. Harry Heilman Barr, b. 3-7-95 at Grand Junction, Colo., He was killed in a
railroad accident on Dec 30, 1919 at American Falls, Idaho while working as a
fireman on the Oregon Short Line Railroad. He was brought back to Rogers for
buriel in the Barr lot. Harry had served a short time in the army during the war.
2. Hazel Barr, b. 8-17-97 at Lowell, Ark. She married Aubrey J. Pinkston,
they lived in Dallas and then Houston. There were no children.
3. Olivia Barr, b. 3-16-99 at Springdale, Ark., married Roger J. Reed on
Nov 6, 1923. The family moved to Missouri in 1942 and in 1953 made the final
move to Springfield, Mo. They had six sons:
1. Harry Henderson Reed, b. 12-21-1924 in Springdale. He died on 84-1930 at home in Springdale.
2. Robert Bruce Reed, b. 1-23-1928 in Neodesha, Kansas
3. Louis Leon Reed, b. 6-17-1930
4. Richard Clinton Reed, b. 11-6-1932
5. Roger Vernon Reed, b. 4-20-1935
6. Harry Bird Reed, b. 7-29-1937 ( Even though I print it here, Harry
does not want any reference to his middle name at any time, any where.) On some
documents you may find it spelled 'Byrd'
4. Mildred Virginia Barr, b. 1907 (You may find her middle name as
Elaine - her father in letters calls her middle name as Virginia) m. Glen Livingston b.
Glen was in the hardware business all his life. They had 3 boys.
The first died young. The other two are:
1. Jack Edward Livingston, b. 1932
2. Marvin Eugene Livingston, b. 1935
Humphrey Barr graduated from the Commercial College of Lexington, Ky in 1883,
also from the literary department of the Rogers Academy with class honors, June 1,
1887. During the years 1890-91 Humphrey lived in the house and on the 80 acre
farm where William D. Boyd and his second wife Jane Moody lived during their
married life, his total holdings being 223 acres. Humphrey bought the 80 acres
mentioned above from his grandfather Wm. D. Boyd after Jane Moody Boyd's
death, (Wm. D Boyd having gone to spend his last days with his daughter Lavina at
Oxford Bend), also bought 40 acres from Tank Stone (his home) and 63 acres from his
own father John Franklin Barr. For the last mentioned 63 acres, swapped his dad a
business house and dwelling house in Springdale. Humphrey had a man and wife to
keep house for him at the time on the farm. Later he let the farm to a renter and sold
goods in Spring Valley. He then entered on 10 years of teaching in the Indian schools
in Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Oklahoma. He resigned from the Indian School
work and moved back to the farm, built a house about 1 /4 mile south of the old
Grandpa Boyd place. Sold the farm in 1906 and moved to Lowell, Ark., organized
the Bank of Lowell in 1908 and was cashier till 1916 when he resigned and again
entered the teaching profession. Spent his last days, nearly 9 years with his daughter
Olivia in Springfield, Mo. (from Easter Sunday 1953 to the day he died Jan 27,
1963.)
7. Dora Barr, b. Nov 26, 1867 on War Eagle and died Dec 10, 1900 in Memphis,
Tenn., and was buried there. She had married Richard Flood, who died in Memphis
in 1932 - he had married again after Dora's death. Dora and Richard Flood had 2
children:
1. Clarence Flood, lived in New York City, died in Calif about 1975.
2. Pearl Flood, married a Mr. Speilman and lived in Memphis, Tn.
Dora Barr Flood must have indeed been a most gracious and charming person. All
reports and records on her are that she was an exceptional woman. She was very
8. Ida Barr, b. Feb 12, 1871 at the home place on War Eagle. Spent earlier part of
her life in NW Ark., was graduated from the Rogers Academy and was in the class of
1896 at the University of Ark. Ida went to the I.T. in 1899 to visit her sister Belle,
and brother-in-law, Major James P. Woolsey, Indian agent for the Pawnee, Otoe and
Ponca Indians. She remained in Ponca City, to teach school. While in Ponca City she
met Rufus Edward Bagby who was Supt of Schools there. He was prominent in the
early days as an educator, editor and publisher. He made the Run in to Oklahoma in
April 1889 and served in the Constitutional Convention. He died in 1933. She died
in Ponca City about 1950. Their children:
1. Virginia Lucille, who married a Mr. Chatham Harsh of Memphis Tn.
1. Richard Stanley Harsh b. 10-23-26
2. Virginia Carolyn Harsh b. 1-10-30
3. Elizabeth Barry Harsh b. 7-25-34
2. Ruth, died in an auto accident about 1934, unmarried
3. Wm Edward Bagby, and auto dealer in Blackwell, Okla, married and has a
daughter Ren'e, born about 1942.
4. Carolyn, school teacher, not married, lives in Ponca City, Okla. (Olivia B.
Reed NOTE) Carolyn was a great traveler - visiting many countries. She was on
her way to the far east and found she was too ill to go on and returned home and soon
died. She died of cancer about 1963.
9. Frank Barr, b. 5-31-1875 at Springdale, Ark., last child of Mary Ann Boyd and
John Franklin Barr. Married first Leota Amaker. Issue: one son Iverson Amaker Barr,
later married Annie Statts of Huntsville, Issue: one son Clinton, born 1900 in
Fayetteville, died May 31, 1915 at Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City of abscessed
lung. Buried in the family plot in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville, being the
first grave in the lot. Frank Barr died at the home 219 N. Church St. Fayetteville on
Jan 29, 1946. He was found dead sitting in a chair. The family didn't disturb him for
2-3 hours, thinking he was asleep. Annie Barr died less then a year later on Jan 11,
1947.
John Franklin Barr died Oct 1907 in Fayetteville, Ark. He was first buried in the
Oxford graveyard in Oxford Bend but about 1916 he was moved to Fayetteville to
The family plot at the Evergreen Cemetery. J.F. Barr was 32 years old when the
Civil War broke out. During the war he served in some capacity in the Confederate
Army but he is reported to have been very much against any of the states seceding.
He was a man of noble ideas and high morals, exceptionally scrupulous in
matters of money and honesty.
Mary Ann Boyd Barr was born a short time after the family landed in NW
Ark. After her father and other arriving pioneers determined upon a desirable location
on White River to the east of Fayetteville which was then so small it had one store, 3
houses, and a wagon yard, and known in those days as Washington Court House, he
hitched up the horses, to the 2 wagons with his wife and baby Nancy and the 3
slaves and traveled east to what was later known as Oxford Bend, where grandpa
Boyd immediately began to build a log house. He ended up with a 2 story log house.
But before any sort of shelter could be completed, Mary Ann Boyd was born in a
wagon bed, in a covered wagon, in a lively snow storm, Feb 23, 1830. Such were
the trials and tribulations of those early pioneers. But despite this humble beginning,
Mary Ann Boyd outlived all her brothers and sisters, dying in 1923 at the age of 93.
Olivia:
You'll note a lot of dates are missing - possibly a number of errors. Surely
you can make a number of additions and corrections.
D. T. B
4-16-64
Please excuse spelling, grammar, etc, etc, etc.
Another O.B. Reed NOTE: Papa vigorously protested the removal of his fathers
body to Fayetteville - But Uncle Frank and grandmother had their way - He
wanted to be buried close to his dear little boys.
(This chapter was entered onto a computer disk by Richard C. Reed on May 10,
2002 from notes supplied to my mother by Drury T. Boyd in the 1960's.) He spent
close to 25 years traveling, writing, and visiting to gather all this information.
(3) Malinda Boyd
Malinda Boyd, third child of William David Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford
Boyd was born at the home place (the 2 story log house) in Oxford Bend, Wash.
Co. Arkansas on March 4, 1833 and died March 20 1852 in Wash. Co. Ark. Early in
1851 near her 18th birthday she married one Thomas Stone, and on March 14, 1852
her son Benjamin Franklin Stone was Born. This son was later familiarly known as
"Tank" Stone. Malinda Boyd Stone lived only six days after the birth of her baby,
dying from a loss of blood, and bed fever. The baby was taken by her sisters and
reared by them. Family tradition has it that Frank Stone was quite a problem child,
quite precocious and spoiled rotten by his aunts. "Tank" Stone died in or near
Tahlequah, Ok., in the spring of 1931. He was married at least twice.
It is not known positively where Malinda is buried but undoubtedly in the
Oxford Bend graveyard. It is not known if her grave is marked. No existing photograph of her or her husband is known to exist. Not much is known of later life of
Thomas Stone. We hear nothing of him from 1852 to 1880, a period of 28 years. In
the early spring of 1880 John Franklin Barr and Tank Stone went by horseback and
carried harness with them to Thomas Stone's place in Logan Co. Ark., east and south
of Ft. Smith. Thomas Stone owed Uncle Frank Barr some money, and it appears the
debt was finally paid, fully or partially, by Stone giving Uncle Frank a wagon and a
large yellow mule. These were brought back to NW Arkansas, and thereafter the
mule had the name "Logan." Tank Stone related on his return that his father Thomas
Stone had just previously been elected to some sort of County office in Logan County,
and was to take office in Paris, Arkansas, the county seat, but due to his almost
complete lack of education, was actually unable to qualify.
D. T. B.
O.B. Reed NOTE: Grandmother Barr kept Tank Stone as a young boy. When my
father got the 80 acres from his grandfather Boyd, there was a 2 room house on it
and we always called it the "Tank Stone house" tho at the time I was too young to
know he was Papa's first cousin - It stood up high over White river which bordered our farm on the south and west and down a short pathway from the house toward the river, was a good spring - Papa always had a man living in it to help care for
the livestock and crops. 1 am told that Tank Stone had 9 children, one daughter living
in Tulsa. He was still alive in the early 1930's for he visited mother in Rogers,
Arkansas.
(4) Benjamin Franklin Boyd
Benjamin Franklin Boyd, fourth child (and first son) of William David Boyd
and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd was born in the 2 story log house in Oxford Bend,
March 27, 1835, and died July 27, 1838 when a little over 3 years old.
Family tradition has it that the little boy died of blood poisoning from a cut on
his leg.
Family tradition has it that he is buried in the Old Oxford graveyard, in fact, it
would appear that his was the very first grave in that cemetery. This was, of
course, the first death in the family of Wm. D. Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd -and
it being their first son, they grieved 'til their dying day over losing the little boy.'
The little boy had the nickname of "Hanky and/or "Tanky," or "Tandy," a
presumed contraction of Franklin.
If the boy was buried in the Oxford graveyard, it is probably, even so, that
the grave was marked with only a rough field stone, and if so, is not now identifiable.
