Biography - J. W. BOYER
J. W. Boyer, a well-known farmer of Sargent township, and the present
census enumerator for the same, was born in the vicinity of Ashmore, Coles
county, Illinois, on the 11th day of April, 1850. For twenty-five years he
has been identified with the industrial growth of his township, and is well
and favorably known as an intelligent and upright citizen.
He is the son of James and Susan (Mack) Boyer, the former a native of
Virginia, and the latter was born in Kentucky. As early as 1835 James Boyer
came and settled with his father, Joseph, who was also born in Virginia, and
who settled in the neighborhood of Ashmore. Here Joseph Boyer became one of
the first settlers and afterward went to Missouri, where he died. William
Mack (maternal grandfather) was also one of the early settlers in the same
vicinity. James Boyer (father) is at present residing in the state of
Kansas, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife is still living in
the same year, of her age.
Joseph Boyer was reared on a farm in Douglas county, where he received a
very good common school education, and went to Westfield College four terms.
His farm of two hundred and nineteen acres, which lies in the northeast part
of the township, is well improved and valuable. Nearly ever since Mr.
Bower's residence here he has served efficiently as school director, and in
1900 was appointed census enumerator of Sargent township. In 1875 he married
Josie, daughter of William Hopkins (see further notice of the Hopkins family
on another page), who was one of the pioneer settlers in this section of the
county. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have seven children living: Mamie, Robert, Belva,
Clinton, Maggie, James and Floyd.
Extracted 03 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, page 273.
