Sophia Jenett Thornburg Boyd

Rites Thursday For Mrs. Boyd; Died Today - Columbus Pioneer Woman, 84, Leaves Seven Children
Mrs. Sophia Boyd, 84, pioneer Columbus woman, died at 9:30 a.m. today at her home 3115 Sixteenth street following a lingering illness. She was taken ill last October, and for the past 10 weeks has been bedfast.

As the daughter of Louis and Anna Thornburg, she was born in Winterset, Ia., June 17, 1857. There she attended school and grew to womanhood.

November 26, 1880, her marriage to Robert C. Boyd was solemnized at Winterset. Coming here in November, 1883, she has resided here continuously.

A devout member of the Methodist church, Mrs. Boyd was active in church and community organizations. She was a charter member of the Ladies Aid society, a member of the Women's Relief Corps, the Rebekah lodge, the Royal Neighbors and the W.C.T.U. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1930.

She is survived by two sons, Ralph of Norfolk and Harold of Columbus; five daughters, Mrs. Alfred Palme, Norfolk, Mrs. Fred Weber, Sterling, Colo., Mrs. Motto Mowrey of Low Angeles, Mrs. Otto Johannes and Mrs. Frank Mills, both of Columbus; two step sons, J. Thomas Boyd and David Boyd, both of Columbus; 27 grandchildren, including Mrs. Bert Sedgwick of Hasty, Colo., whom she reared from childhood, and 20 great grandchildren. Two sons, Robert C. and William Louis Boyd died in infancy, and a daughter, Christine, died in 1912. Mr. Boyd died in December 1930.

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at the family home and at 9:30 a.m. at the Methodist church. Rev. W. H. Jackson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Columbus cemetery.

The body will be taken to the family home from Gass-Bideaux mortuary at 6:30 p.m. today, where it will lie in state until the hour of the service.

All members of her family are here with exception of Mrs. Mowery who returned to her home in California a short time ago after a months' visit. Mrs. Mowery will not return for the funeral.

Sings at Funeral - Robert Palme of York sang two selections, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere", and "The City of Foursquare", at the funeral services Thursday for his grandmother, the late Mrs. Sophia Boyd. He was accompanied by Mrs. Wood Smith.

Sophia Thornburg and her grandfather John Leinard taken in 1867 when she was 10 years old.

Robert Cabeen Boyd's Life Story

R.C. Boyd, Well Known Business Man, Passes Away - Has Been Resident of Columbus 47 Years; Death Follows Long Illness

R.C. Boyd, 83, well known Columbus business man for nearly half a century, founder of the firm of R. C. Boyd & Son, and probably one of the oldest members of the Masonic lodge in Nebraska, passed away at his home, 3703 Thirteenth street, at 10:30 a.m. today.

He had been in failing health for several years and had been confined to his home much of the time since last August, when cancer developed. Bedfast for the last month he had been unconscious for nearly two weeks as his strength gradually ebbed.

Funeral services will be held at the family home at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Rev. F.A. Carmony, pastor of the First Methodist church, of which Mr. Boyd was a member, will officiate, and the burial service in Columbus cemetery will be in accordance with the Masonic ritual.

Robert C. Boyd was born in Wilmington, Del., Feb. 7, 1847. In his early boyhood he came west with his parents, the family homesteading on a farm near Cambridge, Ill.

When the call to arms came during the civil war, he was only about 14 years old, but he went to the nearest recruiting station, represented himself as being over the minimum age limit and enlisted. His father, upon learning of it, forbade him to go because he was too young, and went himself to the recruiting office where he volunteered to go in the boy's place. His offer was accepted. The result was that while his father and three elder brothers went into the Union army and served throughout the war, Robert remained at home with his mother and three sisters and managed the farm.

