Page:One of a thousand.djvu/85

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Bl iVNTOX. B< > NTON. /I Whitten, daughter of Thomas and Martha Louisa (Whitten) Clarke. Of this union were two children : Arthur Clarke Boyden, A. M., teacher of history and natural science, Bridgewater normal school, and Wallace Clarke Boyden, A. M., teacher of mathe- matics, Williston Seminary, Easthampton. Mr. Boyden has been clerk of Central Square Congregational society since 1863 ; trustee of Bridgewater Savings Bank; presi- dent of Plymouth County Teachers' Asso- ciation ; president of Massachusetts School- masters' Club ; vice-president of American Institute of Instruction ; secretary of National Council of Education ; and presi- dent of Old Colony Congregational Club. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Amherst College in 1S61. Under Mr. Boyden's management the normal school has enjoyed an enviable reputation with the friends of education. The quality of the teaching force sent out each year from this training school will bear comparison with that from any insti- tution of the kind in the country. BOYNTON, ELEAZAR, son of Eleazar and Sally (Blatchford) Boynton, was born September 29, 1824, in Rockport, Essex county. His early education was obtained in the natural course of attendance upon the public and private schools of his native village, supplemented by instruction at Phillips Academy, Andover. At twenty-one years of age Mr. Boyn- ton came to Boston and commenced his life work with Boynton & Miller, of which firm Hon. Nehemiah Boynton was the senior partner, wholesale grocers and ship chandlers, Mr. E. Boynton becoming a partner in 1849. The firm was subse- quently changed to Boynton & Hervey, Mr. E. Boynton and A. F. Hervey compos- ing the firm, and yet again in 1855 to N. Boynton & Co., the subject of this sketch being a member of the firm. In 1868 the Hon. Nehemiah Boynton died, and Mr. Eleazar Boynton has from that time been the senior partner — the firm name still remaining the same — N. Boynton & Co. They have in late years added an import- ant feature to their business, and their house is now one of the largest dealers in, and manufacturers of, cotton duck in the country. Mr. Boynton was married in Boston, October 9, 1852, to Mary, the daugh- ter of Simeon and Sally (Plummer) Chad- bourne. They have four children : Mary Dodge, Edward P., Nehemiah (the present popular pastor of the Union Congrega- tional church, Boston), and Elizabeth L. Boynton. Mr. Boynton's predilections and training led him early to take active work in benev- olent and religious circles. He was a valued member of the Mt. Vernon and ,- ^s*«  % ELEAZAR BOYNTON. Edwards Congregational churches in Bos- ton while he worshiped in that city, and has been an active and influential member of the Mystic Congregational church in Medford since his residence there. His fellow-citizens of that historic town have bestowed upon him many an official honor. He, in turn, has always been loyal to them and their interests, and notably of late years he has been honorably conspicu- ous in contributing largely by his wisdom, his experience in public affairs, and his wide acquaintance with the leading citizens of the Commonwealth, to the prosperity and integrity of the town he loves so well. Mr. Boynton was a member of the school committee of Boston while he lived in that city, and was likewise an active member of the same committee when he moved to Medford. lie was a member of the board of selectmen in 1861, when the war of the rebellion commenced, and chairman of the board in 1862, and to him is largely due the credit Medford has enjoyed as one of