No photograph is known to exist.
D. T. B.
Entered onto a computer disc by Richard C. Reed, May 10, 2002 from information
submitted to my mother by Drury T. Boyd during the 1960's. He spent close to 25
years gathering Boyd family information ending in the mid 1960's,
(5) Lavina Boyd
Lavina Boyd familiarly know as "Aunt Viney" was the fifth child of William D.
Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd, was born in the 2 story log house on March 1, 1838
and died in Wash. Co. Ark April 23, 1914. She is buried near the northwest corner of
the Oxford graveyard but it is believed her grave is not definitely marked.
Early in 1853 she married Van B. Johnson of Wash. Co. The writer had a dim
recollection when a small boy they used to tell around the house that Aunt Viney
was married on her 15th birthday, but I am not positive of this. Van B. Johnson had at
least one brother Ben Johnson in Wash. Co., who married Jane Oxford. (More on
Jane Oxford in a later chapter on the Oxfords) Both Aunt Viney and Aunt Jane
often visited us in Fayetteville, and were certainly lovable old characters.
Lavina Boyd Johnson and Van B. Johnson had four children:
1. Mattie (actually her name was Martha), b. 1-23-1854. Mattie married
twice, first to John Brandon in 1875, issue one daughter Hattie, b. Aug 7, 1876.
Second she married George Reynolds, issue one son Frank Reynolds, b. 10-221879. Mattie died on Nov 25, 1879, something like a month after the birth of her
second child Frank, and Frank Reynolds and Hattie Brandon were taken and reared by
their grandmother Lavina Boyd Johnson. John Brandon died about 1877 and he and
Mattie are both buried at Son's Chapel. John Brandon's tombstone indicated he was
a mason. The foregoing George Reynolds was the widower of Cle-mantine Boyd,
Mattie's aunt (and Aunt Viney's youngest sister.) You'll understand this when you get
the chapter on Clemantine. Frank Reynolds, Mattie's second and last child was
born Oct 22, 1879 and died Oct 14, 1936 at Whittier Calif, and is buried at Whittier
as is his first wife Lennie Enyart Reynolds. (It is reported that Frank Reynolds
married again after Lennie's death in the spring of 1920.)
2. Christianna, b. Dec 12, 1856 at Goshen, Ark. She married Hiram Kelley
Monroe about 1871 or 72. Mr. Monroe, b. in Atlanta Ga in 1854 passed away
Sept 16, 1936 at Amorita, Ok. He was a South Methodist Preacher for 60 years.
After marriage this couple lived for several years at Goshen, then moved to
Fayetteville, Ark for a few years, then to Denver, Co., Kansas, Okla, Texas, then to
Amorita, Ok., where Mr. Monroe died. Christiana lived on there and died in 1943 at
age 86. Both are buried in the small country graveyard outside of Amorita.
Christy, as she was known came back to Wash. Co. Ark in April 1914 for her
mother's funeral. It is believed she was then living in Texas. Mr and Mrs Kelley
Monroe had 8 children:
a. John, b,
died
b. Frank, b.
died
c. Betty, b.
Died
d. Mary Araminta, b. 9-16-1880 at Goshen, Ark., d. 5-5-1938 at
Woodward, Okla.
e. Laura Ruth, b. 1-7-1882 at Goshen, Ark (a few years ago was still
living now Mrs. Ruth Storey, 914 South Penn St, Cherokee, Ok. I met Mrs Storey 8
or 9 years ago and she looked so much like Aunt Viney!)
f. Sidney, b. 3-7-1884 at Fayetteville, d. about 1914 Sherman, Texas
g. Josephine, b. 3-10-1886 at Fayetteville, was living some 9 or 10
years ago in Santa Paula, Calif.
h. Hattie Birthelda, b. 8-23-1892 at Hazelton Kansas, was living in
1956 in Chalma, NM, now Mrs. H.B. Fox.
3. Rena Johnson, Lavina's third child was b. about 1858 at Goshen. This little
girl died when about 5 years old. Believed buried at Goshen.
4. Maggie Johnson, b. 4-18-1860 (there is reason to believe her christened
name was actually Elizabeth.) This is Aunt Mag Head! Maggie Johnson married
twice, first to Sam Lester of Goshen. They lived in and around Goshen for a number
of years when Sam Lester died in 1881, and is buried at Goshen. Issue: one
daughter Ellen or Ella. Ella married Tom Cooper of Habberton sometime around
1898. They had a girl Mabel Lavina born about 1900 and a boy John (called
Jackie) born about 1902. Ella died in Texas, buried there, about 1905. After Ella's
death, the son Jackie lived only a few months and is buried along side his mother.
Shortly thereafter Tom Cooper went west with his little daughter Mabel Lavina,
possibly to Calif, but Aunt Mag Mead could never locate them and it is believed
that none of the family has heard from them since.
Maggie Johnson Lester later married Joseph Head, born in Rutherford Co.
North Caroline about 1854 and died in Wash. Co. Ark May 18, 1931 and is buried in
the small family graveyard at Head's Ford. Maggie and Joe Head were married
around the year 1886. Maggie Head is reported to have virtually lost her mind.
Maggie and Joe Head had four children:
1. A baby boy, born dead, or at most lived a matter of only a few
minutes, probably in 1887.
2. Mae, b. Jun 28, 1889 still living. She married Ransom Clayton on
Dec 18, 1912, at Goshen. The Clayton family lived on a farm near Soshen and
Ranse and Mae lived with the Clayton family for 3 or 4 months before leaving for
the west. Ranse Clayton died Feb 19, 1941 at the age of 47 in Calif, and is buried in
Whittier, Calif, along side his father who had died a short time previously at the age
of 97. There were 4 children to this union:
1. Joseph Dale Clayton, b. 12-12-1913
2. Eldon Clayton, b. 3-31-1916
3. Charlotte Elizabeth Clayton, b. July 9, 1922 at Pico Calif.
Married Paul Dunlap, now lives in Whittier, Calif She is a beautiful girl (saw her in
Springdale in 61) and is quite an artist.
4. Fred Newell Clayton, b. 12-3-1924 at Pico, Calif.
3. Frank Head (Christened Marvin Franklin Head) b. May 20, 1891,
never married. Died at Springdale Feb 25, 1961. Funeral 2-27-61 at Springdale,
buried in the family graveyard at Head's Ford.
4. Vol Head, b. June 10, 1892 at the Head's Ford place, married in
Calif. To Nora Miggs - no children. Still living in Paris, Calif.
5. Harry Head, b. Aug 18, 1896 at the Head's Ford home, and died in
Wash. Co. Ark Oct 23, 1914 of Typhoid Fever. Buried in the Head's Ford graveyard.
All 5 of Mag Head's children were born at the Head's Ford place on White River
about 5 miles east of Springdale.
To return to Lavina and Van B. Johnson, it appears that the family home was a
log house about 1/2 mile NE of Habberton store (or what was later Habberton). She
lived here for many years after the war. One day, probably in 1892, a close relative
approached her to borrow $300 and finally prevailed on her to mortgage her place
for $300 to one Will Wilson. As so often happens in such cases, the relative did not
pay the money back and Aunt Lavina lost her place.
In 1861 Van B. Johnson, with his brother Ben, and my father P.M. Boyd enlisted in the Confederate Army and it appears the 3 of them served in the same
company. Ben Johnson and my father survived the war, but Aunt Lavina's husband
was killed in action at the battle of Jenkins Ferry in April 1864, and was carefully
buried by his brother Ben and my father, the place definitely marked between two
large Elm trees. After the war these two intended to return and bring the body
back to Wash. Co. - But they never did, the distance being too great and they were too
poor.
Historians record the Battle of Jenkins Ferry as useless. Time and men on
both sides were wasted. Although the Federals retired from the field it could not be
called a Confederate victory! Such was a double tragedy for Aunt Viney, truly a noble
woman of the old South. So far as any of the family knows Van Johnson still lies
today in the shallow grave on the battlefield, buried only in the gray uniform, no
casket, no coffin. A white handkerchief over his face was the best that could be
done for him (and indeed, for most of the others.)
To return to the children of Aunt Viney and Van Johnson, mention has been
made that the first child was Mattie, b. 1 -23-54, d. 11-25-79. By Mattie's first husband
there was a daughter Hattie Brandon, b. Aug 7, 76, and by her second marriage, a
son Frank Reynolds, b. Oct 22, 79. The two children of Mattie:
1. Hattie Brandon, b. Aug 7, 1876 was married twice. First to Lee Walker on
May 10, 1893 at Goshen. There were four children:
1. Mattie L, Walker, b. 3-23-94 who married first John Brock, had one
son John Jr. In 1951 this John Brock Jr. was deputy sheriff of Sterling Co. Tx. Mattie
L. Walker and John Brock were divorced and she later married Will P. Myer In Feb 51
they were running a cafe in Sterling City, Texas. Mr & Mrs Myer had one child, a
daughter Willie Mae, who married a Herbert Williams - one child, Crisp Williams
2. Betty J. Walker b. 3-10-96 d. 12-15-99
3. JohnS. Walker b. 10-3-97 d. JO-29-98
4. Eugene L. Walker b. 10-31-04 d. 1-8-48
Hattie Brandon and Lee Walker were divorced and she later married Philip Carrell on
Sept 2, 1911 in Eureka Springs, Ark. No children, this marriage. In Dec 1957 Hattie
Carrel was living on Star Route, Grants Pass, Oregon. Philip Carrel died 1-31-54 and is
buried in Oregon.
Frank Reynolds (second child of Mattie Johnson by her second husband Geo. Reynolds) married an Oxford Bend girl Lennie Enyart in Feb 1901 and to this union 2 children
were born. Ivan, on May 20, 1902 near Habberton, and Hattie Ruth on Aug 1, 1912
near Head's Ford. In 1915 Frank and Lennie were living on a rented farm about 1/2 mile
due south of Sonora store, east of Springdale and late in 1915 the family moved to
Calif., where Frank worked as a laborer in the oil fields of Whittier. Lennie died in
March 1920 at the age of 43, and is buried at Whittier. Ruth was 11 years old at the time.
Frank Reynolds later married again, and died Oct 14, 1936 at the age of 57 and is buried
also in Whittier. Ivan Reynolds lives at Monte Bello, Calif. It is reported that Ruth
married a Mexican or native of Spain named Floyd Maralli, and one child, Mary Ann
was born about 1932, but Ruth and Floyd soon separated, and she later married an Italian,
Ralph Beinjetti. It is reported that Ivan married a girl named Tola Ellwell - they have no
children. This Ivan is the little boy you knew 50 years ago - not in good health and who
cried easily!!! In Nov. 1950 Ruth was living in Compton, Calif.
