Ebenezer Boynton, of Spencer township, Kent county, Mich., is a veteran of the Civil war and a well known citizen and prosperous agriculturist, having been a resident of this county for over a quarter of a century.  A native of Schuyler county, N. Y., he was born December 12, 1842, and was the third in a family of seven children born to E. L. and Amanda M. (Miller) Boynton. Of this family there are five survivors, viz: Charles, who is a stock dealer at Elmira, N. Y.; Ebenezer; Alice, the wife of Irvin Stevens, a carpenter of Lake City, Mich.; Roy, a lumber dealer at the same place, and Ida, wife of Lacy Overpeck, a resident of Schuyler county, N. Y., where he was a school teacher and at present a music instructor.

E. L. Boynton, a native of Chenango county, N. Y.., was reared to agricultural pursuits, but later became a hotel proprietor. He passed his youthful days in New York state and was a man of natural ability, but his education was largely self-acquired. In 1862 he removed to Millerton, Pa., and there resided until his death. In politics he was a democrat and strong adherent to his party principles.
The mother was a native also of Schuyler county, N. Y., and died when Mr. Boynton, of this sketch, was a lad of seventeen years. During the next three years, Ebenezer remained at home, his time and wages going to the family needs. He was one of the brave New York lads who presented themselves at the call and peril of their country. Offering his services and life, he enlisted in company B., One Hundred and Sixty-first New York volunteer infantry, at Watkins, N. Y., August 14, 1862, under Capt. Brown and Col. Harroway. The regiment was assigned to the army of the gulf, under command of Gen. B. F. Butler. Mr. Boynton joined his regiment at Baton Rouge, La., as soon as he was able after an attack of fever. The first battle was Stone Plains, La., Mr. Boynton gives the following description of the battle: "The siege of the battle lasted some forty-three days, including the action at Port Hudson. Here we first met Rebels eager for engagement, and underwent a rain of shot and shell that was terrible, prostrating hundreds of the poor soldiers, and mutilating their limbs and bodies. At the siege of Port Hudson, we were not able to change clothes once in the entire forty-three days, and had no shelter from the torrid sun and heavy rain. Next action was Cox’s Plantation, La., July 13, 1863, which lasted from morn until dark, the regiment sustaining a heavy loss, Commander Dudley, whose brigade took a prominent part in the action, this spoke to his men: ‘Boys, we have had a had time at Port Hudson; now we have come down here to reconnoiter and will have a fine time living on the fat of the land.’ But as was able to be seen from historical accounts, the commander’s prophecy did not turn out true. At this battle, Mr. Boynton, though he participated, was not in a fit condition for action of a soldier, having received a sunstroke at Port Hudson, while assisting on a battery.

At Cox’s Plantation they bivouacked; stacked arms, and went on a foraging expedition; upon returning the road was full of provisions, presenting the aspect of a Broadway market, as Mr. Boynton says, but when they were preparing to enjoy an excellent meal the Rebels made such a sudden charge that they were compelled to flee, leaving everything, even clothing, behind in the enemy’s hands. The gunboats, soon aware of the attack, began firing on the Confederates, allowing the Union soldiers to retreat, and thereby be safe from capture. After this attack they were forced to live on green corn for almost a week, until they procured more rations. Many other anecdotes

Page 558

and stories of Mr. Boynton’s army career might be related, but, requiring a larger volume than this, the remaining battles must be spoken of in brief. Mr. Boynton took part in the battle of Carion Crow Bayou, La., and Sabine Cross Roads. At the last named battle he received a severe wound in the right shoulder from a rifle ball, causing his confinement ten weeks in the hospital. He was furloughed home at New Orleans, La., for forty days, and, returned to his regiment July 4, 1864, engaged in the two weeks siege of Mobile and aided in the assault of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. His regiment was finally ordered to the Dry Tortugas Islands, and there was mustered out of service, September 20, 1865.

Mr. Boynton has been twice married; first at Watkins, March 9, 1862, to Miss Emily Griswold, sister of the register of deeds of Kent county, Hon. Scott Griswold. Five children have blessed this union, three of whom are living, viz: Lila, wife of John Call, a resident of Lake City, Mich.; Roy, who was educated in the city schools and is at present on a trip to California, and Carrie, the youngest, a student in the class of 1901, in the high school of Lake City.

Mrs. Boynton was born in Schuyler county, N. Y., November 17, 1846, and died in Spencer township, Kent county, Mich., March 9, 1891. Mr. Boynton took for his second helpmate Miss Kate Young, to whom he was married on September 16, 1891. She is a native of Kent county, born in Cannon township November 2, 1863, and a daughter of John and Dorothy (Casner) Young. Her parents came to Cannon township at an early date. Her father, John Young, was a native of New York and a carpenter by trade, and died at the age of sixty-three. Her mother was born in Canada, and was fifty-nine years of age when called away by death. Mrs. Boynton has three brothers and two sisters yet living who are residents of Kent county. She is an active lady, possesses strong mental powers and proven herself a loving and helpful wife.

It was in 1873 when Mr. Boynton purchased twenty acres of land in Spencer township, entirely unimproved, and the entire country in this vicinity was a perfect wilderness. His wife’s father, J. W. Griswold, then operated a mill here. In January, 1874, Mr. Boynton went into general merchandising at Griswold and continued for twenty-four years, and did an extensive and profitable business, paying out thousands of dollars. His farm of seventy acres, though not large, is valuable and well improved.

Politically Mr. Boynton is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as township treasurer and director of the public schools. In his social relations he is a member of the L. C. Hart post, No. 247, G. A. R., at Harvard, and has been honored as its commander. He is also a member of the Cedar Spring lodge, No. 213, F. & A. M. Mr. Boynton has likewise been delegate from his township to county and other conventions. Mrs. Boynton is a member of St. Margaret hive, No. 462, L. O. T. M., at Harvard. Mr. Boynton enjoys the sports afforded in the woods of Michigan, and frequently takes trips into the north. He has several handsome trophies of the chase, consisting of antlers.