My Genealogy Hound

DARIUS BOYNTON. Another of the prominent fruit-growers of Hagar Township is Darius Boynton, a man of recognized influence and ability, who by a systematic and careful, thorough manner of work has attained to a success which is justly deserved. Since 1862 he has been a resident of Berrien County, Mich., and during that time his career has been upright and honorable, and he has won a host of warm friends. Many are the changes which have occurred since this worthy citizen located here, and he has witnessed the growth of what was once a vast forest to one of the most prosperous and influential counties in the State.

Mr. Boynton is the owner of one hundred and fifty-nine acres of land, and most of this he himself has improved. He was born in Addison County, Vt., and in that State made his home until twenty-two years of age, when he moved to Monroe County, N. Y. There he met and married Miss Lucy P. Hanford, with whom he came to Michigan in 1850. They settled in Wayne County and one year later Mrs. Boynton died. About 1854 Mr. Boynton married Miss Helen M. Olcott, whose parents were old settlers of Wayne County, and three years later moved to Jackson County, Mich. From there, in 1862, he moved to Berrien County, where he carried on a fruit farm east of Benton Harbor, and he has been engaged in fruit-growing for the most part ever since.

He has met with unusual success in that calling, and what he has accumulated in the way of this world’s goods has been from the interest he has taken in this industry. He has one of the most extensive peach orchards in the county, about two thousand five hundred trees, most of them bearing, and he has four acres in a vineyard. Everything about his place indicates that an experienced hand is at the helm and the farm is kept in perfect order and neatness. He also raises any quantity of small fruit, etc., and ships to Chicago and other points. The utmost vigilance is made necessary in view of the perishable character of the goods, expedition being used in transportation and in selling. No one understands his business more thoroughly than Mr. Boynton.

To Mr. and Mrs. Boynton were born five children, four of whom are now living. Robert A. died in the year 1872, when eleven years of age; Delia became the wife of Henry K. Beach, of Washington; Fannie is the wife of E. J. Stanton; M. Lillian is a resident of Chicago; and Harry is a resident of Washington. Mr. Boynton’s parents were native Vermonters, and in that State they grew up and were married. There they reared seven children, of whom Mr. Boynton was third in order of birth. Politically, he is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and his vote has ever been cast with that party.