A few lines are in order regarding the Head family of Wash. Co., one of whom Joseph
Head married Aunt Viney's daughter Mag. The homes of Joe Head and his brother
Mills Head were on White River about 8 miles east of Springdale at one of the main
fords on White River. The location has long been known as Heads Ford. A rural
school was there until recent years, known as Jay Bird School and for a year or so
around 1915, a store was there also. Joe and Mag Head were loved by all who knew
them, and it is in order to sketch a bit of the family.
Maggie Johnson Lester's second husband was Joseph Head, apparently the youngest
child of his family and was named after his father, born in Rutherford Co. NC about
1854. Joseph Head Sr. and Elizabeth Hix Head his wife, were themselves both natives of
Rutherford Co. NC. He was a millwright, a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade. As a
millwright he was considered by all as an expert, and although owning a good farm in
NC he left that for his sons to manage, and devoted his time to his trade. He built some
of the most extensive grist and saw mills in the country. Joseph Head Sr. and Elizabeth
Hix were married in 1827 and had nine children:
Anderson Head; Keunert Head b. 6-15-1839; Mrs. Hester Davis; Mrs. Maria
Strain; Harvey Mills Head; Joseph Head.
All living in the late 1880's and Amanda, Alphia and Baylis, these three all dead in
1890. The family moved to NW Ark in 1855 leaving their old home in Jan 5, 1855
and made the trip overland in wagons taking two months and 5 days on the trip.
The youngest child, Joseph was an infant at the time. The family settled at what
was to become Head's Ford, purchasing 800 acres of land from old Stephen K.
Stone for $800 in gold. The oldest child Anderson was about 18 years old at the
time, but didn't like the new country - stayed only a few months and went back to
North Carolina. He was living there in 1890.
The original house at Head's Ford built by Joseph Head Sr. 1855-56 and one or
two log outbuildings are still standing, in excellent condition. The house was not a
log house, but of home-sawed weatherboarding. The Head family always boasted
the house never had a coat of paint! The family cleared, and planted and prospered,
until the summer of 1862 when Joseph Head Sr. was "captured" by the Federal
troops. On one bright May day he had started to walk to Sonora, a village about 2
miles distant to get some leather to make some shoes for the children, when he
was "captured" and carried immediately north, never seeing his family again. He
was reported taken to Springfield, MO, and died there that same year. Family
tradition has it that he was killed by being fed poisoned coffee. Some time later after
the was his son Keunert went up into Missouri to find any record of his father, but
never could. Joseph Head Sr. was not in the Confederate Army, but instead was living
quietly at home. Nonetheless he was captured and made a military prisoner. The
mother continued to live on the old home place until 1882 when she passed away at
the age of 72. The son, Keunert was in Company "K" 34th Arkansas Infantry with
my father when General Kirby Smith surrendered at Marshall, Texas.
Maggie Johnson Lester and Joseph Head Jr. were married about 1886. He
was possessed of a good measure of old fashioned southern dignity, a man of high
ideals and courtliness. He lost the sight of one eye when a young man, at a blacksmith shop in Goshen, caused by a piece of red-hot steel. The Head family graveyard
is about 100 yards from the old home place, a small plot of 8 or 10 graves. The
first buried here was Elisabeth Hix Head, died in 1882. Here also are buried 3 of her
sons, Baylis, Harvey Mills, and Joseph, and Joseph Head's wife Maggie, and here
also are buried 3 sons of Joe and Mag Head, an unnamed infant, Harry and Frank.
Olivia: Again excuse spelling and fast writing. Am enclosing picture of dear old
Aunt Viney, To the left of the picture (Aunt Viney's right) is Lennie, Frank Reynolds
wife, and to Aunt Viney's left - to the right of the picture is Hattie Brandon Walker
Carrel. Hattie was a beautiful girl as you can see. Picture taken about 1911. The
picture of Aunt Viney is perfectly true to life. Her apron - her expression, her hand
over her stomach - she can almost "speak" to you. Please return pictures
D T Boyd
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE)
When Aunt Viney died she was at her grandson's home, Frank Reynolds. She had
reared him as her own, since he was 3-4 weeks old. She was the only mother
Frank ever knew, and called her "Ma." She died in Frank Reynolds arms - he was
crying like a baby. Truly Aunt Viney was a wonderful, wonderful person. She'd
make long visits with us - back from 1903 to 1914. Always kind and good and
never complained.
Richard C. Reed transcribed this chapter of the Boyd family from hand written notes to
my mother from her cousin Drury T. Boyd. He spend close to 25 years traveling,
writing, and visiting to gather this information ending in the mid 196<Ts.
(6) Francis Marion Boyd
Francis Marion Boyd, sixth child of William David Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford
Boyd was born on Jun 14, 1840 in a two-story log house in the area commonly known
as the Oxford Bend Community east of Fayetteville, Arkansas on White River. He
enlisted in the Confederate Army on June 1, 1861 at Fayetteville and fought at the
battle of Pea Ridge, north of Rogers, Arkansas.
On February 1, 1866, he married a schoolteacher, Miss Arminta Walker, who
was five years his senior was b. 12 Mar 1836; She died on November 12, 1888,
childless, and is buried at Sons Chapel.
On December 30, 1891, he married Miss Annie Tillman, also a
schoolteacher. They married at the home of her brother John N. Tillman. They lived at
Wyman, Ark., until late in 1898 during which time three children were born.
1. Edith Boyd, b. Sep 18, 1893, d. May 17, 1899
2. Frances Leone Boyd, b. Sep 10, 1895, m. May 9, 1914 to E. L.
Hurlock. There were no children born of this union.
3. Drury Tillman Boyd, b. Sep 5, 1897, m. Dec 2, 1922 to Sibyl
Sanderson, d. June 1969
1. Shelley Ann Boyd, b. Jul 30, 1930 in Brooklyn, N.Y., m.
Aug 4, 1950 Charles H. Arlen of Tulsa, Ok.
1. Shelley Arlen, b. Jul 24, 1951 in Joplin, Mo.
2. A son, Arlen (first name unknown)
Richard C. Reed transcribed this information from hand written notes sent
sent to my mother by Drury Boyd during the 1960's. Drury traveled, wrote and visited
relatives for close to 25 years to gather Boyd family history) The last letter my
my mother received from him was in 1965, so it is assumed he died sometime near that
date.
(7) Rebecca Margaret Boyd
Seventh child of William David Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd, was b.
Jan 23, 1843 in Washington Country, Ark and d. at Commerce, Okla. on Feb 17,
1926 at the home of her son Sidney Walker. She m. Sylvanus J. Walker on Mar 5,
1861 and he died at Welch, Okla. on Nov 18, 1914. Both are buried at Welch, Okla.
She is known among the relatives as "Aunt Mard." Sylvanus served in the Confederate
Army as a blacksmith, and perhaps also as a soldier under arms. Ten children were
born to this marriage
1. Mary A. Walker, known as Mollie, b. 10-16-1862 in Wash. Co. Ark.,
died at Welch, Ok 10-20-1933 buried at Welch. She married Frank Johnson who was
b. in Wash. Co. about 1860. They had five children.
1. Rosie Johnson, b. about 1882 in Wash. Co. Ark and died at
Tahlequah I.T. about 1900 and is buried a few miles west of Tahlequah at a
country cemetery on '14 Mile Creek.'
2. Floyd Franklin Johnson b. Sept 20, 1883 at Springdale, Ark and d. 14-1949 at Welch at the age of 65. He was married Dec 19, 1915 to Miss Eula Inglis,
to which union were born four children, A son Raymond who lost his life in WWII,
Mar 3, 1945. Other children at the time of his death were a daughter Mrs. Helen
Teal of Welch, two sons Leroy Johnson of Welch, and Lloyd Johnson of Bartlesville.
3. Charlie Johnson, b. about 1887 in Wash. Co. Ark.
4. Maggie Johnson was born Wash. Co. Ark about 1890 and died in
Kansas City about 1915. She married Tom Cillifer. They had one child, a daughter
Lillian who is married and lives in Wichita.
5. Pearl Johnson, born near Tahlequah about 1898, married W. Leslie
Thomas and lives in Wichita, Ks.
Frank Johnson was a fireman on the M K and T railroad and died about
1947. He had been retired for several years. He died in Kansas City and was buried
in Welch, Ok. It is said he and Mollie were divorced (about 1910) and married twice
before Mollie's death and once afterwards.
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE)
Aunt Mollle visited us in Fayetteville in 1912. She was then married to a
Mr. Spinks. They later moved to Springdale, and 1 spent one day visiting her, as
well as I can recall, it was in the early 1915 era. She was a sweet and delightful
woman, giving to me of her very best. She made the most delicious sourdough
biscuits I ever ate in all of my life. It was cold and we just sat in the kitchen the
entire time of my visit, a poor, and poorly furnished home, but her great charm was her
friendliness. Mr. Spinks did a trucking business, also ran a livery stable. I think they
left Springdale soon after that though, and I saw her no more. But I could never
forget her.)
2. Tandy Walker b. Oct 4, 1864 in Wash. Co. Ark and died Hanson, Ok 2-1-1926. He
married Alice Casey and had two children, a son Ray died at the age of 6 weeks
and a daughter Vinney who died age 1 1/2. Alice died about 1903. Tandy's second
wife was Dona Matlock who died in 1943. They had 5 children:
A son who died when a few days old.
Clyde b. about
Lillie
Ellen
Margaret
3. Robert Franklin Walker, b. 4-7-1867 in Wash. Co. Ark, married Apr 22, 1896 at
Tahlequah I.T. to Miss Ida Hail, b. 10-26-1878 in Tennessee. They lived in Welch
where Robert F. died in 1959. Ida died 2-24-62 age 83. And at that time had four
sons and two daughters surviving. John, Leister, Cecil and Earl all of Welch,
Loretta MaGuire, Eugene, Ore. And Mrs. Ethel Beebe, Eastside Oregon. Ida died in
a hospital at Vinita, where she had been a patient for one week. Had resided in
Welch for 62 years, a member of the ME Church (these last items from the newspaper account, and it says she was born at Tahlequah (not Tennessee). She left 20
grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE)
Drury sent a snap shot of Ida and Robert, which I returned. Ida was a very pleasant
looking old lady, something like Aunt Melle Davis in Aunt Melle's later years. And
Robert, a prominent-boned face, not bad looking at all. I could imagine some traces of
Indian ancestry in him.)