As a youth he was employed for awhile as a shaft tender in an Illinois coal mine, and sometimes in later years he would recall in a humorous vein the incident which terminated his mining career and resulted in him learning the tinners trade. Eight-hour days were unknown in those times and frequently he worked for 18 or 20 hours or even longer at a stretch. On once such occasion, because of sheer physical exhaustion, he let the car in the mine shaft drop. There was no one in it at the time, but the foreman took him to task and he promptly asserted his independence by quitting.

Learns Tinner's Trade

Going to Oquawka, Ill., he entered a tin ship as an apprentice and soon learned the trade. Tea kettles, washboilers, milk pails and many other articles that are now made almost exclusively by machinery were hand-made in those days, and Mr. Boyd became an expert craftsman in fashioning them by hand.

After completing his apprenticeship, he was employed by older tinners for some years in Winterset, Is. It was while residing there that he married Miss Maria Briggs at New Windsor, Ill., on Oct. 15, 1871. Two sons were born to them. J. Thomas and David D. Boyd, both of whom, now well known Columbus businessmen, survive him. His first wife passed away Mar. 13, 1876. The following year he married Miss Mollie Smith, whose death occurred two years later. One child was born to them, but died in infancy. On Nov. 26, 1880, at Winterset, Ia., he and Miss Sophia Thornburg were married. Four sons and six daughters were born to them, of whom two sons and one daughter preceded him in death. Mrs. Boyd and their two sons and five daughters survive him - Ralph Boyd and Mrs. C.A. Palme, of Norfolk; Mrs. F.A. Webber, Mrs. Otto Johannes and Mrs. Frank Mills, of Columbus; Mrs. Motto Mowrey, of Bradish, and Harold Boyd, of Winner, S.D.

Came to Columbus in 1883

Forty-seven years ago - in 1883 - Mr. Boyd brought his family to Columbus. For the first two years he was employed in the Pohl & Wermuth and the Krause & Lubker hardware and implement stores. In 1885, he launched into business for himself, he and Dick Jenkinson buying Ora Shannon's tin shop. Several months later Mr. Jenkinson sold his interests to Fred Reimer, and Mr. Boyd and Mr. Reimer expanded the business to include hardware and implements. About 42 years ago, Mr. Boyd purchased Mr. Reimer's interest, closing out the hardware and implement lines, and founded the tinsmith firm which later became known as R.C. Boyd & Son when his eldest son, J.T. Boyd, became associated with him in the business. They continued the partnership throughout the years until 8 or 10 years ago when J.T. Boyd bough the father's interest, but the latter continued active in the shop until failing health confined him to his home a few months ago.

Nearly 60 Years a Mason

Mr. Boyd had the distinction of having been a member of the Masonic order for nearly 60 years, having become a master Mason in Winterset, Ia., Jan. 11, 1871. He was also a charter member of the Columbus lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America. For many years he was a regular attendant and active worker in both orders, but never aspired to high office in either.

A man of highest integrity, possessed of a jovial, whimsical personality and a keen sense of humor, Mr. Boyd was held in the highest regard by all who knew him.

On last Nov. 26, he and Mrs. Boyd observed their golden wedding anniversary. Because of his serious illness at the time, the occasion was marked only by a quiet family reunion, but all the members of the family gathered under the parental roof that day.

Besides his widow, four sons and five daughters, all of whom, with the exception of Ralph Boyd and Mrs. Motto Mowrey, were at his bedside when death came, he leaves 26 grandchildren. It is expected that they will all be here to attend the funeral services Monday.

