Thomas Jefferson Boyd (1804 - 1893)

Born 15 Jun 1804 in Albemarle, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Minerva Ann (French) Boyd — married 27 Nov 1833 in Giles, Wytheville, Wythe, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Feb 1893 at age 88 in Wytheville, Wythe, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: J. West [send private message]

Biography

Colonel Thomas Jefferson Boyd was born on June 15, 1804, to parents Thomas D. Boyd and Mary Magruder, in Albemarle County, Va., near Monticello. In February,1826, Boyd began studying law at the nearby University of Virginia, where he came into frequent contact with his namesake, Thomas Jefferson. Upon receiving his degree in July 1828, Boyd briefly practiced law in Charlottesville, Va. In 1830 he moved to Wytheville, Virginia, which was known as Evansham until 1839. Boyd soon began a law partnership with Judge David McComas.

In 1833, Boyd married Minerva French, the sister-in-law of McComas, and they had ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Both their eldest child, David French Boyd (1834-1899), and their ninth child, Thomas Duckett Boyd (1854-1932), served as early presidents of Louisiana State University.

In addition to his law practice, Boyd spent much of his life dedicated to public service. He became a trustee of the town of Wytheville in 1839, a position he would hold for over fifty years. In this capacity, he aided the town engineer, James Piper, with laying out the town. Because of this lifelong commitment, Boyd became known as the “Father of Wytheville.”

Boyd was elected to a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates for two terms as a Democrat, beginning in 1848. His biggest accomplishment as a representative was successfully fighting for the route of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to pass through Wytheville. In 1853, he was elected as a commissioner to the Virginia Board of Public Works for the Southern District. Throughout his six years in this office, Boyd had the opportunity to focus solely on the internal improvements of Virginia.

In 1856, Boyd built the Hotel Boyd, an inn located at the Wytheville Train Depot, and he subsequently retired from his law practice. Due to the financial panic of 1857, Boyd lost much of his wealth, so he focused on running the inn and paying back his debts. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Boyd served as the Quartermaster of the Depot for the Confederate Army at nearby Dublin, Virginia. He was taken prisoner in 1865, but later escaped and paid for his freedom. In 1870, President Andrew Johnson pardoned him and restored his citizenship. Boyd died February 16, 1893, at age 88. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Thomas Jefferson Boyd Papers, Mss. 99, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. T. J. Boyd Papers, LSU

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DB-5YZ : 12 April 2016), Thomas J Boyd, Wythe county, Wythe, Virginia, United States; citing family 3, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHM7-BH7 : 13 December 2017), Thomas J Boyd, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFGX-K9T : 12 June 2019), Thomas J Boyd, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCRD-2RG : 15 July 2017), Thomas J Boyd, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 110, sheet 472B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 1395; FHL microfilm 1,255,395.

• "Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR3Z-N95 : 10 March 2018), Thos. J. Boyd, 12 Feb 1893; citing Wytheville, Wythe, Virginia, reference item 4 e 14; FHL microfilm 2,048,587.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #96727555

• http://visitwythe.us/thomas-j-boyd-museum/

• Marriage of daughter Ella Minerva to John S. Crockett (a lawyer). They and their two infant sons are living with TJ Boyd in the 1880 Census. "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", 29 January 2020), Thos. J. Boyd in entry for Jno. S. Crockett, 1871. Family Search

• Birth of Elizabeth B. Boyd, daughter. April 1857. Wytheville, VA. "Virginia, Library of Virginia State Archive, Births, Marriages, and Deaths 1853-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZPN-ZJC7 : 28 October 2021), Thomas J Boyd in entry for Elizabeth B Boyd, 1857.

• Death of Mary Boyd Motz, daughter. Widow of Charles Motz Sr. In Abilene Texas. 29 January 1939. Age 94. Born November 9, 1844 "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MN-RZV : 20 February 2021), Thomas J Boyd in entry for Mary Boyd Motz, 29 Jan 1939; citing certificate number 4856, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,863.