Robert and Ida had 8 children:
1. James Liester Walker, b. 3-24-1897 at Tahlequah, m. Miss Nora Stout who
died about 1927. They had 5 children: Irvin, b. 1920; Ernis b. 1922; Edward .b 1924,
killed in car wreck 1939; Henry Lee b. 1926; Jess b. 1927, James Liester married
second time, Miss Hazel Buck of North Miami, Ok. And they had 3 children: Albert
1933; Gerald 1935, died 1936; and Vernie Ray 1940. Family in 1949 was living at
Welch, Ok.
2. Goldie Ethel Walker, b. 16 Aug 1899 at Tahlequah, married 12-16-1916 at
Welch to Joe Beebe. They have 2 girls, 4 boys, live at Coos Bay, Oregon.
3. John Edward Walker, b. 3-24-1902 at Welch, m, 5-5-1925 to Miss Alma
LaDuke. Children: Everett, Alvin, William, Maynard, Leroy, Thurman. The family
lives on a farm 5 miles NW of Welch.
4. Robert Cecil Walker, b. 5-23-1904 in Welch. Married 1-1-1949 at Welch to
Mrs. Nellie Bonner of St. Paul, Kansas, who was a widow of his younger brother
Bearl Ervin. They live on a farm 5 miles N W of Welch.
5. Midas Odell Walker, b. 8-18-1906 at Welch, d, 7-21-1925 at home NW of
Welch, never married, buried at Welch.
6. Loretta Jane Walker, b. 9-9-1909 at Welch. Married at North Bend, Ore.
On Oct 19, 1937 to William Maguire. They have one daughter Shirley, b. 3-31940. The family lives in Eugene, Oregon.
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE)
In a letter from Loretta Maguire to Drury Boyd, written Oct 6, 1958, she states that
her father Robert Walker is the only member of his immediate family left, and felt he
could not live much longer, and he did die in 1959. She states she never knew any of
the relatives but Walkers. no Boyds etc. She states that Myrtle Gault has also passed
away, a nice looking member of the family. They all have good faces.)
7 & 8. Twins Bearl Ervin and Earl Erwin, b. in Welch on 5-27-1913. Bearl
Ervin married Miss Nellie Bonner about 1941. A daughter, Sharon Patricia was
born 1943. B. E. was killed in the Philippines in World War II, April 14, 1945...
After the war his body was brought back to Welch.
Earl Erwin married in Welch on July 2, 1933 to Dorothy Mae Lakey; they
have a son Herman Leon born 1936. Carolyn, b. 1940, their first child a girl lived
only 9 days, b. 1934.
4. Henry Edward Walker, b. 11-25-1869 in Wash. Co. Ark d. 5-21-1944 at Pitcher
Okla., at the home of his son Roy. Buried at Welch, Ok. He married in 1890 at Son's
Chapel, near Fayetteville, Ark to Miss Josephine Payne was b. March 17, 1875 at
Greenville, Tenn. She died 2-2-1949 at the home of her son, Roy Walker, Miami
Ok. Buried in Welch. She was survived by three brothers, Bob of Calif., Joe Payne
of Niangua, Mo. And Mirrman Payne, Okla. City. And a sister Mary Myers of
Webb City, Mo. Mr. & Mrs. Henry Edward Walker spent their honeymoon in 1890 at
the Frances M. Boyd brick home at Wyman Ark. Shortly afterwards, they took a trip
to LaGrande, Oregon to visit his parents and took along with them. Mr. and Mrs.
Jim McPheters, of Wash. Co. Ark. She was the former Bessie Stone, daughter of B.
F. "Tank" Stone. Their children:
1. R. Lawrence Walker, b. 3-17-1892 in Wash. Co. Ark He married May
Kennison. Their children: Joseph, Bernadine, Helen and Imogene
2. Thurman Walker, b. 12-6-1894 in Wash. Co. Ark. He drowned in Cowskin Creek, SW Missouri 8-22-1922, buried in SW Missouri. He married twice. 3
girls by first marriage. One now dead & Geneva and Ruby. By second marriage
there was one boy.
3. Roy T. Walker, b. 10-23-1896 in Wash. Co. Ark. He now operates a drug
story in Miami Ok. And lives in Miami. Roy has been married twice. By his first
marriage there are two sons, Ray Edward (or Roy Edward) and Thurman Jesse No
children by second marriage.
4. Allan Walker, b. 10-24-1907 at Welch, lives in North Miami, Ok.
5. Violet Walker, b. 2-7-1913 m. Kennety Roller. Lived for some time in
Ketchum, OK d. Feb 1955.
5. Francis Marion Walker, known as "Hanky" b. Wash. Co. Ark 3-13-1874 and
died 9-19-1876 at Springtown Ark, near the Ok border. They sent word to Uncle
Francis Marion Boyd who was living at Wyman, Ark and he went to the Oxford
Bend cemetery and dug the grave.
6. Sidney Walker, b. Wash. Co. Ark 10-8-1877, now living in Commerce, Ok.,
more or less retired from zinc and lead mining business. Was m. July 1906 at Miami,
Ok., to Miss Lena Rotter of Paola, Ks of German descent. She died at Commerce
Sept 19, 1948 buried at Miami. Sidney died 12-1-1956 buried at Miami, Ok. They
had 3 children:
1. Albert, b. 7-8-1907, lives in NYC. Never married
2. Chauncey, b. 1910 at Lincolnsville, now lives in Tulsa
3. Wilbert, b. 5-30-1914 at Commerce. Was married, but divorced while in the
army in the South Pacific. Lives in Tulsa.
7. Myrtle Walker, b. Sept 25,1880 in Wash. Co. Ark d. 9-13-1958. As a young girl,
she stayed at home with her parents and did not marry until 1928, May 4th, when
she married Leon Gault of Springfield, Mo., and they lived in Commerce, Ok No
Children. Photographs taken of her about the age of 18 show her to have been a
beautiful girl, and today she is a fine looking and gracious and charming woman. She
is buried in the Welch cemetery.
8. Margaret Walker, b. July 19,1883 in Wash. Co. Ark and died at Tahlequah Nov
22, 1902 while still single. She is buried in the "14 Mile Creek" cemetery where
Rosie Johnson, Mollie Walkers oldest daughter and Vinnie Walker, Tandy Walkers
oldest daughter by his first wife were also buried.
9. Alien Walker, b. in Washington state on Aug 18, 1885 and died March 1, 1920 in
Commerce, Ok., married Bertha Brown, had one daughter who died then another
daughter and a son.
10. Jesse Walker, b. March 16, 1888 at LaGrande, Oregon. Died in Tucson, AZ on
July 22, 1926 of TB, contracted while serving in WW I, brought back to Welch
for burial, never married.
This is the history of the Slyvanus J. Walker & Rebecca Margaret Boyd
Walker, furnished to me today by Drury Boyd, Joplin...March 20, 1965.
Parents and brothers and sisters of Sylvanus J. Walker
Tandy W. Walker was born April 28, 1815, in Alabama and died April 2, 1864 in
Washington County, Ark.and is buried in the Oxford Cemetery, Oxford Bend, and is
said to have a well preserved sandstone headstone.... He married Susanna
Booger, a German, who was born March 16, 1812, probably in Tennessee. She
died in 1889 in LaGrande Oregon while on a trip west with her son Sylvanus and
family. They were married April 28, 1834 and moved to Washington Co. Ark from
Shelby Co. MO about 1859. They had 6 children:
1. Arminta, b. 3-12-1835, d. 11-12-1888 no children
2. Adelab. 11-25-1837, d. 2-25-1863 Unmarried, buried Oxford Bend
3. Sylvanus, b. 8-4-1839, b. 11-18-1914, buried Welch, Ok
4. Abraham H. b. 11-30-1842, d. 12-27-1862 of typhoid, Wash. Co., no record
of marriage, buried Oxford Bend Cemetery.
5. Mary, b. 9-23-1844, d. 2-9-1862, no record of marriage
6. Henry Bascom, b. 9-10-1851, d. 7-24-1923. Married Miss Amanda Neal
who survived him. Had 3 children. One died in infancy, the other two, Charley, and
Mrs. Lizzie Walker Floyd were present at his death.
All of the 6 children were born in Shelby Co. except perhaps the first two, said to
have been born in Marion Co. Mr. (Shelby and Marion counties are the two counties
west of Hannibal, Mo.)
The above Tandy Walker had a brother Dick, who was a prominent fist-fighter, going
about on horseback to various matches. They were very popular and vicious affairs.
The betting on them was quite heavy. Men fought all day until one could fight no
more. They were forerunners of present day matches.
A Col. Tandy Walker was a governor of the Choctaw Nation at the beginning of
the Civil War. There were other Tandy Walkers but evidently it was a family name
among various Walker families in Virginia.
Sylvanus J. Walker and his sister Arminta married a brother and sister. Sylvanus
married Rebecca Margaret Boyd, March 5, 1861 Arminta Walker was the first
wife of Frances Marion Boyd, and they married in Wash. Co. Ark on Feb 1, 1866.
She was born in Marion Co. Mo. She died 11-12-1888 and buried at Son's Chapel
Sylvanus and Rebecca Margaret Boyd Walker lived in the Oxford Bend section
of Washington Co. Ark (east of Fayetteville) until late in 1883, when they moved
to Cheney, Washington. They were accompanied by Mollie, her husband Frank
Johnson and baby Margaret. Sid Walker, then a small boy, remembers that the trip
took 11 days and 11 nights by train. About the 4th day on the trip, the train stopped
for repairs, and some young smart alec on the train shot and killed a sheep-herding
dog nearby. The owner was infuriated at this, and with his assistant boarded the
train, and spent some time trying to locate the culprit, finally offering $100 in gold
for the information. Everyone sat as still as mice, looking down at the floor. Sid says
"Those were tough days, and a man with two guns strapped on himself would have
killed that guilty party as sure as you're a foot high!"
From Cheney Wash., the family moved to Oregon. Grandmother Walker, mother of
Sylvanus who was with them, died and was buried at LaGrande, Oregon in 1889.
Rebecca Margaret was unhappy in the west, wanting to return to Arkansas. About
1891 they moved to Weiser City, Idaho, then to Boise. In 1894, they returned to
Muldrow, I.T., a few miles west of Ft. Smith, Ark. At the time Judge David Parker
was in his heyday, presiding at Ft. Smith. In a year or two, they moved to
Hanson, then to Tahlequah. In 1900 they moved to Pueblo Colo., then back to
Craig, Co., and settled at Welch where they lived until 1914, when Sylvanus died in
Nov. Welch is considered the home town of the Walker family.