Boyd Brothers

Robert Cabeen Boyd, Horatio Nelson Boyd, John Boyd

Herald Eugene Boyd

Born May 26, 1899 in Platte Co., Nebraska
Married Fern Parker December 18, 1919

Ruby Cabeen Boyd

Born May 26, 1894 in Platte Co. Nebraska
Married Frank Mills April 15, 1916

They had 4 children

Edith Jane Boyd

Born April 2, 1893
Married Otto Johannes March 17, 1915

Letitia Christine Boyd

Born October 29, 1891 in Columbus, Nebraska
Died February 10, 1912 in Columbus, Nebraska

Letitia Christine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Boyd, passed away last Saturday morning at the family home in west Columbus, after a long illness. Fifteen months ago, while teaching school near Humphrey, she contracted a severe cold. It developed, finally, into consumption. In early life Miss Boyd accepted the Christian religion, becoming a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in August, 1900, and during her late illness she found much consolation in her faith. She was conscious to the last, and when the hour of death came she called her home people to her bedside, cheerfully bade them good-bye, and promised to meet them in the better world. Miss Boyd was twenty one years old October 29, last. She was born in Columbus. She was a member of the class graduating from the city high school in 1910, and afterward she became a school teacher. Illness interrupted her work during her first year of teaching. In her home and among associates she was loved for many excellent traits of womanhood. The funeral of Miss Boyd was conducted at the family home Monday afternoon by Rev. Chas. W. Ray, pastor of the M.E. church. The relatives from a distance in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Boyd and Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Palme of Norfolk. Mr. Boyd is a brother, and Mrs. Palme is a sister of the deceased. Interment was in Columbus cemetery.

Jessie Belle Boyd

Born October 7, 1888 in Platte Co., Nebraska
 Married Motto Mowery November 28, 1906

Robert Cabeen Boyd

Born November 17, 1886
Died August 2, 1888 in Columbus, Nebraska

Annie Mary Boyd

Born October 17, 1884 in Columbus, Nebraska
Married Fred Weber September 12, 1906

Ethel Adelle Boyd

Born April 2, 1883 in Winterset, IA
Married Charles A. Palme December 28, 1904
Died December 19, 1957

They had 2 children:

Robert Palme b. September 3, 1906
Cecil Palme b. October 31, 1907

Ethe Adelle Boyd was born at Winterset, Iowa, April 2, 1883, To Robert Cabeen and Sophia (Thornburg) Boyd. She moved to Columbus, Nebraska, With her parents while in infancy and lived there until she married her husband, Charles Alfred Palme, on December 28, 1904.

To this union was born two sons, Robert William, and Cecil Alfred, who with their father remain to mourn her passing.

At the age of 16 years she united with the Methodist Church and was a faithful member throughout her life. She was a member of the Woman's Society of Christian Service and the Fidelis Sunday School Class of the First Methodist of Oklahoma City. She was an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps, Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Royal Neighbors. And was a Memorial member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Norfolk Nebraska.

After her marriage she and her husband moved to St. Edward, Nebr. In 1906 they moved to Uehling, Nebr. and in 1909 to Norfolk, Nebr. In 1942 they moved to Oklahoma City, Okla. and resided there at the time of her loss, at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 14 days. Interment was in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk, Nebr.

Four Grandchildren also survive. They are Robert Charles and Carol Jean of Nebraska, and Charles Franklin and Marybeth Adelle of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Boyd

Born August 29, 1881 in Winterset, IA

Married Minnie Hoge 28 April 1903 in Columbus, NE

1 child:

Minnie Mary Sophia 24 January 1904

Minnie Hoge Boyd d. 18 February 1904


Married Inez Satterlee November 4, 1907

6 children:

Robert b. September 25, 1911

Verna b. June 29, 1913

Inez b. April 8, 1916

Jack b. November 27, 1917

Susan b. April 15, 1919

Willis b. September 20, 1921

William Lewis Boyd

Born July 28, 1897

Died January 22, 1899

I was going through my great grandmother, Ethel (Boyd) Palme's photo album dated December 1903.  There were only a couple of photos that were labeled.  This was one of them!!!  What a treasured find.  I never thought I'd get to see what this sweet little Boyd baby looked like.

Robert Cabeen Boyd Marries Sophia Thornburg

Robert remarried Sophia Jennett Thornburg on November 26, 1880 at Winterset, Iowa.

Robert was a tinsmith by trade. Here is a sample of his work.

He partnered with C.A. Palme on a business in Norfolk, NE.

