Bios: Peter Keller Boyd: Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linnea Miller 
ltmiller@postoffice.ptd.net

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the
Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this
message remains on all copied material.  These electronic pages cannot be reproduced
in any format for profit or other presentation.

Biographies from - "Proceedings of Pennsylvania-German Society Volume XII, 1901

PETER KELLER BOYD.

	Peter Keller Boyd was born at Harrisburg, Pa., on June 25, 1826. He was the son  of
James Rutherford Boyd, b. Oct. 13, 1790; d. Dec. 29, 1865; who was son of John  Boyd,
b. 1761; d. April 6, 1799; who was son of William Boyd, b. 1733; d. May 17,  1808;
who was the son of William Boyd, b. 1712; d. prior to 1760; who was the son of 
William Boyd.
	His mother was Eliza Keller, b. June 12, 1803; d. Feb. 27, 1828; daughter of John 
Peter Keller, b. Sept. 28, 1776; d. Oct. 1, 1859; son of Carl Andrew Keller, b. July
14,  1750; d. Feb. 21, 1805; son of Johann Peter Keller, who emigrated to this
country from  Switzerland prior to 1760.
	His father served as 3d Sergeant in the Harrisburg Artillerists (Capt. Richard M. 
Crain) in the War of 1812, and, for a long time, was a member of the Borough Council.
	His paternal grandfather was one of the first settlers of Harrisburg, locating
there in 1785, and became quite prominent and influential.
	His paternal great-grandfather served in the French and Indian War, as well as in 
the Revolution.  He was one of the celebrated "Paxtang Boys."
	Mr. Boyd spend his entire life as a resident of his native place, and was one of
its  most prominent and progressive citizens.  After he had obtained his education in
the public schools of Harrisburg he entered his father's undertaking and furniture
establishment and  made himself thoroughly familiar with the same, succeeding to the
business upon the decease of his parent.  He was the Harrisburg undertaker of the
Pennsylvania Railroad from the date of the opening of the system, and had charge of
the body of President Lincoln when it laid in state in that city.
	He was a life-long member and trustee of Zion Lutheran Church; a member of the 
Board of Directors of the Harrisburg Burial Case Company; a Director of the
Chestnut Street Market Company; a Director of the East Pennsboro Insurance Company,
of Mechanicsburg, and a charter member of the Washington Hose Company.
	He was well known among the poor for his charitable acts, and, in his home life, 
was exceedingly devoted to all within the family circle.
	He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, an active member of the Dauphin 
County Historical Society, and took a great interest in the Pennsylvania-German
Society, of which he became a member January 18, 1898.
	His death, from Bright's disease, occurred at 4:50 P.M. on Wednesday, November  27,
1901.
	He is survived by his wife (born Caroline Elizabeth Barnitz), and an adopted 
daughter, Mrs. William Rutherford.   H.M.M.R.