|
|
|
 |
Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 212 |
|
MARION B. BOYD
|
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled; who fly from this occupation to that; who do not know where they stand on political questions: who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting their schools, church and property. The backbone of this country is made up of families which have made their own homes; who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside; who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it; who attend to their own business and are too busy to attend to that of others; who work steadily on from day to day, taking the sunshine with the storm, and who rear fine families to honest names and comfortable homes. Such people are always welcome in any community. Among them is the family represented by the subject of this sketch. Marion B. Boyd, of section 20, Selma township, is a native of Michigan, born in Alpine, Kent county, August 20, 1859. His parents were George and Amy (Short) Boyd, who were among the first settlers of Selma township, where they resided until their deaths, which occurred some years ago. Both were about sixty years of age at the time of their demise, though she survived him a few years. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. In March, 1871, the family moved from Kent to Wexford county, where the subject of this review was about twelve years old. He attended school in Kent county and later in Wexford county and improved his opportunities so well that he is possessed of a very fair common-school education. With the exception of two years spent in the woods, in the upper peninsula of Michigan, logging and lumbering, his entire life since 1871 has been spent in Selma township. Farming has been the occupation of his life, varied occasionally, when there was little to be done on the farm, by working in the lumber camps. With what he was able to save from the rumuneration he received for his industry on the farm and in the woods, he purchased eighty acres of land, built a home thereon and there are now about fifty acres of the tract cleared and under cultivation. On the 20th day of April, 1879, in Selma township, Marion B. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Melvina Martin, a native of New Jersey, born in Newark, Essex county, April 17, 1863. Soon after their marriage they took up their abode on the farm owned by the subject and there they have since resided, living in happiness, contentment and comfort. They are the parents of three interesting and intelligent children, viz: Fred, Lewis and Georgiana. Two of the children of this marriage died in infancy. Although a man of good mental power and well informed, Mr. Boyd interests himself very little in politics. His well-known prudence is probably responsible for his lack of interest in that particular line. While a few men may have accumulated wealth in politics there are tens of thousands who have impoverished themselves in their mad race after political honors. The lessons taught by the experience of such persons have not been lost on Mr. Boyd. Prudently observing and profiting by his observation, he has chosen to be as passive in politics as good citizenship will permit. Still he has not debarred himself entirely from political honors. He has served as deputy sheriff a number of terms, was constable a length of time and served the people of his township faithfully and well in the capacity of highway commissioner. While in no sense a politician, it is a very easy matter to interest him in anything wherein is involved the welfare of the township in which he lives. He is a man of domestic tastes, regular habits and genial manners. He has every element which is considered necessary to make a man popular, but he has no desire to make use of it by seeking political preferment. The only fraternal order to which he belongs is Pleasant Lake Grange. |