Susan moved to Illinois when she was three years old. At the age of eighteen, she married Edmund Packard. He went west with the first rush of gold seekers and died in Colorado pf mountain fever. To this union were born two children: Charles F. Packard of Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. Lillie Robertson of Decatur. When twenty-eight years old, she married Lieutenant Colonel James P. Boyd and returned to Decatur. Of this marriage, four children survive: Frank S. and James P. of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Ida Baker of Columbia, Mo., and Mrs. Ada Mecklenburg of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Taken from a write up on her 90th birthday. Review Oct 22, 1917 p7
Decatur Review 10/7/1925
Mrs. Susan Boyd the oldest resident of Decatur and the last of the pioneers, died at her home at 506 W. William street at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Had she lived till the 22 of this month she would have been ninety eight years old. She died of infirmities of age, although she preserved her physical and mental strength almost to the last. She has been noticeably failing for some time and her death was not unexpected.
Her son, Charles Packard of Decatur and here daughters, Mrs. Iola Baker of Decatur and Mrs. A. M. Meckeinburg of Pittsburgh were with her. Besides these she leaves two other sons, Frank S. Boyd and James P. Boyd of Spokane,Wash, there are four children dead. there are living seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Mrs. Boyds maiden name was McGovern and she was a daughter of Major Edward M. McGovern formerly of Kentucky who moved to Morgan county Illinois in the early thirties. Her mother died when she was nine years old and she was adopted by the family of Dr. John Grove Speer who then lived in Manchester, Morgan county but shortly afterward returned to Decatur. Mrs.Boyd had lived in Decatur for almost ninety years.
Her knowledge of Decatur extended from the time it was a crude prairie hamlet to the city of more than 50,000 people. Her clear mind and keen memory made her a meritable mine of local history. During recent years partial deafness made her a little more difficult to talk to but she was mentally alert and her friends enjoyed her to the last.
Dr. Speer came to Decatur in 1831. A year or two later he moved to Morgan county and then came back to Decatur becoming the towns first druggist. Susan Sylvania McGovern developed into a beautiful young woman.She was married twice. Her first husband was Dr. Edmund Packard, a brother of Silas Packard. She had three children by him. He went to California with the gold rush and took sick near Nevada City. Dr. Speer who was near there was called to attend him but he died and was buried on the Pacific slope.
James P. Boyd one of the leading lawyers of Decatur at that time wooed and won the beautiful young widow and they were married 9/20/1855 in Macon county, Illinois. They established themselves in the home at 506 W. William street which was to be Mrs. Boyds home for the remainder of her life.
James P. Boyd gave up his law office and his clients in 1862 and enlisted in the 116th Illinois infantry which carried to the front about all that remained of Decatur's able bodied young men. He was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was shot through the lungs at the siege of Vicksburg. He partially recovered from this wound and returned to his regiment but was unfit for further military duty. He went to New Orleans on account of his health and was tendered there the position of circuit judge but his health did not permit him to accept it. His health grew worse in New Orleans and finally Mrs. Boyd went there and brought him home. He died at his home in Decatur in October, 1869 and is buried in Greenwood. It is a singular coincidence that Mrs. Boyds death and those of her two husbands occurred in October.
Mrs. Boyd has continued to live in Decatur with her son and daughter in the old homestead during her later years, her other daughter, Mrs. Meckeinburg being with her during the winter of 1923 and 1924, a large part of that years. Her later life has been in quiet retirement as befitted her years and tastes but it has been a matter of growing old gracefully.
Obituary furnished by Janet Donner
Taken from a write up on her 90th birthday. Review Oct 22, 1917 p7
Decatur Review 10/7/1925
Mrs. Susan Boyd the oldest resident of Decatur and the last of the pioneers, died at her home at 506 W. William street at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Had she lived till the 22 of this month she would have been ninety eight years old. She died of infirmities of age, although she preserved her physical and mental strength almost to the last. She has been noticeably failing for some time and her death was not unexpected.
Her son, Charles Packard of Decatur and here daughters, Mrs. Iola Baker of Decatur and Mrs. A. M. Meckeinburg of Pittsburgh were with her. Besides these she leaves two other sons, Frank S. Boyd and James P. Boyd of Spokane,Wash, there are four children dead. there are living seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Mrs. Boyds maiden name was McGovern and she was a daughter of Major Edward M. McGovern formerly of Kentucky who moved to Morgan county Illinois in the early thirties. Her mother died when she was nine years old and she was adopted by the family of Dr. John Grove Speer who then lived in Manchester, Morgan county but shortly afterward returned to Decatur. Mrs.Boyd had lived in Decatur for almost ninety years.
