Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 497 

PROF. FRANK L. BOYD is a liberally educated, well-informed gentleman, and has charge of the Franklin School in Wichita, where he is ably discharging the duties devolving upon him in the responsible position he occupies, giving general satisfaction to all. He is a native of Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind., born Oct. 27, 1855. John Boyd, his grandfather, a native of Virginia, followed the occupation of general farming in that State until his removal in 1800 to Kentucky. There he carried on farming on an extensive scale during the remainder of his life.

            Elisha Boyd, father of our subject, was born and reared on the home farm in Kentucky. He was a self-educated man, and made farming his life work. In 1824 he married, and shortly after removed to Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. There his wife died, leaving three children—Thomas, William and Ann. Subsequently Mr. Boyd married again, the maiden name of his second wife being Mary J. Tilford, a native of Indiana, by whom he had four children— Frank L., Charles T., Ella and Lovie. In 1858 Mr. Boyd moved with his family to Coles County, Ill., and settled on a farm one mile from Mattoon. Thirteen years later he retired from active labor and moved to Carbondale, the same State, partly on account of his health, and partly that his children might receive greater educational advantages. Two years later his death occurred in that place.

            Prof. Boyd, of this sketch, was reared on a farm and attended the district schools, where, being a studious, ambitious scholar, he received a very good elementary education. He was fifteen years old when he moved to Carbondale with his parents, and the following four years he was employed in the post-office and bank. He then took a two-years course at the Southern Illinois Normal School in that place, and afterward taught for seven years in the public schools of Jackson County, Ill. His steady application to school work seriously impaired his health, and in order to recuperate he decided to try the invigorating climate of Kansas. Accordingly he came in 1884 to Sedgwick County with his family, and for two years thereafter was engaged in teaching in Clearwater. He was then called to take his present position in Wichita. He has a corps of five assistant instructors, and an enrollment of more than 400 pupils. The Franklin School, under Prof. Boyd's excellent management, holds a high rank among the educational institutions of Wichita, which are second to none in the State.

            Our subject was married, Nov. 10, 1878, to Miss Lizzie Rendleman, of Makawanda, Ill. To them have been born four children—Charles, Nora, Homer L. and Emma.

            In politics Prof. Boyd is a Republican; socially he is an Odd Fellow; religiously he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and hold an honored position in literary and social circles.

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