Alexander Boyd, who is now living a retired life in Princeton, has been a resident of Bureau county for sixty-six years, and with the exception of his brother, Nathaniel Boyd, of Sheffield, Bureau county, is probably the oldest living settler in the county. The great changes which have taken place in that sixty-six years cannot be realized even by those most active. In no thousand years in the previous history of the world have so many events transpired of such importance to mankind as in the years from 1830 to 1896. All modes of conveyance have been changed, and the telegraph, telephone, phonograph, electric light, steam threshers, steam printing, and a thousand and one other important articles have been invented and come into general use, thus revolutionizing thought and action. Alexander Boyd was born in New York city July 3, 1817, and when but three years of age came with his parents, Charles S. and Eliza (Dixon) Boyd, to Illinois, the family locating at Springfield, then a very small village. Charles S. Boyd was a merchant tailor in New York city and proposed following that occupation in this new country. When he arrived at Springfield he found but two cabins in the place, and he at once erected the third. He resided at Springfield ten years, working at his trade whenever he could find anything to do, and often took his pay in cattle during the summer and early fall months, and then drive them to Galena, where he would dispose of them to the miners after which he would work in the mines until spring when he would return to his home. John Dixon, the brother-in-law of Charles S. Boyd, came to Bureau county in 1827, locating in the south part in what is now Arispee Township. Mr. Boyd, in going to and from Galena, would stop at his place and taking a fancy to it, purchased the claim, and the locality took the name of Boyd's Grove. To this place he removed in 1830, and for ten years was there engaged in farming. Mr. Dixon, on selling out, removed to what is now Lee county, and established the ferry across Rock river, and finally laid out a portion of his place, the town taking the name of Dixon, now the county seat of Lee county. When Charles S. Boyd removed to his new place there was not another house within twelve miles. It was that distance to the nearest house on the north, and eighteen miles to the nearest house on the south. His home was in the stage route from Springfield to Galena, which passed through Peoria, then known as Fort Clark. Here the stage stopped for refreshments, and many travelers were entertained by Mr. Boyd as long as he remained. At his home stopped many who were looking up claims, and he assisted many in the selection of their future homes. Two years after his removal from Springfield, the Black Hawk war broke out and the family were sent to Fort Clark. Around his home at this time were camped a large number of Indians, who annoyed the family greatly, and as many were getting disaffected it was thought that Mrs. Boyd and the younger members of the household should seek a place of safety. The Black Hawk war ended, Bureau county attracted many settlers from the east, and the village of Princeton began taking on airs. It was made the county seat and to that place Mr. Boyd removed with his family in 1840. For many years he engaged in the hotel business and invested quite largely in Princeton real estate, owning at one time a large part of the north end, together with many lots in other portions of the place. His last days were spent in retirement from active business life, and in 1887 he was called to his final rest. His wife had preceded him to the other shore some years before. The family of Charles S. and Eliza Boyd consisted of five sons and two daughters, as follows: Charles S. Boyd, who left the county some twenty years ago, and whose whereabouts are unknown; Alexander Boyd, of this sketch; Nathaniel Boyd, now living a retired life in Sheffield; Elizabeth Boyd, now the wife of Ebenezer Chamberlain, of Gallatin, Missouri; James Boyd, who went to California in 1849 and there died of typhoid fever; Angelica Boyd, widow of Dr. Allen S. Paddock, now temporarily residing in San Antonio, Texas, with her son, Captain George H. Paddock, of the regular army, and John H. Boyd, who went to California, and later to the South Sea islands, where he engaged in the wholesale merchandising and there died. Alexander Boyd, of this sketch, was thirteen years of age when he came to Bureau county with his parents. He remained at home until after attaining his majority, and for five or six years was engaged in a general store in Princeton, going from there to Peru, La Salle county, where he was in the lumber business until 1844. While at Peru he furnished the lumber for the plank road to Arlington, a distance of twelve miles from that place. The plank furnished was three inches in thickness and eight feet long, and the price contracted for was eight dollars and a half per thousand. At that time there was no lumber yard in Princeton, and much of his trade was from that place and in its vicinity. His business fro some years was quite large. Returning to Princeton in 1844, Mr. Boyd sold dry goods for ten years, in company with J. P. Baldwin. Just previous to this he had failed in business, but has the satisfaction of knowing that in time he paid every cent of his indebtedness, dollar for dollar. His mercantile business in Princeton, from 1844 to 1854, was quite profitable and very extensive. On closing out this line of trade, he engaged in the fire insurance business, and later secured the general agency for Illinois in the old Continental Life Insurance company, which position he held for two years. When the company failed he had some five or six policies in it on his own life, and other members of his family were likewise insured in it, each of whom took out policies on his recommendation, much to his regret. Under the first call for three months' men at the commencement of the rebellion in 1861, Mr. Boyd enlisted and served his time. Nearly thirty years before this he did duty in behalf of his country. In 1832, at the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he rode his fleet mare, Kit, carrying dispatches to General Stillman at Peoria, a distance of forty miles, making the ride in one-half a day. The fort at Apple river had been attacked by the Indians and two or three killed. His cousin, young Jim Dixon, brought dispatches as far as his father's home in Boyds's Grove, and, being exhausted, persuaded Alexander to go on to Peoria. General Stillman, in appreciation of his gallantry, supplied him with a new suit of clothes, and a hat, and some years ago the government granted him a small pension on account of his youth at the time of his making his perilous ride. In 1841 Mr. Boyd was united in Marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Chamberlain, whose maiden name was Merritt, the widow of Oscar G. Chamberlain, who was the brother of the well known Dr. William Chamberlain. She died in 1891, after a happy married life of fifty years. Their children are Charles S. Boyd, who resides at Los Angeles, California; Elizabeth Boyd, who married Jerome E. Kilbourne, and now lives at St. Louis, Missouri, with her son who is employed as a stenographer in the office of the general manager of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad; James S. Boyd, who died at the age of thirty years; Elijah Day Boyd, who died when twenty-six years of age, and two others who died in Childhood. For his second wife, Mr. Boyd married Mrs. Anna J. Lewis, of Ohio township, Bureau county, in 1892. Mr. Boyd has always been fond of hunting and until within a comparatively short time has made it a rule of his life to engage in this sport, and as a duck hunter would compete with the be! st. He is well known throughout Bureau county, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all. To such men is due all that the present generation possesses in the way of comfort and the evidences of civilization and culture. Mr. Boyd was originally an old-time whig, but has been a stalwart republican since the organization of that party. Source: The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark counties, Illinois. Includes index. Micro-reproduction of original published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke, 1897. - FHL Film 962287 Item 1