Biographical Sketch of Hon. Sempronius H. Boyd, Greene County, Missouri, Springfield >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** This gentleman, one of the beset known and most talented men of South- west Missouri, is the son of Marcus and Eliza (Hamilton) Boyd, and was born in Williamson county, Tenn., May 28th, 1828. His parents came to Missouri in 1840, and his father shortly after took high political rank representing Greene county several times in the Legislature, being app- ointed receiver of the land office, at Springfield, and a colonel in the militia during the civil war. He died in 1866. His son, S. H. Boyd, was educated at Springfield, in English and the classics. After comp- leting his education he made a trip to Texas with a train loaded with bacon; sold out the entire outfit, save the negroes whom he refused to sell, and returned with them and the proceeds safely to Springfield. He then took a position as clerk in the store of D. Johnson & Co. In 1847 the firm established a branch store at Forsyth, Missouri and Mr. Boyd placed in cahrge, though but nineteen years of age. In 1849 he crossed the great plains, arriving in California in August of that year. He mined in the placers of the Yuba, Feather and Moquelnes rivers, taught school at volcano, Amador county, returning to Springfield in 1855, via Nicaragua and New Orleans. He then studied law under Judge Price; was mayor of Springfield in 1856-7; was the first clerk of the probate and common pleas court of Greene county, and was twice city attorney. In 1861 he was major of Gen. Phelps' Home Guards; then colonel of a regi- ment of United States volunteers, and was in several engagements. He was elected to Congress over Gen. Phelps, the opposition candidate, and took his seat in December, 1863, was active in re-organizing the postal service in Southwest Missouri, member of the committee of post-offices and post roads, chairman of the committee of revolutionary claims and pensions. He was circuit judge of the 14th judicial district in 1865-6 which office he resigned to interest himself in the completion of the Southwestern Pacific railroad. He was again elected to Congress in 1868, as the regular Republican nominee, running largely ahead of his ticket. He took an independent stand in Congress; and for favoring rebel enfranchisement and supporting B. Gratz Brown, he was ostracised by his party. He was not a mere partisan, and, with him, principles were never prostituted to position. He was the Missouri member of the Republican national executive committee from 1864 to 1868. In 1872 he founded the Springfield wagon factory, and resumed the practice of law in 1874. Though born in Tennessee, Col. Boyd had never been back there until 1883, and being greatly pleased with Memphis, will make that city his home. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================