The Boyd-Gaillard Papers

CHAPTER 3

THE BOYD-GAILLARD PAPERS

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In 1903 my grandfather, William R. Boyd, traveled to Dahlonega, Georgia to visit his cousins whom he had never met before. Several years earlier, Colonel Wier Boyd had visited his brother Samuel in Ozark, Missouri. William's trip was the first and only time any of the Ozark Boyd relatives had ever visited with their relation in Georgia. It was not until 1983 (80 years later), when this would occur again. My wife Estelle and I traveled to Dahlonega, Georgia and met with Mrs. Martha Boyd Abney and Mrs. Emily Boyd Ussery of Atlanta, Georgia. They are the two daughters of Joseph Wier Boyd, son of Colonel Wier Boyd.

We enjoyed the three days of visiting very much and toured much of the Dahlonega area where our forefathers lived. It was while we were here that Martha and Emily told me of the story written by their brother Wier L. Boyd. It was a story about their father called, A Memorial to Joseph Wier Boyd. After Estelle and I had returned home, I received a copy of this story and was given permission to reprint it in this book along with some other papers from the Boyd-Gaillaird collection. So without further comment, I present them here in this book for other family relatives and any other readers.

The following article was taken from a Christian County newspaper at Ozark, Missouri in the year 1903-04. It has been preserved for the past 80 years in the Boyd-Gaillaird papers at the Lumpkin, County Library in Dahlonega, Georgia.

"Public Administrator W. R. Boyd arrived at home Monday from his trip to Dahlonega, Georgia, where he had been to visit relatives. His father, Judge Boyd, was born and raised at that place, and came from there to Missouri about sixty-five years ago and has never been back. Will was born and raised at Ozark and had never before seen any of his numerous Georgia relatives, but he says they gave him a warm welcome and treated him royally during his four days stay there. He says they seem to be good citizens and prosperous people, almost all of the men of the four families of his cousins being teachers and professional men, and several of the women are teachers. It is interesting to hear Mr. Boyd tell of his trip. Among other things, he says he did not see a familiar face from the time he left Springfield Christmas night until he got back there last Sunday night, and as he had never been out on so extended a trip it was a novel experience for him.

M E M O R I A L

J O S E P H W I E R B O Y D

*******

December

1 9 6 4

MEMORIAL TO JOSEPH WIER BOYD

FORWARD

Wier Lovelace Boyd

My three sisters, Sarah Boyd Barrett, Martha Boyd Abney and Emma Boyd Ussery and I have collaborated in compiling this memorial to our father, Joseph Wier Boyd, and their loyal cooperation in this undertaking has been of great help. We have striven to be concise and to eliminate unnecessary details, although this has been difficult to do, since our father was gifted and versatile, and was unusually active through his life.

Invaluable information regarding the Boyd family and ancestry has been obtained from our Grandfather Wier Boyd's family Bible and from that furnished over a period of years by our father's sisters, Mrs. Emma Boyd Witt and Mrs. Ida Boyd Stanton, and by his niece, Mrs. Sallie Rudolph Quillian.

* * * * *

D E D I C A T I O N

This memorial to our father, Joseph Wier Boyd, is affectionately dedicated to our children, our grandchildren and our posterity.

* * * * *

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance given me in the preparation of this memorial by my college mate, Professor Henry E. Nelson, who was one of my father's finest students at North Georgia College.

BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS LIFE

Wier Lovelace Boyd

Joseph Wier Boyd, the youngest child of Wier and Sarah Jane Sitton Boyd, was born on January 28, 1865 at Dahlonega, Georgia. There were one brother and four sisters living at the time of Joseph's birth. His Oldest brother, Augustus Franklin Boyd, was killed during the Civil War in the Battle of Baker's Creek, Mississippi on May 16, 1863.

The paternal ancestors of Joseph Wier Boyd were Scotch-Irish who originally lived in Scotland and later moved to the County of Antrim, Northern Ireland. North Ireland is separated from southwest Scotland by the North Channel, which the Boyd ancestors evidently crossed in going to Ireland. This section of Ireland is called Ulster, and the people who were called Scots-Irish were Protestant Presbyterians.

James Boyd and his wife Nancy Wier Boyd, grandparents of Wier Boyd, the father of Joseph Wier Boyd, came to America about the year 1795 and settled in South Carolina. The maternal ancestors of Joseph Wier Boyd were English, and came to America prior to the American Revolution. The paternal grandparents of Sarah Jane Sitton, mother of Joseph Wier Boyd, were John Sitton and Sarah Rigby Sitton who settle in White County, Georgia. Her parents were Joseph Sitton and Lydia Tarrant Sitton who also lived in White County, Georgia.

