My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BOYES. This, in brief, is the sketch of a man whose present substantial position in life has been reached entirely through his own perseverance, and the facts connected with his operations and their results show what a person with ambition and enterprise can accomplish. He is now residing on a neat farm located in the northwest corner of the town of Waterloo, Seneca County, which he devotes principally to market-gardening.

Mr. Boyes is a native of England, and was born March 23, 1828, in the little village of Kirkburn, Yorkshire. His parents were John and Hannah (Endick) Boyes, people in limited circumstances. When quite young, John hired out as an errand boy to a gentleman in his neighborhood, who gave him $5 a year and his board after he had attained his ninth year. When a lad of thirteen years he was given L5, and this was increased a little each year until he was able to perform a man’s work. On attaining his eighteenth year his wages were equal to $70 in our money, and a year later he received $90. He was then acting as foreman for a farmer, but shortly after this a former employer hired him to again enter his service, paying him $115, which was the largest salary he was ever able to earn in his native land. From these munificent wages he was enabled to save a little sum, and at the time of his marriage was in possession of L50.

When very young our subject attended a school taught by an old lady, who spent more time in trying to teach him to knit and sew than how to read and write. It is safe to say, however, that he never excelled in these homely household duties. From that time until twenty-two years of age he never entered the doors of a schoolhouse, and at the latter age was only able to attend four weeks. He studied very hard during this time, as he was very anxious to learn.

Mr. Boyes was married, March 30, 1851, to Miss Mary Holtby, also a native of England, and who was born January 5, 1829, near the old home of our subject. Her parents were William and Mary (Brown) Holtby, who spent their entire lives in England. The day following his marriage Mr. Boyes, accompanied by his parents, brothers and sisters, embarked on a sailing-vessel bound for America, and after twenty-seven days and nights on the water were landed in the port of New York. They very soon left the metropolis and made their way to Watkins, a beautiful village at the foot of Lake Seneca, in Schuyler County. There they joined an uncle of our subject, who aided them in getting established in their new home. Mr. Boyes then hired out as a farm hand at $11 per month, but in the fall of the year, however, he removed to Geneva, where he found employment which brought in $13 per month. During the winter he and his father and brother cut cordwood for two shillings and six-pence per cord, having employment at this all winter.

In the spring of 1852 Mr. Boyes returned to Schuyler County and became an employe in a sawmill, his salary at this time being $18 per month, which, although a small sum, was a large increase over his first wages. The father remained in Ontario County, where his wife died August 19, 1853, after which sad event our subject and his wife made their home with him. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Boyes entered into partnership with his brother, and together they purchased seventy-two acres of land, for which they paid $60 per acre. In the spring of the following year our subject began his residence on this place, and he is still occupying the dwelling which stood upon the farm at the time it was purchased. The land was divided in 1861, our subject retaining sixty acres as his share, and he immediately set out all kinds of fruit and shade trees, and improved the estate after the most accepted methods. For a number of years he gave his attention principally to market-gardening, but of late years has not worked very hard, as he now has a comfortable income. Mr. Boyes had two brothers, the elder of whom, William, never married. Many years ago he purchased a farm near Belleville, Republic County, Kan., where he died. The younger brother, Thomas, was married, and on his death, January 10, 1871, left a wife and five children.

To Mr. and Mrs. Boyes have been born eight children. Charlotte E. married William Hutchinson, and the family now lives in Delavan, Morris County, Kan. Hannah M., Mrs. Nelson Reynolds, makes her home in Kingston, Tuscola County, Mich. Mary Ann is the wife of Frederick Dilman, and their home is in Geneva, N. Y. Sarah Jane, whose home is in the town of Phelps, Ontario County, this state, is the wife of Clarence Alcock. Hattie is the wife of Clarence Toby, of the town of Waterloo. Alice L. is a graduate of the normal school at Brockport, N. Y., and is now employed in teaching in the schools of Ontario County. John Grant is married and lives near Belleville, Kan; and Cora E. is still at home with her parents.

Mr. Boyes declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States in 1855, but neglected to take out the necessary papers until five years later. This was completed in time, however, to enable him to cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.