He then moved to Columbus and ran a hardware store on Main Street with his sons J.T. & David D.

Boyd family picnic.

R.C. Boyd home in Columbus, NE

R.C. Boyd 80th birthday party

They had 10 children:

Willie

Ralph Waldo Emerson b. August 1881

Ethel Adele b. April 2, 1883 d. December 19, 1957

Annie b. October 1884

Robert C. b. November 17, 1886 d. August 2, 1888

Jessie b. October 1888

L. Christina b. October 29, 1891 d. February 10, 1912

Edith b. April 2, 1893

Ruby b. May 1894

Herald b. May 1899

Robert Cabeen Boyd Marries Mary F. Smith

m. Sept. 6, 1877 in Winterset, IA.

Harry Jackson b. 1879 d. 1879

Mary died 1879

Mary, Harry and Maria are buried together in the Winterset City cemetery, Winterset, IA.

Robert Cabeen Boyd Married Maria Josephine Briggs

m. Oct. 15, 1871 in New Windsor, IL

They had 2 sons:

John Thomas b. 1873

John Thomas, baby Barbara, Hazel & R.C. Boyd

November 25, 1949

J.T. Boyd, Long-Time Resident, Dies

Funeral services for John Thomas Boyd, retired Columbus businessman who died suddenly Wednesday evening, will be held tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church.

Seventy-one-year-old Boyd died of a heart attack Wednesday evening at the Union Pacific station where he was waiting to take a train to Omaha to spend Thanksgiving with close relatives. Boyd had survived a number of previous attacks.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Boyd, he was born Sept. 12, 1872 at Van Meter, Ia. He came to Columbus about 1885, and went to work for his father at the age of 14. He became a partner in his father’s sheet metal and furnace business 13 years later, and the firm became known as R. C. Boyd and Son. After 1928, Boyd took over sole ownership until about two years ago when his brother-in-law, Frank Mills, purchased half interest in the firm. Boyd retired last year after 61 years in business.

He was married to Cora Bell Scott on June 3, 1896, in Columbus and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1946. Mrs. Boyd and one daughter, Mrs. Earl Tabor preceded Mr. Boyd in death. Their other three daughters, Mrs. C. W. Carnaby and Mrs. E. W. Tritten now live in Omaha and Mrs. William Baer resides in Missouri Valley, Ia.

Other survivors include five half-sisters, Mrs. Alfred Palme of Oklahoma City, Okla., Mrs. Motto Mowrey of El Monte, Calif., Mrs. Otto Johannes and Mrs. Frank Mills, both of Columbus and Mrs. Fred Weber and Sterling, Colo., two half-brothers, Ralph Boyd of Norfolk and Harold Boyd of Vancouver, Wash. There are nine grandchildren.

Boyd was an active member of the Methodist church here in Columbus, serving on the board for many years. He was Past Worthy Patron of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of the Masonic lodge and also a member of the War Dads.

The body will lie in state after noon today at the Gass Funeral home, until 1:30 tomrrow before the funeral. The Rev. John Brooks will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial cemetery.

David D. DeKalb b. 1875

Maria died March 13, 1876

Robert Cabeen Boyd

b. Feb. 7, 1847, Wilmington, Delaware; d. Dec. 20, 1930, Columbus, Nebraska
m. Maria Josephine Briggs Oct 15, 1871 d. Mar 13, 1876
m. Mary F. Smith Sept. 6, 1877 d. 1879
m. Sophia Thornberg Nov. 26, 1880

He had three wives and thirteen children.

Boyd's Cadets - 1900 Topeka, KS

This flag quilt was made in 1899 by Horatio N. Boyd's Girl Cadets. According to their organizer, the Cadets were the only uniformed and regularly armed company of girls in the United States.

It is unclear exactly why Boyd organized the Cadets, but it probably was due to events leading up to the Spanish American War.