The parental home of Joseph Wier Boyd in Dahlonega was located on several acres of land, and the old fashioned two story frame house was situated in about the center of the land. There were gardens and orchards on the north and east sides of the house. The well was located on the front west corner of the house, and it had a plentiful supply of cold, clear, free-stone water. There was a fine grove of large spruce pine trees in the front yard, and their fragrance is unforgettable. On the north of the house could be seen a large segment of the Blue Ridge Mountains from ten to twenty miles distant. Included in this segment are Blood and Slaughter Mountains where a fierce battle between two Indian tribes was fought. Blood is next to the highest mountain in the State of Georgia. Also included are Black and Cedar Mountains which are about twelve miles from Dahlonega.

As father was very much younger than his brother and sisters, his childhood was lonely to some extent. However, he undoubtedly gained much from his association with older people. His mother owned an old fashioned grand piano which his sisters played, and which he learned to play entirely by ear. He also came in contact with his three maternal bachelor uncles, Marion, Warren and Ben Sitton, all of whom had a refining influence on him. Marion Sitton was literary and musical. He delighted his listeners by reciting Shakespeare by the hour. He played on his violin beautiful old waltzes and selections from the grand operas. Our father learned to play all of these pieces, and inherited Uncle Marion's old violin on which he played many years for our entertainment. He also learned to play beautifully on the guitar and harmonica. From his Uncle Warren Sitton he learned something about surveying and higher mathematics, and inherited Uncle Warren's compass with which he did land surveying over a long period of time. Uncle Ben Sitton ran a mercantile store in Dahlonega.

When our father was twelve years old it fell to his lot to take care of his little five months old nephew, John Boyd Rudolph, whose mother Lydia Francis Boyd Randolph had died at that time. John Boyd Rudolph grew up in Gainesville, and became an outstanding and well liked physician. I remember seeing him a number of times when I was a young boy. When both of us were in military service during World War I, we met again briefly at Camp Forrest in Chickamauga Park, Georgia. He died in April 1929, a year after his uncle, Joseph Wier Boyd died.

As our father was by himself much of the time he became reflective, serious minded and shy. He loved nature and all beautiful things. He had the soul of a poet, and before long was writing poetry (see appendix). He took a delight in carving things out of wood with his pocket knife, and later doing beautiful cabinet work. He made a handsome bookcase which he presented to the Sigma Nu Fraternity of which he was a member while in college. This piece of furniture is now owned by Mrs Mary Lou Quillian Hedden, his grand niece.

His father and mother were devoutly religious, and were members of the Methodist Church. His father studied John Wesley's written works and Clark's Commentaries on the Bible, and our father inherited these books. His father was also a local minister, and preached often. The religious influence in his home was an important factor in the formation of our father's character.

At the time Joseph was growing up there was no public secondary school system in Georgia, and for this reason he attended private schools. He first went to school with his sister Ida to Mrs. Josephine Whelchel, affectionately known as "Aunt Jo". He completed his secondary education at Dahlonega Academy. He did most of his studying around the kitchen fireplace. The first books he read were Dicken's Child's History of England, Pilgrims Progress, Thadeus of Warsaw, and Roman History.

In September 1880 at the age of fifteen he entered Freshman Class of the North Georgia College. Early during his college career he joined the Phi Mu Literary Society in which he received splendid training in the art of debate. He took an active part in the debates both in the Society Hall and in public. He was on a public debate with two colleagues and three opponents on the subject, RESOLVED THAT RELIGION HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE TO CIVILIZATION THAN SCIENCE. The original manuscript of his speech on the affirmative side reveals logical, irrefutable reasoning. He was also a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.

He received four years of rigorous military training, and won the individual drill contest for which he was presented the gold medal by Captain Hoyale, U. S. Army. Commandant of Cadets. His mother had the pleasure of seeing him win this contest. In his Senior year he was Captain of Company B in the Cadet Battalion. Among his papers there was recently found a complete roster of his company in his hand writing which he had made at the time of his graduation. After their college days many of the members of his company became useful and distinguished citizens, one of whom was Preston Arkwright who for many years was president of the Georgia Power Company and a noted citizen of Atlanta.

During his vacations Joseph learned the carpenter's trade, and in this way he earned enough money to pay for his cadet uniforms and other incidental expenses. He helped build a number of residences and store buildings in Dahlonega. He built a beautiful wardrobe out of the lumber from a large walnut tree which had grown in the yard, and gave the wardrobe to his mother.

