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.