This is a copy of a letter written to Frances Boyd, Fayetteville, Ark., by his brother
William Boyd, dated Dec 1, 1902
Dear Brother: I will answer your letter in regard to surveying. There are a great many
here wanting their land surveyed but I can’t say how much work you could get. Some
are very anxious and wish you were here. There is no one here yet. I don't know, but
I think you could get a great deal of surveying to do. I saw Mr. Leach Yesterday. He
said he and Mr. Rogers wanted their land run out but some surveyors from Tahlequah
talked of coming up, but he didn't know how long it would be. He said if you were
here you could survey for them. Well, Mardy Walker is dead. Syl and Mard and Sid
and Myrt and Jess stayed here last night. They started home today to Welch I. T. No
life is expected for Tandy's wife, the last news. We are all well, except myself. Albert
and Oma are here. Been here 10 days. He has no health. Hope to see or hear from
you soon. Wm., Boyd.
This chapter on the Boyd family was transcribed by Richard C. Reed from hand written
notes from Drury T. Boyd to my mother in the mid 1960's.
Henry Bascom Walker Obituary
Brother of Sylvanus J.
Departed this life July 24, 1923, at his home in Kansas, Okla., surrounded by kindred, neighbors and friends. Henry Bascom Walker.He was born in Shelby
County Missouri, Sept 10th, 1851, the youngest of six children, all of whom preceded him to the mysteries of the Great Beyond. He was 71 years, 10 months and 14
days old at the time of his death. His parents moved to Washington County, Arkansas
when the deceased was a small boy. There he grew to manhood and on the 30th day
of September 1880, he was joined in holy matrimony with Miss Amanda Neal,
daughter of Thomas and his wife, Martha Neal. Three children were born of this
union, one of whom died in infancy, the other two, Charlie Walker, his son, and Mrs.
Lizzie Floyd, his only daughter, were present at their father's death. Mr. Walker
moved from Arkansas to the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, which is now
Delaware County, Okla., where he remained the balance of his life. He left his wife,
two children besides other relatives and a host of friends to mourn his loss. He had
an abiding faith in the Inspired Book and ever tried to conform to the teaching
therein set forth and was governed by them in his journey through life. Funeral
services were held in the park in Kansas, the Rev. C. O. McFarland, a Christian
minister officiating who delivered an appeal to the large congregation for them to live
the Christian life that when the Grim Messenger from over the river beckons, each
one would be ready for the call and at the judgment day receive the reward. At 4
o'clock p.m. July 25 while the feathered songsters of the grove sang their evening
praises to their creator, his tired body was gently laid to rest by neighbors and friends in
the cemetery at Kansas where he will rest in peace till the resurrection day, when the
reward will be given to him for the life he lived and there he will join the
innumerable throng gone on before. The distressed wife and heartbroken children
have the most sincere sympathies of the community and their condolence is tendered
sincerely. (Written by John Q. Hyde)
Rebecca Margaret Walker Obituary
Rebecca M. Boyd was born in Washington County, Arkansas Jan 23, 1843. Was
united in wedlock to Sylvanus Walker, Marcy 5, 1861. Died at the home of her son
Sidney Walker in Commerce, Oklahoma, Feb 17, 1926, at the age of 83 years and 25
days. For a number of years, she and her husband made their home in and near
Welch, coming to Welch in it's early history, until Mr. Walkers death about 12 years
ago. Of late years Mrs. Walker made her home with her children, passing the most of
her time at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mollie Johnson in Welch. To this union
ten children were born, six of whom are living, Robert, Mollie and Myrtle of Welch,
Sidney of Commerce, Edward of Hockerville and Jesse of Minnesota. Also a number
of grandchildren survive. Mrs. Walker allied herself with the Methodist Church as the
age of 18 years, and has been a consistent follower of the Christian faith for 65
years, her membership being in the Welch church since its establishment. Funeral
services were held Friday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mollie
Johnson, of Welch. Bro. G. W. Martin officiating in the presence of a large number
of friends who had known and loved her for her many good qualities, after which the
body was laid to rest in Welch cemetery in the old family burial lot.
Note: Aunt Mard, though making her home with her daughter Mollie, died at the
home of her son Sid, while on a short visit following a three day illness.
Floyd Franklin Johnson obituary
Mollie's son
Floyd Franklin Johnson was born Sept. 20,1883, at Springdale, Ark and departed
this life Tuesday Jan 4, 1949, at the Bradshaw hospital after a three day illness, at
the age of 65 years.
He came to Welch in his early manhood, where he united in marriage to Miss Eula
Inglis, Dec. 19, 1915. To this union four children were born. One son Raymond, lost
his life in the war, March 3, 1945. He was united with the Baptist Church Oct 11,
1944.
Floyd was one of the pioneer concrete and brick workers in Welch and had worked
Saturday, apparently in his usual health. After returning home he had a paralytic
stroke, from which he never regained consciousness. Surviving are his wife Eula, one
daughter, Mrs. Helen Teal of Welch, two sons, Leroy of the home and Lloyd
Johnson of Bartlesville. Also one sister Mrs. W. L. Thomas of Wichita, one
brother Charles Johnson of Columbus, Ks, two grandchildren and a host of relatives. Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist church, Welch Thursday afternoon, Jan 6. Rev Roy Durham, pastor of the church officiating. Burial was in
H. E. Walker Obituary
5-22-1944
Pitcher, Okla. May 22, 1944 Henry Edward Walker, 74 years Old, father of Roy
Walker, Pitcher Druggist, died at 11:20 O'clock Sunday morning at the son's home. He
had been a farmer near Welch 42 years until two months ago when he was
brought to the Walker home in Pitcher. He is survived by his widow, Josephine
Walker, two other sons, Alien Walker of Pitcher, and Lawrence Walker of Welch. A
daughter, Mrs. Violet Roller of Miami, two brothers, Sid Walker of Commerce, and
Robert Walker of Welch. A sister, Mrs. Myrtle Gault of Cherryvale, Kansas 16
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2
o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church at Welch. The Rev. A. P.
Johnson, pastor of the Pitcher Methodist church will conduct the rites. Burial will be
in the Welch cemetery. The Durnil Funeral Home is in charge.
Mrs. Josephine Walker Obituary
Mother of Roy
Mrs. Josephine Walker died Wed. Feb. 2, 1949, at the home of her son Roy, 217 B. St.
SW Miami, Okla. She was born March 17, 1875 in Greenville, Tenn. She is
survived by two other sons, Alien Walker of Pitcher, and Lawrence Walker of
Welch. A daughter, Mrs. Violet Roller of Miami. She was the wife of Henry Edward
Walker, deceased. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and belonged to
the Royal Neighbors lodge at Welch. The body lay in state in the home of her son
Roy, until the funeral hour. Final services were held at 2 PM Sunday at the
Methodist Church in Welch, with Rev. Virgil Hopkins of the Mound Valley
Baptist Mission officiating, assisted by Rev. J. E. Durham, pastor of the church at
Welch, and interment was in the Welch cemetery under the direction of the Thomas
Funeral Home of Pitcher.
Roy T. Walker Obituary
Miami, Okla. 2-26-1964 Roy T. Walker 67 Years old, 217 B. St., died at 6 o'clock
Tuesday night in the Methodist Hospital, in Memphis, Tenn. He had been in failing
health for a month. Born Oct 23, 1896 in Fayetteville, Ark. He owned and operated
the Walker Pharmacy in Miami. He moved to Welch when he was two years old and
to Hockerville, in 1916 when he opened a drug store there. He opened a drug store in
Pitcher in 1926 and opened the present store in Miami in 1950. During the years he
lived in Pitcher and Hockerville. He was active in real estate and the mining business.
He was also active in the state and local Democratic campaigns. He was a member of
the First Baptist Church. He is survived by his widow Mrs. Geneva Walker, two sons,
Eddie 808 West Central, and Lee Walker of River Banks, Calif., also 3 grandchildren.
Arrangements are in charge of Hutchins Funeral Home of Miami.
Jake B. Walker Obituary
Miami Okla. Jake B. Walker 73 years old, died at 12:25 o'clock this morning at the
Veterans Hospital, Muskogee, where he had been a patient since May (9-20-1963) A
retired Cities Service Gas Company employee and a veteran of World War I. He was a
member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Surviving are his
widow, Mrs. Mary Walker, two step-daughters, Mrs. Everett Soulsbury of Ridge
Crest Calif., and Mrs. Grant Helton of Miami, two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Mann of
Quapaw and Mrs. Ida Layton, Texas. His stepmother, Mrs. Mary E. Walker of
Miami, four half—sisters, Mrs. Neavene Andrews, Mrs. Laura Baldridge, and Mrs.
Thelma Dixon, all of Miami. Mrs. Nell Ryan of Tulsa, two half-brothers, Sam
Walker and Dan Walber, both of Miami, sever grandchildren and seven great
grandchildren. Services will be held at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the
Cooper Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Russel Martin will officiate. Burial will be in the G
A R cemetery. American Legion members will be pallbearers.
Here are some notes from a letter from Myrtle Ganlt, to Drury Boyd, written Nov 6, 1940 at
Chcrryvale, Kansas
Dear Cousin: Rec. your letter, also a letter in July. The reason I did not answer, I had toothache and
neuralgia for two months, and I did not feel like writing to anyone, I hope you will forgive me.
You wanted to know when my father was born, and when he died, and where buried. Father was
born August 4th, 1840, and died Nov 18th, 1914, and buried near Welch, Oklahoma. Father
farmed some, but he was a blacksmith by trade. Those days black smithing was a good trade, but
it is not so important now. But father just loved to work in a shop. He was also a good stone
mason and a carpenter. You asked if I could tell you anything about his father, Tandy Walker.
Not much. . Grandfather died long before I was born. Of course I have heard father talk about his
father. He made shoes and boots and father said his work was very good. In those days they did not
have factories like they have now, and he made shoes for all of his neighbors. And he was a fine
singer. They said he was as good as Jenny Lind. But this is just for your pleasure, not for your
history. I think I had a wonderful father and mother. 1 sure wish you could have met my mother. I
know you would have loved her and she was really a beautiful old lady. Everyone said so, and
everyone loved her. And father was a grand man also. Uncle Francis was mother's favorite brother.
She said he was always ready to go places with her, and do things the others were unable to do. I
am sorry I do not know more to help you with you history, but as T told you, the Boyds were
strangers to me. Wishing you the best of health and happiness, your cousin Myrtle Gault
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE: This was a nicely written letter, properly and neatly done. T would like to
have known this cousin. A Kodak picture, sent of her and her husband, Leon Gaull, and brother
Sid Walker, show three nice looking people. Sid looks like the father in "The Patty Duke Story"
and Sid is like Peter Ames (3rd) in "Secret Storm." Handsome men.. A picture of Sid's wife shows
a handsome woman.)
