Eli Wilson Boyd, farmer, post office Turtle Creek, is a son of Thomas Boyd and Sarah (nee Wilson) Boyd, of Irish descent, and was born Oct. 17, 1837, in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland county, PA. His grandfather came from Ireland and settled in Westmoreland county, where he died at the age of ninety-five. Eli W. Boyd was reared a farmer, and completed his education by a year each at Madison and Irwin Academies. He married, November 1, 1859, Sarah Shaw, and engaged in farming in his native town. Three years later he came to Patton township, where he has since resided. He has a fine home, embracing three and a half acres near Turtle Creek, three farms covering 330 acres, and is a two-fifths owner in the Spring Hill coal mines, of which he is superintendent. Mr. Boyd married Miss Shaw, and their union has been blessed with six children: Lily S. Boyd, wife of John S. McIntosh, of Wilkinsburg; Sadie W. Boyd, wife of G. E. F. Gray, of Homestead; David Shaw Boyd, engineer at Spring Hill works; Margaret Brown Boyd; James Kelso Boyd and Martha Gray Boyd at home. The family belong to the U. P. Church; Mr. Boyd is a republican. Mrs. Boyd is the only survivor of seven children born to David and Lydia (nee Stewart) Shaw. David Shaw was born July 9, 1803, in North Versailles, and died Jan 17, 1888, at the home of his daughter. His parents, David and Jane Shaw, came from Ireland and York county, PA., respectively. The former died in 1834, aged seventy-three, and the latter in 1866, aged one hundred and two. They had nine children, of whom the youngest, William Shaw, now resides in Bellevue, Allegheny county. The others died at their residences as follows: Samuel Shaw, in Patton township; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Shaw, in North Versailles; Robert Shaw, in Patton; Margaret Shaw, wife of John Stewart, in North Huntingdon; Thomas Shaw, in Wooster, Ohio; and John Shaw, in Allegheny City. The family was always identified with the U. P. Church. The voters were all whigs or republicans, and nearly all were plain farmers.

Source: History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: including its early settlement and progress to the present time; a description of its historic and interesting localities; its cities, towns and villages; religious, educational, social and military history; mining, manufacturing and commercial interests; improvements, resources, statistics, etc. Also portraits of some of its prominent men, and biographies of many of its representative citizens; Author: Cushing, Thomas, 1821. FHL Fiche 6088079, 6088080