Her knowledge of Decatur extended from the time it was a crude prairie hamlet to the city of more than 50,000 people. Her clear mind and keen memory made her a meritable mine of local history. During recent years partial deafness made her a little more difficult to talk to but she was mentally alert and her friends enjoyed her to the last.
Dr. Speer came to Decatur in 1831. A year or two later he moved to Morgan county and then came back to Decatur becoming the towns first druggist. Susan Sylvania McGovern developed into a beautiful young woman.She was married twice. Her first husband was Dr. Edmund Packard, a brother of Silas Packard. She had three children by him. He went to California with the gold rush and took sick near Nevada City. Dr. Speer who was near there was called to attend him but he died and was buried on the Pacific slope.
James P. Boyd one of the leading lawyers of Decatur at that time wooed and won the beautiful young widow and they were married 9/20/1855 in Macon county, Illinois. They established themselves in the home at 506 W. William street which was to be Mrs. Boyds home for the remainder of her life.
James P. Boyd gave up his law office and his clients in 1862 and enlisted in the 116th Illinois infantry which carried to the front about all that remained of Decatur's able bodied young men. He was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was shot through the lungs at the siege of Vicksburg. He partially recovered from this wound and returned to his regiment but was unfit for further military duty. He went to New Orleans on account of his health and was tendered there the position of circuit judge but his health did not permit him to accept it. His health grew worse in New Orleans and finally Mrs. Boyd went there and brought him home. He died at his home in Decatur in October, 1869 and is buried in Greenwood. It is a singular coincidence that Mrs. Boyds death and those of her two husbands occurred in October.
Mrs. Boyd has continued to live in Decatur with her son and daughter in the old homestead during her later years, her other daughter, Mrs. Meckeinburg being with her during the winter of 1923 and 1924, a large part of that years. Her later life has been in quiet retirement as befitted her years and tastes but it has been a matter of growing old gracefully.
Obituary furnished by Janet Donner
Susan moved to Illinois when she was three years old. At the age of eighteen, she married Edmund Packard. He went west with the first rush of gold seekers and died in Colorado pf mountain fever. To this union were born two children: Charles F. Packard of Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. Lillie Robertson of Decatur. When twenty-eight years old, she married Lieutenant Colonel James P. Boyd and returned to Decatur. Of this marriage, four children survive: Frank S. and James P. of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Ida Baker of Columbia, Mo., and Mrs. Ada Mecklenburg of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Taken from a write up on her 90th birthday. Review Oct 22, 1917 p7
Decatur Review 10/7/1925
Mrs. Susan Boyd the oldest resident of Decatur and the last of the pioneers, died at her home at 506 W. William street at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Had she lived till the 22 of this month she would have been ninety eight years old. She died of infirmities of age, although she preserved her physical and mental strength almost to the last. She has been noticeably failing for some time and her death was not unexpected.
Her son, Charles Packard of Decatur and here daughters, Mrs. Iola Baker of Decatur and Mrs. A. M. Meckeinburg of Pittsburgh were with her. Besides these she leaves two other sons, Frank S. Boyd and James P. Boyd of Spokane,Wash, there are four children dead. there are living seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Mrs. Boyds maiden name was McGovern and she was a daughter of Major Edward M. McGovern formerly of Kentucky who moved to Morgan county Illinois in the early thirties. Her mother died when she was nine years old and she was adopted by the family of Dr. John Grove Speer who then lived in Manchester, Morgan county but shortly afterward returned to Decatur. Mrs.Boyd had lived in Decatur for almost ninety years.
Her knowledge of Decatur extended from the time it was a crude prairie hamlet to the city of more than 50,000 people. Her clear mind and keen memory made her a meritable mine of local history. During recent years partial deafness made her a little more difficult to talk to but she was mentally alert and her friends enjoyed her to the last.
Dr. Speer came to Decatur in 1831. A year or two later he moved to Morgan county and then came back to Decatur becoming the towns first druggist. Susan Sylvania McGovern developed into a beautiful young woman.She was married twice. Her first husband was Dr. Edmund Packard, a brother of Silas Packard. She had three children by him. He went to California with the gold rush and took sick near Nevada City. Dr. Speer who was near there was called to attend him but he died and was buried on the Pacific slope.