Notes from another letter to Drury from Myrtle Gault 6-30-1940.. "The Boyd family are almost
strangers to me, except Uncle William, T knew him pretty well. I have seen Aunt Mary also
Aunt Lavina, Uncle Albert and your father, but did not know them very well. T does not know
what the "D" in grandfather's name stands for. But I do know he married again after our grandmother died. I do not know if he had a brother named Mack, but I believe he had two brothers.
Mother never did see any of her father's people, and did not know any of their names. But I have
heard of her speaking about her father having two brothers in the west, California T think, but am not
sure. 1 have heard mother talk many times about her parents, also her brothers and sisters. But for
dates, I haven't any. My mother was born Jan 23, 1843, ,married March 4, 1861, died Feb 17,
1926.... Myrtle Gault.
A letter from Ida Walker to Drury. Welch, Ok. Nov 8, 1958. Dear D.T. Boyd: Loretta, our
daughter wrote to you and she said you hadn't heard Sid and Myrtle had passed away so she
asked me to write to tell you Myrtle died Sept 13, 1958. Sid died Dec 1, 1956. He was buried at
Miami cemetery. Myrtle was buried in Welch cemetery. I don't remember the dates of the rest of
the family. Myrtle had a record. It is at her home in Commerce. Lee, her husband is thinking of
going to Calif. T think if you could drive down to his place you could get the record of them all.
His name is Leon Gault. Bob is almost deaf. Can’t get around very good. I am sending this in the
envelope you sent to him to write to you some time ago. He never writes to anyone now, so this is
Ida his wife writing this letter. Bob is the only one of the Walker family living, if you come down,
come on over to see him.
(8) Albert Washington Boyd
Eighth child of William D. Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford Boyd was born in
Washington County, Arkansas August 4, 1845 and died at Henryetta Oklahoma
March 17, 1926, and is buried at Bixly Oklahoma. He married Sarah Susan Patty at
the home of her parents in Lockesburg, Little Rim County in southeast Arkansas, early
in 1869. Sarah Susan Patty (known to all the kin as Aunt Sue) was a school teacher at
the time of her marriage, and was born in Tennessee, December 4, 1848, and died late
in 1901 while living temporarily during the winter on the David Marshall farm 9 miles
southwest of Wagoner, Oklahoma. She died of pneumonia and was buried at
Wagoner, Oklahoma. Aunt Sue had 2 sisters but no brothers. Just how Albert
Washington Boyd (known to all the kin as Uncle Al) and Aunt Sue first met, or why
they were married so far from Washington County, is not known. No doubt Uncle Al
went down into that part of the state toward the end of his service in the Confederate
Army, and probably met her there then.
After their marriage Uncle Al and Aunt Sue returned to Washington County
where on March 18, 1869 Uncle Al bought 80 acres of land from his father William
D. Boyd for $200.00 cash. My father, Francis Marion Boyd and one Margaret
Denny witnessed the deed. Uncle Al's mother, Elizabeth Oxford Boyd signed the
deed with a simple cross "X" styled "Her Mark." The 80 acres were in Washington
County, and from the county map appears to have been about 1 1/2 miles as the
crow flies, due NE of the Habberton store, being the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Sec 23
Township 17N and Range 29 W in Prairie Township. The family lived there for 19
years and the first nine (or a total of 11) children were born there. There is evidence
that Uncle Al owned also, in 1872, 20 acres of land 1/2 mile south of the
foregoing 80 acres. This total of 100 acres were mortgaged in Feb 1872 for
$200.00 to William Mcllroy of Fayetteville at 25% interest! About 1888 Uncle Al
sold the home place and homesteaded a tract of flat ground within about 4 miles of
Spring Valley, Arkansas. The tenth child was born there. The eleventh child, a
daughter, LaOma Lunn Boyd, was born in Paris, Logan County Arkansas on
December 14, 1894 while the family was wintering (as usual) from the show
business (explained later), so that the older children could attend school.
Uncle Al served in the Confederate Army for the last 2 years of the Civil
War (but exact information is not known as to what companies, battalion or regiment) and for the last several years of his life drew a modest Confederate pension
from the state of Oklahoma. During his service in the Confederate Army he was
Neither wounded nor captured. Uncle Al and Aunt Sue had eleven children:
1. John Riley Boyd, born late in 1869, died in 1873 when about 4 years old. A
visitor at the Boyd place pointed a gun at the little boy to see him run, all in fun, of
course. In running he hit his knee on a doorstep, cutting his knee, and he died a few
days later of blood poisoning and lockjaw.
2. Dora Bell Boyd, born late in 1870 and died in 1898 at Kelleyville, Okla.,
and buried in Kelleyville, Okla. Her husband William Greathouse died in 1915;
buried at Locust Grove, Okla. This couple had 3 children, the first a girl, died
when about 20 months old from burns of some kind. Next a son Herman
Greathouse, last known address Locust Grove, Okla., still living so far as is
known. Next, a son Claude Burl Greathouse. After Dora's death in 1898, Wm.
Greathouse married again, to a sister of Ron Rice, this sister being a widow (with
one son at the time) named Fanny Rice Barnes.
3. William Owen Boyd, born in 1872 died single, in 1896, at Dardanelle,
Arkansas. He was taken back to Springdale for burial. He died of Typhoid fever.
4. Bennett Francis Boyd, born October 8, 1874; was living in March 1949
making his home with Herman Greathouse in Locust Grove, Okla. Bennett married at
age 30 to Miss Vinnie Bryant from whom he has been for many years separated, and
at last account she was living in California.
Their first child Fern, a daughter, died when 10 months old and is buried at
Pryor Okla. Next a son Clayton, born about 1905. Next a son, Haskell. He is
married and has 3 children
Son, born about 1934
Son, born about 1936
Daughter" " 1938
Bennett's next and last child was a son, Laramie, born about 1914. In
1949 all 3 sons of Bennett Boyd were living in California.
5. Hattie Joe Boyd, born 1877 died in 1898 at Gentry, Ark. Was taken back to
Springdale for burial. Apparently he died single.
6. Anie Maud Boyd, born Feb 14, 1881. She married Ross Rice, born St.
Joseph, Mo. on Oct 23, 1877. They were married Oct 12, 1897. Mrs. Rice died Feb
17, 1920. The family was living in Bixby at the time, but Anie Boyd Rice died in a
Tulsa hospital. Issue, 3 daughters:
Inez, b. 1899, died Sept 1930
Ruble b. 1901 married a Mr. Doyle, and they have a son born abt 1926
Grenolia, b. 1908, married a Mr. Ralph Morris. Both are connected in
some way with the teaching profession in Washington.
7. Dada Lou Boyd, b. June 6, 1883, married on Jan 22, 1901 at Wagoner, I. T.
(Indian Territory) to William Edgar Gibson, b. about 1880 in Platt Center Nebraska
and who came to the I.T. when about 9 years old. Issue:
(a) Seth Elbert Gibson, b. Feb 18, 1902 at Wagoner I.T. died at
Henryetta, Okla. Oct 6, 1918.
(b) Albert Earl Gibson, b. Feb 22, 1904 at Wagoner I.T. He was
married June 12, 1921 to Serena Fields. He died Feb 5, 1924 at
Henryetta.
c Corel Francis Gibson, b. Dec 25, 1905 at Sand Springs, I.T. This
baby boy lived only 9 days. Buried in Sand Springs, Okla.
(d) William Edgar Gibson, b. March 18-1907 at Caney, Ks. He married
in 1925 at Welika, Okla. to Jewell Fields.
(e) Fannie LaOma Gibson, b. Jun 23, 1909 at Bixby, Okla. She
married a John Hill in 1926 at Henryetta. Okla.
(f) John William Gibson, b. Dec 25, 1912 at Bartlesville, Okla. He
married in 1936 to a Miss Hazel Grubbs at McAlester, Ok.
(g) Zelda May Gibson, b. Feb 1, 1915 at Wagoner, Ok. She married in
1934 to Albert Lee Stephenson at Henryetta. Ok.
8. Bessie Daisy Boyd, b. in 1886, died in 1892 at Robinson, Arkansas while
the family was "on the road." She was buried in Springdale. It is recorded that she
died of being poisoned eating "wild greens"
9. Frank Thurman Boyd, b. in 1888, died in 1891. It is recorded that this
little 3 year old boy fell in a large kettle of hot water at hog killing time, and lived
only about 5 hours afterwards.
10. Cada Maggie Boyd, b. 1891, died 1892 when only a few months old.
11. LaOma Lynn Boyd, b. Dec 4 1894 in Logan County, Ark., she married
Lum Columbus Baysinger, now living in Bixby, Okla., lived for a number of years in
Chicago. Issue 3 boys. All 3 of who died immediately after birth.
About 1886 Dora married a singing teacher, William Greathouse, who
quickly discovered musical talent in the entire family. He taught them all to sing and
persuaded Uncle Al to buy an organ, and all the children then old enough learned
quickly to play and play well. Anie Maud and Hattie Joe were soon known as
"experts" on the violin; indeed could play as well as sing. Soon, of course, the
family had a string band, and started giving musical entertainment’s around the
country side, for charity, or as they expressed in those days "for free." They gave
their services to many churches and schoolhouse meetings, and for many kinds of
benefits. There was no let up, until the family decided the public was asking entirely
too much and too often. So they decided to start out as a professional organization. So,
around 1890 Uncle Al sold out his household goods and personal property, but not his
land, and started on the road. They gave musical entertainment in opera houses and
public halls, and did fine financially. At first the family traveled by band hack later
on the train, then back to the band hack. Aunt Sue never liked the idea being out and
going on the road indefinitely, and did all she could to get the family back to their
Washington County home. Immediately after her death in 1901 the show business
broke up, and it appears Uncle Al spend the next 25 years living with one or another of
his children, with no particular home of his own.
During the eleven years the family was "on the road" they covered most of
Arkansas, Kansas, and I.T which later became Oklahoma. The show was known as
"The Boyd Musical Entertainment." Usually a short skit or one act play was
presented in addition to the music. From 1898 to 1901 when the show broke up due
to the death of Aunt Sue, the youngest child, known professionally as "The Great
Oma" was a star performer in acrobatics. This was remarkable considering her age.
She was billed at the time as "The Worlds Best."
(born 1894) She could walk on hands, or elbows, could double back completely,
head on the floor, etc, etc. During the last two years of show business, it was usually
necessary to fill in with other musicians, and to team up with other vaudeville acts.
