Jeremiah B. Boyd

JEREMIAH B. BOYD, of Parsons, Kansas, familiarly known as "Jerry," is a self-made man in every way, and has secured for himself a reputation as a keen judge of horseflesh and fair dealing in that line, - having made this subject a life study. He was born at Fredericktown, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1853, and is a son of G. A. and Lavina (Wise) Boyd. The latter is deceased, and the former is a stationary engineer at Galena, Kansas. Our subject has one brother, W. H. Boyd, who resides near Parsons, and is a prominent farmer and stock raiser. One sister died many years ago.

While a mere boy, Jeremiah B. Boyd left his home in Pennsylvania and was virtually reared in LaSalle county, Illinois, where he attended the common schools. While in Illinois his marriage with Julia Hungerford was consummated. One daughter was born to them, who is now deceased. In 1877 Mr. Boyd went west, and located just across the Labette county line in Neosho county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He was one of the first to introduce Percheron horses into that section of the country. Gradually Mr. Boyd turned his attention more and more to dealing in stock until he finally leased his farm, and has since devoted his entire time to stock. For five years he was connected with J. M. Grant, of Oswego, but for the past several years he has conducted business alone at Parsons, which has practically been his home since 1878. He buys and ships horses, and also makes a specialty of buying thin horses for a small sum and, before disposing of them, putting them into No. 1, salable condition. At his home place, a barn, 50 feet square, is prepared for this purpose; two-thirds of the building is utilized to keep horses and mules on full feed, being provided with feeding troughs which are constantly supplied with oats, hay, corn, etc. Every possible convenience calculated to reduce the work to a minimum is to be found about the barn, such as water works, water troughs, etc. Two assistants are usually employed.

Mr. Boyd attends to the greater part of his extensive business personally, however, dealing not only in Percheron and other standard breeds, but also handles some Oldenburg German Coach horses. In addition, he makes a specialty of supplying high-class draught horses and teams and fire department teams. He is justly regarded as a leader in horse dealing. He has concucted his business most successfully, and now has a wide reputation all over Southern Kansas. He purchased his present residence at 1817 Clark avenue, in 1888, and it is his intention to replace this with a handsome modern structure in the near future. In his political sentiments, he is in accord with the Republican party. He began with nothing except an abundant supply of good health and will power, and his prosperity is solely due to his own efforts, integrity and ability to make good bargains. He has won the esteem of those with whom he has business dealings, and also of those whom he meets in a purely social way.