William Lewers Boyd ~ Margaret L. Anderson

Among the most prominent and successful hardware merchants of Laurens, William Lewers Boyd holds a conspicuous and honorable place. He was born in Laurens county, May 31, 1832. His father, Isaac P. Boyd, was also a native of Laurens, born November 30, 1801, and was by occupation a mechanic. He died Mary 3, 1866. Isaac P. Boyd was the son of William Boyd, a native of Ireland, who settled in Laurens county upon his first arrival in America. The maiden name of Mrs. Isaac Boyd was Jane S. Blake, born October 31, 1802, daughter of Robert Blake, a native of Newberry county. She died July 6, 1875. Her ancestors were also of Irish lineage. William L. Boyd was brought up on his father's farm, receiving a good English education. He remained home assisting his father until twenty-six years of age. Through no fault of his own his father had become involved in debt, and he remained at home to assist in the payment till the last cent was paid. He then engaged in teaching for two years, entering after that the Confederate service in 1861. He enlisted in Company H, James battalion, as a private, subsequently being promoted to first sergeant. He served in that command about one year, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. Returning home he taught two years more and re-entered the army in 1864, as captain of Company C, of Col. Spearman's regiment, in Gen. Goodwin's brigade of the South Carolina reserves in which position he served until the close of the war. He then returned home and was for a few months engaged as a teacher at different points, being anxious to improve his finances. He then spent one year on his father's farm, the latter meanwhile having died. During the year 1867, he acted as agent, secretary and treasurer of the Laurens railroad, to which position he had been elected by the directors. During the years 1868 and 1869, he was engaged as a clerk in a hardware store at Laurens, being the same one which he now owns. He was married December 9, 1869, to Margaret L. Anderson, daughter of James Anderson, formerly of Enosee river, Spartanburg county. After his marriage he engaged in farming for three years upon a farm he had purchased in Laurens county, in which business he was remarkably successful.

In 1872, Mr. Boyd and his brother James M. Boyd, purchased the hardware store in which he had formerly served as clerk. The firm of Boyd Bros. continued until dissolved by the death of the brother. On May 22, 1876, he succeeded the firm as sole proprietor, and he has owned and continued it at a handsome profit ever since. He has been successful and now owns one of the best stores in Laurens, and two or three nice farms in the county. For many years Mr. Boyd was a member of the grocery firm of Boyd, Pluss & Co., in which he did the largest business of the kind ever done in Laurens. This firm was dissolved in 1885. Mr. Boyd is now a partner of Mr. George B. Anderson in the machinery business. He is one of the proprietors of the Laurens Spoke & Handle Works, and a stockholder in the Laurens Oil & Fertilizer company, and also a stockholder and director in the Peoples Loan & Exchange bank. He is a stockholder and director of the Laurens Building & Loan association. In politics he is a democrat, and has served as auditor of the county for one term, besides being a member of the common council for two years. Mr. Boyd is an elder in the Presbyterian church, a member of the Masonic order and of the Knights of Honor. He ranks among the most substantial men of the city of Laurens, and what he has and is, is the fruit of his own efforts. As a democrat he was appointed commissioner of election for Laurens county, and rendered valuable service during the campaign of 1876, which resulted in the election of Gen. Wade Hampton as governor of South Carolina. He is highly respected throughout the county.

Source: Cyclopedia of eminent and representative men of the Carolinas of the nineteenth century : with a brief historical introduction of South Carolina by General Edward McCrady, Jr., and on North Carolina by Hon. Samuel A. Ashe; Micro-reproduction of original published: Madison, Wisc. : Brant & Fuller, 1892.- FHL Films 22502, 18059

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