Robert Boyd ~ Catherine (Blink) Diesch

Robert Boyd is one of the farmers of Henry County who has reached a prominent position as an agriculturist. He is the proprietor of 400 acres of land, finely situated, and in a valuable condition generally.

He was born April 5, 1839, in the city of Montreal, Canada. His ancestral stock is of Scottish origin, and he is the son of James Boyd and Margaret (Rutherford) Boyd.

In his infancy he was taken from the Dominion (Canada) to the State of New York, and he remained in the Empire State until he was eight years of age. He was then brought West by a man named Benjamin Graham. The latter located in Henry County in the fall of 1848, in Crocker's Grove. Mr. Boyd passed his early life in farm labor, receiving a compensation suited to the kind and quality of the work he was able to perform. He often received only his board, and his wages for a long time was only $8 a month. He was the object of the malice of the man who was his reputed protector, and he was crippled by the effects of his brutality. They parted company at the period when the fatherless child was 14. But he was industrious and honest, and found no difficulty in obtaining work suited to his condition, and managed to save his earning until, in 1864 he was able to buy 80 acres of land in Cambridge Township. To this he has added until he enjoys the repute ascribed to him at the beginning of this personal narration. Of the tract of 400 acres of which he is the owner, 154 acres is located adjoining to the village of Cambridge. Mr. Boyd is a Democrat, his political persuasion.

It should have been mentioned in the proper place that his mother, Margaret (Rutherford) Boyd, was a second time married and accompanied her husband, Captain William J. H. Lee, of the British army, to India, in the service of England. She remained there 21 years. She returned to London, and at the date of this writing she is in the United States visiting her relatives. One of her sons is in the British service in India, and is action in the capacity of a civil engineer.

Mr. Boyd was married to Mrs. Catherine (Blink) Diesch. By her first husband she had three children: Mary, Frank and Ellen. Three sons are included in the household of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd. They are named: George H. Boyd, Robert L. Boyd, and Charles D Boyd. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are connected in membership with the Methodist Church.

Source: Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois. Includes index. Micro-reproduction of original published: Chicago : Biographical Pub., 1885. - FHL Film 934986 Item 3

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