The show was on the road about 9 months and the children in school about 3
months in the winter.
Something of a historical note may be of interest here, concerning development of oil and gas in the mid continent area. The following letter is noted:
Caney, Kansas
March 23, 1905
Dear Brother (F. M. Boyd, Fayetteville, Ark)
I thought I would write you a few lines. This leaves us all well. I live in Caney,
Kansas. My children are all here with me. They are getting along all right.
Well, Francis, I will give you a little detail about the gas well that is on fire
here. Our town is 7 miles from the well, and it roars so we can hardly sleep. We all
went out Sunday. I could not go closed then 100 yards, but the others went a little
closer. The blaze is about 300 feet high. When one gets within 100 yard of it you
cant hear anyone talk. It is a sight. It would pay you to come and see it. They are
coming from all over the United States to see it. They can’t put it out, or at least they
haven't yet been able to. It caught by lightning before they got it under control. It
caught fire about 1/2 mile up. I guess you have got it in the papers.
Well France, tell Annie and the children hello. T would like to hear from
you. Will close, asking you to write when you can
Albert W. Boyd
Dick Reed NOTE: I have on
hand a nice photo of Albert
Washington Boyd taken about
1900.
(9) William A. Boyd
William A. Boyd, ninth child of William D. Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford
Boyd was born in Washington County, Ark on March 3, 1850 and died in hospital in
Siloam Springs, Ark Jan 7, 1928 of cancer. The US Census of Jan 1870 shows
William A. Boyd and his younger sister Clemantine to be living with their parents in
Clear Creek Township, P.O. address Fayetteville, Ark. This 1870 census shows none
of the other children "at home." His father is listed as 64 years old and his mother
as 59: he himself is listed as 19 and Clemantine as 17. It is not known what the
middle initial 'A' stands for, although it appears many times in family letters and
records.
William A. Boyd was married first probably around 1873 to Safrona Gregg,
reported to be a niece of Judge Lafayette Gregg of Wash. Co, to which union only
one daughter, Laura, was born, probably around the year 1876. She died about
1906 at Wagoner, Indian Territory. Dates of birth and death of Safrona Gregg are
not definitely known, but she died about 1878. Date of marriage (nor place) are not
definitely known. Laura married first, David Marshall, a full blood Creek Indian who
owned a farm a few miles SW of Wagoner I.T. on the Verdigris River. To this
union, twin girls were born, Mildred and Mildred, about 1895.
Mildred died when only a few weeks old, Hildred, so far as is known is still
living; at any rate she was definitely living in 1949, having married a Mr. Anderson,
address 504 N. Aurora St. Ithaca, N.Y. Mildred Marshall Anderson had at least
one daughter, Mrs. George M. Hewitt, in New Jersey when last heard from. Laura
and David Marshall were divorced, and about 1900 she married a second time to
one James Childress, also a Creek Indian, but I'm not sure if a full blood. Jim
Childress was, at the time, a widower having one daughter, Mamie, who was born in
1898. To this second marriage of Laura no children were born. She died about 1906
and buried at Wagoner, Okla.
William A. Boyd was married a second time in 1880 to Alice Hardin, a native
of Texas. At the time of marriage, William was 30 and Alice 15. William A. Boyd
died Jan 7, 1928 and is buried in a graveyard at the west edge of Kansas, Ok. Near
which town he lived for so many years. He outlived all his brothers and sisters, but
by no means did he live the longest. He was about 78 when he died, but several of
his brothers and sisters lived to be older. Alice Hardin was b. 12-26-65 and died Jan
17, 1932 of heart trouble at Tahlequah, Okla., at the age of 66.
She, too, was taken to Kansas, Oklahoma for burial.
It is not known definitely where William and Alice Boyd lived. The first
year or two of their married life, but in 1883 William Boyd homesteaded 40 acres of
land near the mouth of War Eagle Creek in Washington County, Ark being the SE
of the NW of Sec 30 - Twp 18 Range 28. For a while he operated a sawmill there.
William A. Boyd and Alice Hardin Boyd had 8 children:
1. John D. Boyd, b. 1881 in Wash Co Ark and died when 4 years old,
during a typhoid epidemic.
2. Francis Lafayette Boyd, b. March 17, 1884 in Wash Co, Ark and
died in a Siloam Springs, Ark hospital on Mar 7, 1945 and was taken back and
buried in Kansas, Okla. cemetery. When I visited this graveyard in March 1949 the
grave was pointed out to me, but it had no stone. F. L. Boyd was married twice,
first to Ella Hill about 1903. Issue:
1. Jay, b. Dec 5, 1908, married twice, divorced twice
2. Luther, b. Apr 1910, married twice, divorced twice
3. Henry, b. Oct 16, 1913, married first Ruby Bell, divorced, no
children, married second time, divorced, no children, married third time, no children.
Was living in 1949 at Lindsey Calif.
Ella Hill died about 1915, and is buried at Jay, Okla. F.L. Boyd married a second
time, about June 1, 1917 to Miss Georgia Ortner, Issue:
1. Arthur, b. 9-16-18 married Wynona Rayon in 1946
2. Alice, b. 4-17-20, married Jess Lawrence in 1937
3. Rutha Mae, b. 9-3-25, married Boh Clanton in 1943
4. Dorothy, b, 8-2-28, married Keith McFarland in 1946
Georgia Ortner Boyd, after F. L. Boyd's death, moved to California, where she
later married again.
3. Ross Boyd, b. Wash. Co. Ark., on Apr 5, 1888. Married about 1913
to Ida Irene Hurst. He died March 13, 1913 at Santa Ana, Ca., is buried there.
Issue:
1. Ross Jr., b. Jay, Ok., Sep 1917, now living in Portersville, Ca.
2. Mary, b. LaJunta, Co., April 1919, married King Guion
4. Willie Elsie, b. Wash. Co. Ark., June 5 1891 died Tulsa, Ok. Friday,
May 6, 1955, buried at Tahlequah, Ok., Sunday May 8, 1955. She married Charles
Bowles, a native of Arkansas, at Jay, Okla., May 28, 1914 Mr. Bowles was b. Dec
1879. He died March 13, 1944 and buried at Tahlequah. Issue:
1. Delia, b. 2-25-15 at Jay. Married Joe Goss
2. Herman, b. 4-24-17 at Jay. Badly wounded during WWII,
Living in Tulsa.
3. Sherman Lee, b. 9-30-20 in Jay. Air Force in WWII, living in
Ft. Worth.
4. Elvira, b. 3-28-22 at Jay. Married a Mr. Hix living in Tulsa
5. Nettie, b. 3-27-24 at Jay. Was single in May 55, living Tulsa
6. Elsie Mae, b. 8-26-26 at Jay. Same as above
7. Josie Ellen, b. 2-16-29 at Jay. Married Leon Butts
8. Bonnie, b. 6-16-31 at Tahlequah, married Lloyd Cline
9. William Harold, b. 1 -20-34 at Tahlequah, was living in Tulsa in
May 1955.
About 1893 William A. Boyd and Alice Hardin Boyd moved to the Indian
Territory and took up a claim in what is now Delaware County about 25 miles west of
Siloam Springs. They lived near Leach and Kansas Ok (about 5 miles east of
Leach) until about 1908 when the family moved to Jay, the county seat.
5. Leah Nora Boyd, b. 4-22-95 near Kansas, Ok, married W.W.
Miller, attorney at Jay, April 19, 1916. Issue:
1. Wesley, b. Jay, Ok 3-28-1918 married about 1946 to Thelma
Jean Crane, b. Sept 1927 and who died Nov 16, 1954 at their home in Tahlequah.
The couple had 2 children Theresa Lynn b. 11-23-52 and a son Mark Wesley
Miller, b. 11-16-54. Thelma Jean Crane died more or less recently and Wesley is
reported to have married again.
6. Hazel Boyd, b. near Kansas, Ok. Married Ray Pentecost, b, Aug
21,1895 at Sheldon, Mo. They were married June 1, 1921 at Jay. Issue:
1. Ferrell Radine, b. 12-29-22 at Jay, Ok. Married E. H.
Ashby on June 27, 1943 at Phoenix, AZ. Issue: one son, William
2. Velma Maxine, b. 9-3-24 at Jay
3. Hazel Annette, b. 6-29-32 at Tahlequah
4. Hendrick Boyd Pentecost, b. 9-18-35 at Jay, Ok.
7. Hattie Mae, b. 12-5-1901 near Kansas, Ok. Married Claude Keith in
Dec 1921 at Jay, Ok. Issue:
1. Randal C. Keith, b. 12-8-22, died 12-27-22 and buried at
Kansas, Ok. Lived only about three weeks.
2. Audrey Lee Keith, b. 3-27-24 at Gentry, Ark.
3. Ricel Lavine Keith, b. Apr 1927 at Gentry, Ark (see newspaper obituary at end of report)
4. Isabel Keith, b. 1929 at Gentry, Ark
5. William, b. March 1934 at Jay, Ok.
8. Alton Boyd, b. 9-13-04 near Kansas, Ok.
9. Dalton Adolphus Boyd, b. May 28, 1907 near Kansas, Ok., died 31
Oct 1929 at Ok City, Ok., where he had been taken for hospitalization after a
printing shop accident in Wevoka, Ok., at the time of his death he had been married
for less then two months to Miss Pearl Chapman of Eufauia, Ok, who later married
again. Dalton Adolphus Boyd was known all his days as "Bill, Junior" or "Little
Bill" and few people indeed knew his real name. Even his tombstone in the Kansas,
Ok. Graveyard lists him as Bill Boyd, Jr. He was a real "boy orator," and
champion debater in school. He was certainly a fine looking boy - fine features,
quiet nature, dignified, and well liked by all. He had a rather dark complexion. I last
saw him in July 1929.
A family group picture taken in 1902 shows William A. Boyd - and a very
good likeness. The picture also shows Laura Boyd and her daughter Hildred also.
Hildred appears from the picture to have been about 7 or 8 years old.
For a number of years Mr. & Mrs. Wm. A. Boyd operated a hotel in Jay, Ok
where I visited them in 1916 and 1917, and for a while their daughter Leah was
postmaster there. Mr. Boyd was living in Jay in the days of the County Seat fight
in Delaware County and took an active part in this famous affair.
Wm. A. Boyd was rather short legged, and stocky - not as tall as my father,
and his other brother Albert.
