My Genealogy Hound

Marquis D. Boyd owes his nativity to the Palmetto State, where he was born on July 7, 1833, his father, F. A. Boyd, being also a native of that State. In the spring of 1840, the latter came with his family to the State of Arkansas, entering between 5,000 and 6,000 acres in Chicot County, and was one of the prominent agriculturists of that region until his death, which occurred January 6, 1887, his birth having occurred in 1809, his widow dying September 25 of the following year. From the time he was seven years of age until he was twenty-three. Marquis D. Boyd was a resident of Arkansas, but at that age he went to California, and was there engaged in mining and farming until June 4, 1859, when he started for home. At Panama he took passage on board a clipper bound for San Francisco, rounded Cape Horn, and his residence in the Golden State was both profitable and pleasant. Upon his return to Arkansas, he settled on his present farm in Ashley County, and here has been farming ever since. In 1861, on the day that Jefferson Davis was made President of the Confederacy, he was married to Miss Altha C., a daughter of Charles McClain, a farmer, hatter and gunsmith, of Bradley County. The following family of children has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyd: Martha Frances, Charles Marquis, Marshal Francis, Elbert Sterling, Henry H., Emma Victoria (deceased at the age of four years), Altha C., Adolphus S., Anise Jane, Eva May, Thomas Pinkney, Patience Caroline (deceased), and Gabriel S. L. In 1861 Mr. Boyd espoused the Confederate cause, and joined Company B, Second Arkansas Cavalry, his first fight being at Oak Hill, and afterward, while on detail gathering supplies, he was captured sometime in April, 1868, and was sent to Rock Island, Ill., where he was kept a prisoner for about twelve months. He was then exchanged, returned home in 1864, but was not in a condition to again enlist in the service. The most of his attention has been given to farming, and he is now the owner of 320 acres of land, sixty of which are in a tillable condition and devoted to the raising of cotton and corn, the former averaging about one-half bale and the latter fifteen bushels to the acre. Mr. Boyd has long been a member of the A. F. & A. M., and in the affairs of his county and township he exerts an influence, which is felt by all, for his views are intelligent and sound. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.