Cuba had begun a war for independence from Spain in 1895, and over the next two years separatists engaged in a campaign to gain sympathy in the U.S. The press portrayed Cuban guerrillas as heroic and played up Spanish "atrocities." It was in a climate of increasing tension between Spain and the U.S. that Boyd organized his Girl Cadets in 1897.

The Cadets consisted of 40 women in blue uniforms and military caps, armed with discarded Springfield rifles. The rifle barrels, apparently bent, were sawed off and replaced with bored-out broomsticks. The women drilled at the statehouse in the evenings, accompanied male army recruits to the railroad depot, and marched in the Senate chamber of the Kansas Statehouse and in parades.

Broom drill squads were popular in the late 1800s--the same time that exercise and sports became more acceptable pastimes for women. The broom drill was the female equivalent of the rifle drill. Broom drills often were organized to raise money for a charity.

Mostly young women from Topeka, the Girl Cadets were clerks, bookkeepers and stenographers in stores and offices in town; a few were described as "society" girls. The group included Boyd's daughter and several of her friends.

Boyd was serving as the Assistant Adjutant General of Kansas at the time he organized the Cadets. Himself a war veteran, Boyd had enlisted in the 7th regiment Illinois Cavalry at age 16 at the start of the Civil War (1861) and served until its close (1865). He left Illinois for Kansas in 1877 and tried his hand at a variety of occupations, including newspaperman, farmer, teacher, and politician.

The Cadets' quilt was made in 1899, about one year after the U.S. issued a formal declaration of war against Spain. Measuring 76 inches x 84 inches, it includes 45 stars embroidered with the Cadets' names. Fancy embroidered text on two of the white stripes proclaims its origins:

BOYD'S GIRL CADETS TOPEKA KANS. 1899.

Information taken from the KS Historical Society website. The flag is in this archive, Topeka, KS.

Horatio Nelson Boyd

b. July 29, 1844, Wilmington, Delaware

m. Mary E. Attwater, Oct. 7, 1869, Galva, Henry, Co., Illinois

d. Jan. 13, 1930, Norfolk, Nebraska

Republic Co. Democrat, Belleville, KS ca. 1900

Horatio Boyd, editor - bearded man in middle of photo
The Democrat Office and Working Force.
With this issue of the Democrat, we present an inside view of the office, so our readers can see that it is a real live Democrat. Every thing is new but the "old man" as the editor has been called ever since he landed in Kansas over a quarter of a century ago.

50th Anniversary Photo / Article

Horatio & Mary are buried in Belleville, KS city cemetery

They had 6 children:

Georgiana b. November 10, 1872

Mary E. b. August 29, 1876

Mable Portia b. September 26, 1880

Horatio N. b. July 21, 1885

Nelson Attwater b. May 6, 1888

Ivel M. b. December 14, 1893

Horatio N. Boyd moved from Wilmington, DE to Bristol, PA in 1849, settling at Cambridge, IL in 1850.

He enlisted in the Union Army July 16, 1861, serving continuously until November, 1865, reenlisting as a veteran volunteer February 10, 1864.

He was twice severely wounded and was for a short time a prisoner of war. His entire service of four years and four months was served before he was twenty-one years of age.

He married and moved in 1870 to Webster City, IA, coming from there to Phillips County, Kansas in 1877 and to Republic County, Kansas in 1890.

Mr. Boyd represented Phillips County in the State Legislature for one term and Republic County for three terms.

He was founder of the Republic County Democrat in 1907, which was consolidated with The Telescope.

He died in January, 1930.

Susan Yardley Boyd

b. July 11, 1842
She married Thomas J. Attwater
October 5, 1868
She d. July 26, 1924

Susan Yardley Atwater's photo taken @ Cambridge, Illinois. Inscription on back reads: John "Think of Me" when you look on the other side of this posterboard. Lovingly, SYA

Sampler stitched by Susan Yardly Boyd 1854, aged 12 years.

They had 2 children:

Susie L. b. March 25, 1870
Thomas J. b. October 28, 1871