After having completed the prescribed four year course of study, he graduated at the age of nineteen on June 11, 1884 with first honors, and was granted the bachelor of arts degree. After his graduation Joseph taught two Lumpkin County schools; Philippi and Jones' Chapel. Later he studied law under the direction of his father, Colonel Wier Boyd, who was an able and prominent lawyer in the Northeastern Circuit. He was admitted to the Bar on April 12, 1887, after having successfully stood an oral examination conducted in open court by presiding Judge C. J. Wellborn in Cleveland, White County, Georgia. For several years Joseph practiced law with his father, took a keen interest in his cases, and was successful.

In September 1887 he accepted a position in the Gainsville Military College as a teacher and Commandant of Cadets. He taught there for a year or more.

In the summer of 1889 he was offered the position of teacher in the newly established Young Harris College, which was a Methodist institution, and was located in the very heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Georgia. He reported there for duty under President Charles C. Spense, who was also a minister in the North Georgia Conference. He first taught in a summer school; then the regular school term opened in October 1889. At first he was in charge of the elementary and high school grades. Because of an inadequate number of faculty members, teaching started at 7 a.m. and ended after 4 p.m. The college was named after Judge Young L. G. Harris of Athens, Georgia, who contributed materially to the support of the school. The principal subjects which our father taught at Young Harris were Latin, Greek, chemistry, economics and mathematics. In June 1891 he was ordained as a local Methodist minister by Rev. Charles C. Spense at Mount Zion Church.

On November 22, 1891 our father was married to Miss Emma Irene Lovelace, who was a teacher in the Primary Department of the college. She came to Young Harris from Rome, Georgia, and was the daughter of John Lovelace, who was the proprietor of a shoe store and who was a prominent Methodist. While living at Young Harris, the following four children were born to this couple: Wier Lovelace Boyd, born November 30, 1892; Ernest Harris Boyd, born April 12, 1896, died July 11, 1948; Sarah Carolyn Boyd, born August 3, 1897, and Joseph Embry Boyd, born December 21, 1898, died January 21, 1948.

Our father taught in Young Harris College for a period of ten years and I have heard him say that he gave the best years of his life to Young Harris College. This college did much, and continues to do much, for the young people of northeast Georgia, as well as those from many other parts of the country. It not only gives them a liberal education, but instills in them the finest Christian ideals. Many useful and distinguished citizens throughout the country are proud to call Young Harris their Alma Mater.

In 1899 the Board of Trustees of North Georgia College, a branch of the University of Georgia, at Dahlonega offered our father the chair of mathematics and astronomy, which he accepted. So in August of that year he moved his family to Dahlonega. He performed his duties there as a college professor faithfully and well. He was held in high esteem by the students, who said that he had the faculty of giving perfectly clear explanations of complex mathematical problems.

His public lectures on astronomy illustrated by stereoptican slides were fascinating and awe inspiring. During the course of his lectures he often quoted the Nineteenth Psalm.

During our residence in Dahlonega the following two children were born: Martha Eve Boyd, September 13, 1900, and Emma Kime Boyd, October 20, 1901.

During his spare time he made a practical application of his mathematical knowledge by surveying land lots, pipe lines and ditches for gold mines, and surveying improved roads throughout Lumpkin County. He also made surveys of mountain timber lands.

My two younger brothers, Ernest (Ernie) and Joe, and I started at an early age helping our father with his land surveying. We would carry the chain and flag pole. I remember quite distinctly a horse and buggy trip Ernie and I took with him to locate the land lines of West (Shotgun) Walker's farm, located at the foot of Black Mountain about twelve miles north of Dahlonega. We quit our surveying at 12 noon, and went to Mr. Walker's house for dinner. While we were sitting at the table eating with Mr. Walker, Ernie called for a dish which he thought contained cucumber pickles. Mr. Walker passed the dish to Ernie without comment, and he helped himself. A few minutes later he jumped up from the table, and ran out the front door. Mr. Walker inquired of our father "what was the matter with the little buddy?", but he didn't know. The rest of us finished the meal, and when we went out on the porch we saw Ernie standing by the well curb drinking water out of a gourd dipper. We asked what had happened to him, and he replied that what he thought were cucumber pickles were hot green peppers.

Our father was public spirited. He was a member of the Town Council, the Masonic Order, and was also Superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School for a number of years.

The voters of the 32nd Senatorial District unanimously elected him to serve the 1907-1908 term in the State Senate of the General Assembly. This district is composed of the counties of Lumpkin, White and Dawson.

At the time our father took office in the State Senate of the General Assembly of Georgia he was forty-two years old, and all of his faculties, physical, mental and spiritual were at their best. Since a photograph of our father is not included in this work, I shall attempt to give a description of his physical appearance, based largely on his photograph taken at the time he became a member of the Georgia State Senate in June 1907.

