My Genealogy Hound

Ezekiel Boyden has been a resident of Newton County for over twenty years, and such has been his enterprise and success as a progressive, business like agriculturist, that for a long time he has held a worthy place among the leading and useful citizens of this and other localities. He was reared a farmer, and has devoted most of his time to this calling, with the result that long experience and thorough knowledge can give. He is a native of Massachusetts, born in Hampden County, October 14, 1821. His father, Asel Boyden, and his mother, whose maiden name was Amelia Stephens, were natives of the same State. Ezekiel, who, as above intimated, was reared a farmer, had considerable experience as a school teacher, and after attaining his majority also worked at the wagon-maker’s trade. He removed from Massachusetts to Peoria, Ill., in 1845, and there lived until 1852, when he went to California, where he remained two years. After his return he settled in Champaign County, Ill., until the outbreak of, the late war, when he raised a company for the Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned captain. He was at the battle of Pea Ridge, siege of Corinth, and the battle of Perryville, Ky. He resigned his position in the army, returned to Illinois, and in 1867 moved to Newton County, Mo., where he purchased his first farm, which comprised 280 acres of superior land. With the exception of a few years spent in Springfield, Mo., he has since been engaged in farming. In 1846 he married Miss Mary A. Lindsay, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have two children living: Samuel F. and Addie J. (wife of Edward H. McCullough, of Springfield, Mo.). Mr. Boyden has taken a deep interest in the welfare of his adopted county, and being a close observer and an extensive reader, is far above the average on the current topics of the day.