Biography - Joshua B. Boynton
JOSHUA B. BOYNTON, one of the prominent and successful merchants of
Maquon and Supervisor of Maquon Township, came to Knox County in the fall of
1866 from Fort Wayne, Ind. For one year after his arrival he resided in
Orange Township, where he was engaged in farming. Subsequently he removed to
Haw Creek Township and there followed agriculture. In 1869 he came to Maquon
and was engaged in the butcher business in that place for one year. Soon
afterward he formed a partnership with G. G. Shearer for the purpose of
carrying on the grocery business, under the firm name of Shearer & Boynton.
This partnership existed for one year, when Mr. B. bought out the interest
of his partner and conducted the trade alone until 1877. He then formed a
partnership with William Swigart, and since that time the business has been
carried on under the style of Swigart & Boynton. They do an average business
of $20,000 annually.
Mr. Boynton was born in Augusta, Me., June 4, 1828. He was but a lad of five
years when his parents moved to Lorain County, Ohio, where Mr. Boynton spent
the early years of his life. He had received but a limited education, and
assisted his father, who was a merchant, in the store. In 1865 Mr. Boynton
came to Ft. Wayne, Ind., but was engaged in no regular business until his
arrival in Knox County, in 1867.
The marriage of Mr. Boynton was solemnized at Maquon, in September, 1870, at
which time he was united with Miss Rachel Bull [the Illinois Statewide
Marriage Index lists a Joshua B. Boyington marrying a Rachel Bull in Knox
County September 15, 1870], daughter of Walter and Betsey (Bull) Bull,
natives of Maryland. The parents resided for a number of years in Ohio prior
to their coming to Knox County. They both died in Haw Creek Township.
The wife of our subject was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in the year
1842. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton have had born to them six children, five of whom
survive. The record is as follows: Harriet Nay, born in 1872; Elizabeth Ann,
1874; William Walter, 1876; Emma Josephine, 1878; Edna Estelle, 1880; Sarah
Isabella, 1885. William died at the age of two years.
Mr. Boynton was elected Supervisor of Maquon Township in the spring of 1881,
and has been the incumbent of that office up to the present time, filling
the same with credit to himself and satisfaction to the community. He has
also been Township Treasurer and Trustee for several years and School
Director for six years. He was one of the number who enlisted in the Home
Guards and was in the Morgan Raid in Ohio. Politically he is a supporter of
the principals advocated by the Republican party.
The parents of our subject were Daniel T. and Harriet O. (Laughton) Boynton,
natives of Maine. The father was of Irish and the mother of English
ancestry. The grandfather of our subject was in the War of 1812. The parents
of Mr. Boynton removed to Ohio, and thence to Fort Wayne, Ind., at which
place the mother died. The father still survives and is a resident of
Kansas.
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago
