Martin L. Boyd ~ Emma A. Fisher

One of the citizens of real worth in Columbus is Martin L. Boyd, who is a member of the law firm of Boyd and Boyd, with offices at 101 North High Street. He was born at Tippecanoe, Harrison County, Ohio, February 22, 1865, the son of George and Eliza V. (Markey) Boyd.

George Boyd was born on a farm near Westchester, Ohio, July 16, 1827, and attended the district schools. He also attended Hagerstown College in Carroll County and spent the greater part of his life as a mill owner on Big Stillwater Creek. He was a Democrat and a member of the United Presbyterian Church. His death occurred in 1914 and he is buried at Freeport, Ohio. Eliza V. (Markey) Boyd was born near Tippecanoe, Ohio, September 5, 1837, and now lives with her son, William Albert Boyd, on the old homestead. She is past ninety-two years of age. Mrs. Boyd is the daughter of William Markey, and the granddaughter of William Markey who served in the Revolutionary War as a member of the Fifth Maryland Regiment, with the rank of sergeant. He enlisted on December 4, 1776, and was discharged October 14, 1777. He then came to Ohio about 1800 and settled in Jefferson County, later removing to Harrison County, where he died at the age of ninety-four years. Seven children were born to George and Eliza V. (Markey) Boyd, as follows: Belinda Boyd, married Joseph K. Conwell, lives at Uhrichsville, Ohio; William Albert Boyd, lives on the homestead at Tippecanoe, Ohio; Eliza B. Boyd, the widow of Rev. Albert M. Billingsley, who died in 1929, and she lives at Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Martin L. Boyd, the subject of this sketch; Anna B. Boyd, was the wife of Frank Grove, who now lives at Tippecanoe, Ohio, and Mrs. Grove died December 27, 1929; Mary M. Boyd, married Charles F. Carruthers, lives near Stillwater, Ohio; and Arthur M. Boyd, lives near New Concord, Ohio.

John Boyd, great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to this country from Ireland with his two brothers prior to the War of 1812. They settled in Coshocton County, Ohio, and later he removed to a farm near Westchester, Ohio, where William Boyd, grandfather of Martin L. Boyd, was born. The latter became a successful merchant at Westchester, Ohio, about 1831.

Martin L. Boyd grew up on his father's farm near Tippecanoe, Ohio, and attended the district schools. He taught school for several years and is a graduate of Scio College, class of 1890. He served as superintendent of the Kinsman schools in Trumbull County, Ohio, and during a four year period also studied law with D. A. Hollingsworth, of Cadiz, Ohio. Mr. Boyd later entered the Law College of Ohio State University, from which he received his degree in 1897 and began the practice of law in Columbus. He spent more than fifteen years in active practice in Columbus with Hiram Bromson, and after the latter's death engaged in private practice until 1927, at which time his son, Robert E. Boyd, became his partner. They have offices at 101 North High Street. Mr. Boyd was a candidate for the Ohio Legislature on the Democratic ticket in 1901 and was defeated in a close race. In 1910 he was also candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney of Franklin County, and two years later entered the campaign for nomination to Congress against C. L. Brumbaugh, but was defeated by 800 votes. Mr. Boyd was one of the most ardent admirers and supporters of President Woodrow Wilson in Franklin County.

Mr. Boyd was particularly interested in the initiative and referendum movement during Governor Patterson's brief administration and was delegated by the Direct Legislation League to urge the legislature to adopt a resolution for the submission of a constitutional amendment on the initiative and referendum. After the death of Governor Patterson the work was later carried on by Herbert S. Bigelow, of Cincinnati, and finally became a part of the constitution.

Mr. Boyd was also an unsuccessful candidate for the office of common pleas judge of Franklin County in 1916 on the non-partisan ticket. He has described as a fitting epitaph to his political races the following lines: "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, it might have been."

In 1893 Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. Fisher, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, the daughter of Benjamin and Cynthia (Shepler) Fisher, natives of Ohio. Mr. Fisher died in 1910 and his wife died in 1925. Both are buried at Dover, Ohio. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyd: Justin R. Boyd, a graduate of North High School, attended Ohio State University, served during the World War, married Miss Thelma Tomlinson, and they have a daughter, Nancy Jane Boyd; Dorothy Elaine Boyd, a graduate of North High School and Ohio State University, married F. G. Hoskins, who is county agent for Lake County. They live at Painesville, Ohio, and have two daughters, Jean Helen Boyd and Lois Ann (Boyd) Hoskins; and Robert E. Boyd, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history.

Mr. Boyd and his family hold membership in the Methodist Church. He has always been identified with the Democratic party in Politics.

Source: History of Franklin County, Ohio; by Opha Moore; Topeka, Kan.: Historical Pub. Co.- FHL Fiche 6048415

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