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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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SOLON R. BOYNTON, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Sparta, comes of one of the oldest American families. They came originally from Yorkshire, England, emigrating to America about the year 1620. Our subject’s great-grandparents were Richard and Charlotte Boynton, and the former reached the advanced age of ninety years. The grandparents were Richard and Elizabeth (Davis) Boynton, natives of New Hampshire. The former was a member of the Masonic fraternity until the death of Morgan. He served two years in the Revolutionary War. His father was a merchant of Salem, Mass., and died when on board his own vessel on the Atlantic.

John Boynton, the Doctor’s father, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1816, and there remained until he had attained his majority. In 1838 he married Harriet Whitney, who was born in Boston in 1817, and was a daughter of Stephen and Ruth (Whitmore) Whitney. Her grandparents, William and Rebecca (Cody) Whitney, were natives of Roxbury, Mass., and the former served in the Revolutionary War, in which he was wounded. He afterward received a pension in recognition of his services. Upon their marriage, Mr. Boynton and his wife removed to Quincy, Ill. When a youth he had served a seven years’ apprenticeship to the carpenter’s trade, which he followed throughout life. In 1841 he went to St. Louis, where he was employed as a contractor. His last days were spent in Ridge Prairie, St. Clair County, Ill., where he died in 1888. He held membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, for many years was one of its local ministers, and by his labors did much good in the world.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boynton were born eleven children. Willis and the child next in order of birth are both deceased. John R., an eminent surgeon, who is connected with a medical school of Chicago, married Framelia Curtis and has two children, Hattie and Nonine. Georgia is the wife of William Bodiker, a coal dealer of Murphysboro, by whom she has a daughter, Susa. Julia is now deceased. The Doctor is the next younger. Otis, deceased, was a contractor. Susie is the widow of John Aylmer, of Murphysboro, and the mother of one child, Hattie. Joseph, who is a master mechanic living near Duquoin, married Maggie Reed, and they have three children: Lillie, Joseph and John R. Two children of the Boynton family died in infancy.

Dr. Boynton was born in 1852 in St. Louis County, Mo., in the old Seven Mile House on the St. Charles Rock Road. He there lived until five years of age, when his father removed to Ridge Prairie. In his boyhood he was employed in farm labor and in aiding his father as a carpenter. He then studied engineering, and in his leisure hours read medicine. He took his first course of lectures in 1880, in the St. Louis Homeopathic Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1882. In the spring of the following year he located in Sparta, and has had a constantly growing practice. He has won considerable note as a surgeon and is now local surgeon for the Mobile & Ohio Railroad.

In 1872 the Doctor wedded Miss Zoe Whitaker, a native of England, who crossed the Atlantic with her brother on the Great Eastern in 1860, and located in St. Clair County. They now have one son, Charles O. The parents are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and are people of prominence in this community, holding an enviable position in social circles. Dr. Boynton is a self-made man. He has been very successful in his under takings, and in his profession is rapidly growing in popularity. In his political views he is a Republican. He holds membership with the Masonic fraternity and also with the Railroad Surgical Association.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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