D. T. B.
(Olivia B. Reed NOTE) I knew "Little Bill" - a dearer sweeter finer and more lovable
little boy never lived. He must have been born about 1906. Alton - older -was the
exact opposite. Always in trouble and "egged on" by Uncle Will. He was acquainted
with jail life in later years. Now living in a rest home in Tahlequah near Lee (3-31-81)
Divorced long ago.
key to group picture
1
4
2
5
8
3
6
9
7
10
1 Ross; 2 Francis; 3 Laura; 4 Hildred;
5 Uncle Bill; 6 Aunt Alice; 7 Willie;
8 Leah; 9 Hazel; 10 Hattie May (babe in arms)
Alton and little Bill Boyd Jr., not yet born.
Death of Boyd brings Sorrow to N E College Former Debate
Student Dies Thursday at Okla. City Hospital
Was Boy Orator. Funeral Service Held
Saturday Morning at Methodist Church Here.
Sorrow settled over the student body of Northeastern last Thursday when word
was received that Bill Boyd, veteran college debater had died in an Oklahoma City
hospital following an operation for appendicitis. Boyd, who for the past five years,
has been active in inter-college debating began representing the college when only a
junior in high school, and established an enviable record on the campus as the "boy
orator." When the coach wanted to win a debate, Boyd was named a member of the
team, and many of the best colleges of Oklahoma and Arkansas have bowed to his
oratory and wit.
Boyd has been ill for the past several weeks, and though his chances for recovery
were slight from the first, he fought bravely to the end. On Tuesday the attending
physicians thought a slight improvement could be noticed, but early Wednesday his
condition grew worse and the end came Thursday. Funeral services were held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. from the Methodist church in Tahlequah, and burial took place at
the cemetery at Kansas, Oklahoma, at 1 p.m.
Boyd was married eight weeks ago to Miss Pearl Chapman of Eufaula, who at present
is enrolled at Northeastern, leaving two weeks ago to go to her husbands bedside.
Besides his wife and mother, Bill leaves three brothers and four sisters. In addition
to Bill's debating activities, he has held positions on the college newspaper staff, and
was employed at the time of his death with the Wewoka Capitol Democrat,
Wewoka, Oklahoma. During his school work here, Bill had worked with the local
county papers. Bill had many friends on the campus and in town. He was a member
of Sigma Tau Gamma, social fraternity and received the life certificate last summer.
The debate contests which Bill took part in last summer were Oklahoma University,
Oklahoma A and M College, Hendricks College, Conway, Arkansas, and
Southeastern State Teachers College, Durant, Oklahoma.
In Memorium
"Heaven gives it's favorites early death' and in that quotation we find some comfort
in the passing of Bill Boyd, young college student of unusual ability who has
contributed much to the glory of the college in intercollegiate debates.
Boyd was a valiant fighter - he went into the contest to give his best, and his best was
THE best...He had planned to enter life just that way but Death had other plans and he
could not heed the messages of his colleagues to "win the biggest contest ever," for
life knocks at the door no one can wait, and when Death makes his arrest we have to
go....We will not try to fathom the mysteries of Life or Death but we do know that
what Life is missing by Bill's departure, Death is gaining.....
(the above copied from the "Northeastern" Nov. 4, 1929, Official Organ of Northeastern State Teachers College, Established 1846 at the National Cherokee Seminary,
Tahlequah.)
Ricel Lavine Keith
Obituary
Services for Ricel Lavine Keith 51, who died Sunday, were held at 2 p.m.
Tuesday in Reed-Culver Funeral Chapel with Rev. Jim Williams officiating
Burial was in Tahlequah City Cemetery under direction of Reed-Culver Funeral
Home.
Pallbearers included Gilbert Pinkerton, C. B. Pinkerton, Nathan Young, H.T.
Steely, Burl White and John Russell,
Honorary pallbearers were: Leonard Rainwater, W. C. Evans, Gene Howard, J.
W. Bynum, Bill Ed Rogers, Dr. Bob Collins, Jessie Philpott, Bill Hayworth and
Jessie Leeds.
Born May 8, 1926 at Colcord, he was a graduate of the Tahlequah public
schools and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northeastern
Oklahoma State University.
A teacher, principal and superintendent of public schools, his last position
was area educational director at Kenai, Alaska.
He was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Elks Lodge, National School Administrations Association and was active in politics.
He was a veteran of WW II and served in the Pacific Theater.
Survivors include his wife, Louvina, a daughter, Becky Raymond, a son Ricel
L. Keith Jr.,; His father and mother Claude and Hattie Mae Keith of Tahlequah; two
sisters Jimmie McKaron and Isabel Baker, both of Tahlequah; a brother, Rev. Bill
Keith of Shreveport, La,, and one grandson.
(10) Clemantine Boyd
Clemantine Boyd, tenth and last child of William D. Boyd and Elizabeth Oxford
Boyd was born at the home place in the Oxford Bend section of Wash. Co. Ark.
Nov 23, 1852. She died Sept 19, 1876 in Oxford Bend, and buried in the Oxford
graveyard in Oxford Bend. It is believed her grave is not definitely marked. She
married one George Reynolds about 1869 or 1870. George Reynolds was a native of
McMinn Co. Tenn., born probably in the late 1840's. When about 20 he left his
home in Term., and went first to Illinois, thence on to Wash. Co. Ark., where he
met and married Clemantine Boyd. It appears he was a builder, a sort of contractor,
or construction man, and probably most of his work was on the construction of
railroads, railroad bridges and tunnels. On such work he would be gone from his
Washington County home for long periods. He had a peculiarity of usually whistling
at a loud pitch, especially when traveling usually horseback with large saddle bags.
Everyone knew when George Reynolds was again arriving home after being gone
a while. They could hear him whistling while yet a mile away.
George and Clemantine had 2 children, a son William Henry Reynolds, born in
Wash. Co. Aug 14, 1873 and a daughter Lou Reynolds born Sept 1, 1875. The
family were then living on War Eagle, close to Uncle Bill Boyd's place. Clemantine
Boyd died Sept 19, 1876 and is buried in Oxford graveyard. George Reynolds did the
best he could with his little family, until late in 1878 or early 1879 when he married a
second time, this time to Mattie Johnson Brandon, Aunt Lavina's daughter and a niece
of his first wife. Mattie herself then being a widow with one baby daughter, Hattie.
This marriage of George Reynolds and Mattie Brandon, a second marriage for each
was probably in January 1879, and on Oct 22, 1879 Frank Reynolds was born. Mattie
died about 5 weeks later on Nov 25, 1879 and thus George Reynolds was left a
widower a second time. With Aunt Lavina's help and the help of Grandpa Boyd he
did the best he could with his little family until about 1884 when he left
Washington County, going first to Springfield, Mo., working in construction and
thence to Oklahoma and Texas. The Frisco RR tunnel between Fayetteville and
Van Buren, Ark., shows the date of 1881, and it is known that George Reynolds
was one of the foreman on that construction job.
When George Reynolds left Wash. Co. he took with him William Henry and
Lou, and left Frank Reynolds and Hattie Brandon with Aunt Lavina to rear.
George Reynolds was living in Marietta, Ok when he died on ???, and is buried
In the Marietta graveyard.
William Henry Reynolds was married Aug 16, 1889 in Dougherty, Okla., to
Miss Ella Lee Petitfils. It is believed they have issue: 5 boys and 3 girls.
Lou Reynolds married Edgar Kerr either in Shreveport La or Bonham, TX.
Date of marriage is not known. Probably Edgar Kerr was quite "well off' and in
1895 Lou and Edgar Kerr were known to be living in Fannin County, Texas in a
large nice home with servants and elegant surroundings - large herds of cattle,
white fences, etc. They are reported to have had 2 boys and 4 girls. Lou is believed
to have died in the spring of 1944 and Edgar Kerr in 1939. They were living in
retirement in Ft. Worth, Texas and are both buried in Ft. Worth.
William Henry Reynolds and wife were both living in March 1951 in
Longview, Texas. I was driving through Longview in Sept 1957, and tried to call on
him, but no one was at home. I could not wait around. I was not sure he was even
still alive.
Clemantine was as unusual in her way as George Reynolds was in his way.
She was serious, studious, deeply religious, quite a student of the Bible, and made
quite a study of "death" and "life after death." You can well imagine how some
people thought her strange, but she did indeed have strange powers. She could
predict things, and find lost articles. She was also what may be called nowadays
extremely "psychic." She was always hearing voices and seeing visions. These
known facts therefore make the following actual incidents all the more amazing, or
perhaps on the other hand really explain them!
Almost 2 months AFTER Clemantine's death, George Reynolds left his fatherin-law's place on War Eagle, walked down the road for a distance crossed War Eagle
creek and went on over and spend the day at the home of old Uncle Frank Barr and
Aunt Mary Barr. Late in the afternoon he started back. When he got to War Eagle
Creek, (this was the location also, where the family did their washing) he sat down
on the bank to take his shoes and socks off to wade the creek, he noticed a woman
walk up beside him, sit down near him, but a few feet away, and a little to the rear,
and starting to take off her shoes and stockings. In a moment George looked
around and there sat Clemantine! He was too dumbfounded and outright scared to
say a word, completely unnerved, but went on ahead, waded the creek, she crossed
also; they both sat down on the opposite bank, and both put
Dress which was "supposed" to be packed away in the bottom of an
old trunk in the George Reynolds bedroom. But for several months
all 4 of them were too scared to look in the old trunk to see if it was
gone. Finally her mother Elizabeth Oxford Boyd overcame all fear,
and boldly unpacked the trunk, the dress was still there, faded, folded
as the dead woman had left it. One story had it that little Henry was
sick, instead of Grandpa Boyd, when Clemantine "appeared."
So far as is known Clemantine never again appeared in the flesh,
to the family.
Enclosed is the only known picture of Clemantine Boyd
Reynolds. Please return it. She was inclined to be smaller than the
average woman in height. No photograph is known to exist of George
Reynolds.
Verily, Verily, truth is stranger than fiction! I think your dad
knew of the above story - Aunt Mary Barr often told it - as did Aunt
Lavina. Possibly Clemantine was 200, 300, maybe 500 years ahead of
her time, and us other poor mortals are the weaklings. Of all the kin,
Clemantine most showed the Indian blood, according to Aunt Lavina.
As ever
Your cousin Drury Boyd
5-12-1964
Added from Drury: I got the same story almost word for word, from
I.B. Henson, when I went to see him in Stephensville, Texas in Sept
1951. He told me that Clemantine usually had the nickname of "Tine,"
the last syllable in her name.
This chapter of the Boyd family was entered onto a computer disc
May 10, 2002 by Richard C. Reed from notes to my mother from
Drury T. Boyd in the 1960's. He spent close to 25 years, traveling,
writing and visiting, to gather this Boyd family information.