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The TALES you probably never heard about

A FENIAN RAID VETERAN

Death of an Old Time Wellander and Former Municipal Clerk

[Welland Telegraph, 30 November 1909]

Early Friday morning one of Welland’s oldest and most highly respected residents passed to the great beyond in the person of Henry Boyd. The late Mr. Boyd was suffering from Bright’s Disease for nearly a year. He was taken to his bed about three months ago and since that time has been gradually declining. On Friday morning at four o’clock he passed away at his home, East Main Street, aged 65 years, 10 months and 16 days.

The Boyd family is a very old one, the late Mr. Boyd’s father, James Boyd, coming from Ireland and settling at what is now Welland Junction many years ago. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Page, came from Vermont, U.S.

Henry Boyd was born at Welland Junction on the 29th day of January, 1844. When fifteen years of age he left his parental home and went to St. Catharines, where he worked for some time, later going to Thorold., from which place he sailed on the Great Lakes for ten seasons. Tiring of this work he went to Oswego, where he enlisted  in the 104th Regiment of New York and fought in the engagements of the American Civil War. After that he came to Thorold where he joined a company of volunteers and fought in the Battle of Ridgeway for which he received a medal. He joined the Orange Lodge in 1863, and was a chartered member at the time of his death.

He was united in marriage at Thorold in 1870 to Amelia Hanna. In 1880 he returned to Welland and from that time, twenty-two years, until he received the appointment of Town Clerk, he was employed by M. Beatty & Sons. In 1902 he was appointed Town Clerk of Welland, which position he held until his death. He was librarian for the public library for fourteen years and during that time discharged his duties in a most commendable manner.

The deceased leaves behind him a sorrowing wife and one son, George, now Town Clerk. Three sons predeceased him. Mrs. Armstong of Peterboro is a sister.

The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon from his late residence on East Main Street to Holy Trinity Church, where service was conducted by the Rev. James Thompson. The funeral procession was one unusually large and was headed by the Welland Brass Band playing the Dead March. In the ranks was a large presentation of Wallace L.O.L, and there were many others from nearby lodges. The following acted as pall-bearers-George Turner, Wm. McCoomb, Thorold; W.D. Bowman, Niagara Falls; M. Whinney, Fonthill; J.D. Stephens and John Leach, Welland.

Interment took place  in St. Paul’s cemetery, Port Robinson.

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