James P. Boyd one of the leading lawyers of Decatur at that time wooed and won the beautiful young widow and they were married 9/20/1855 in Macon county, Illinois. They established themselves in the home at 506 W. William street which was to be Mrs. Boyds home for the remainder of her life.
James P. Boyd gave up his law office and his clients in 1862 and enlisted in the 116th Illinois infantry which carried to the front about all that remained of Decatur's able bodied young men. He was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was shot through the lungs at the siege of Vicksburg. He partially recovered from this wound and returned to his regiment but was unfit for further military duty. He went to New Orleans on account of his health and was tendered there the position of circuit judge but his health did not permit him to accept it. His health grew worse in New Orleans and finally Mrs. Boyd went there and brought him home. He died at his home in Decatur in October, 1869 and is buried in Greenwood. It is a singular coincidence that Mrs. Boyds death and those of her two husbands occurred in October.
Mrs. Boyd has continued to live in Decatur with her son and daughter in the old homestead during her later years, her other daughter, Mrs. Meckeinburg being with her during the winter of 1923 and 1924, a large part of that years. Her later life has been in quiet retirement as befitted her years and tastes but it has been a matter of growing old gracefully.
Obituary furnished by Janet Donner
Taken from a write up on her 90th birthday. Review Oct 22, 1917 p7
Decatur Review 10/7/1925
Mrs. Susan Boyd the oldest resident of Decatur and the last of the pioneers, died at her home at 506 W. William street at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Had she lived till the 22 of this month she would have been ninety eight years old. She died of infirmities of age, although she preserved her physical and mental strength almost to the last. She has been noticeably failing for some time and her death was not unexpected.
Her son, Charles Packard of Decatur and here daughters, Mrs. Iola Baker of Decatur and Mrs. A. M. Meckeinburg of Pittsburgh were with her. Besides these she leaves two other sons, Frank S. Boyd and James P. Boyd of Spokane,Wash, there are four children dead. there are living seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Mrs. Boyds maiden name was McGovern and she was a daughter of Major Edward M. McGovern formerly of Kentucky who moved to Morgan county Illinois in the early thirties. Her mother died when she was nine years old and she was adopted by the family of Dr. John Grove Speer who then lived in Manchester, Morgan county but shortly afterward returned to Decatur. Mrs.Boyd had lived in Decatur for almost ninety years.
Her knowledge of Decatur extended from the time it was a crude prairie hamlet to the city of more than 50,000 people. Her clear mind and keen memory made her a meritable mine of local history. During recent years partial deafness made her a little more difficult to talk to but she was mentally alert and her friends enjoyed her to the last.
Dr. Speer came to Decatur in 1831. A year or two later he moved to Morgan county and then came back to Decatur becoming the towns first druggist. Susan Sylvania McGovern developed into a beautiful young woman.She was married twice. Her first husband was Dr. Edmund Packard, a brother of Silas Packard. She had three children by him. He went to California with the gold rush and took sick near Nevada City. Dr. Speer who was near there was called to attend him but he died and was buried on the Pacific slope.
James P. Boyd one of the leading lawyers of Decatur at that time wooed and won the beautiful young widow and they were married 9/20/1855 in Macon county, Illinois. They established themselves in the home at 506 W. William street which was to be Mrs. Boyds home for the remainder of her life.
James P. Boyd gave up his law office and his clients in 1862 and enlisted in the 116th Illinois infantry which carried to the front about all that remained of Decatur's able bodied young men. He was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was shot through the lungs at the siege of Vicksburg. He partially recovered from this wound and returned to his regiment but was unfit for further military duty. He went to New Orleans on account of his health and was tendered there the position of circuit judge but his health did not permit him to accept it. His health grew worse in New Orleans and finally Mrs. Boyd went there and brought him home. He died at his home in Decatur in October, 1869 and is buried in Greenwood. It is a singular coincidence that Mrs. Boyds death and those of her two husbands occurred in October.
Mrs. Boyd has continued to live in Decatur with her son and daughter in the old homestead during her later years, her other daughter, Mrs. Meckeinburg being with her during the winter of 1923 and 1924, a large part of that years. Her later life has been in quiet retirement as befitted her years and tastes but it has been a matter of growing old gracefully.
Obituary furnished by Janet Donner
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