He had an abundance of black hair intermingled with some grey, a high forehead, light blue eyes a straight well proportioned nose, firm lips and chin, a slight swarthy complexion, and a pleasing countenance. He was five feet, eleven inches in height, held himself erect, and walked with dignity. At this time his weight was approximately one hundred sixty pounds. He had a pleasing, well modulated voice, which carried well in his public speaking, and a splendid command of the English language. His earnest air and gift of eloquence, accompanied by appropriate gestures, commanded rapt attention on the part of his audience.

It will be interesting to consider and discuss in some detail the facts leading up to the passage of the Bill to Abolish the Convict Lease System of which Joseph W. Boyd of the 32nd District and W. C. Martin of the 43rd District were co-authors (Senate Journal, Extra Session, 1908). At that time and for some time prior thereto the people of Georgia were gravely concerned over the manner in which the Prison System was being operated and the manner in which the convicts were treated. Reports from various sources, including the press, were widely circulated purporting to show that the Prison Commission was negligent in carrying out the laws which govern its operation, that the Chief Warden and his deputies were guilty of cruel and excessive punishment of convicts, that many of the lessees were violating the terms of their contracts, that they were making inordinate profits from the labor performed by the convicts leased to them, and that they were, or had been, paying second salaries to the Chief Warden and some of his deputies when each was only entitled to receive one salary which was paid by the State. These offenses, if true, were a stain on the fair name of Georgia and made a travesty of the motto inscribed on the State Seal; "Justice, Wisdom and Moderation".

These matters had been brought to the attention of the General Assembly in its regular session beginning in June 1907, and a Special Joint Committee of three members from the Senate and five from the House had been appointed to investigate the charges of violations of the laws governing the administration of the Prison Commission and the management of the convicts. Senator T. S. Felder of the 22nd District was made Chairman of the Special Joint Committee.

On August 20, 1908 Governor Hoke Smith issued a proclamation convening the General Assembly of the State of Georgia in extraordinary session for the following purposes:

1. To renew the five year contracts with the lessees which contracts were to expire on March 31, 1909, which would be prior to the convening of the next regular session of the General Assembly in June 1909, or in lieu thereof to enact other legislation.

2. To hear the report of the Special Joint Committee in its investigation of the convict system, and to take such action thereon as might be deemed advisable.

In his message read to the General Assembly on August 25, 1908 the Governor amplified the reasons given in his proclamation, and expressed the opinion that the Convict Lease System should be abolished. Next the Report of the Special Joint Committee was read. Three bills were read the first time and referred to the Penitentiary Committee, to wit:

1. By Mr. Felder of the 22nd District: "A bill to provide for the disposition of certain felony convicts on and after April 1, 1909, and for other purposes."

2. By nine Senate members: "A bill to provide for the future employment of felony and misdemeanor convicts, and for other purposes."

3. By Messrs. Boyd and Martin: "A bill to provide for the abolition of the Convict Lease System of the State of Georgia and for other purposes."

The issue was drawn, and there ensued a spirited contest between the forces who wanted to renew the contracts with the lessees of convicts and in general to continue the existing system, and the forces who wanted to abolish the Convict Lease System. The foregoing bills were shuttled back and forth from the floor of the Senate to the Penitentiary Committee until September 2, 1908 when "ayes and nays were ordered". Mr. Felder's bill and the nine Senate members were voted down, and the substitute bill by Messrs. Boyd and Martin to abolish the Convict Lease System was enacted into law.

Thus it is seen that the prison reform movement initiated by the people of Georgia themselves, Governor Hoke Smith, and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia gained momentum until the inhumane Convict Lease System was abolished and a reform prison system was established which was and is a credit to the State of Georgia. The reform did not stop the abolition of the Convict Lease System; for the laws already on the statute books which had been previously flagrantly violated were strictly enforced, including the granting of parole for good behavior, and using other incentives to promote the reformation of the convicts, improving the sanitary conditions of the living and eating quarters, and giving adequate medical care. Reform measures also included the State Reformatory for juvenile delinquents, which had been sadly neglected. Classes in elementary education and vocational training for which the existing laws provided were established, and the youthful inmates were no longer considered and treated as criminals. Today, thanks to those kind, courageous people who initiated these reforms, the prison system of Georgia compares favorably with the best of those of the other states.

Note: In all fairness to Senator T. S. Felder it must be said that after his bill was voted down he and his forces joined those of the Boyd-Martin substitute bill and helped to enact it into law.

Our father also introduced the first bill providing that the State connect the several county sites with hard surfaced roads, which was enacted into law. This was the beginning of the present state highway system which promises so much in road improvement. He believed that a system connecting county sites was the fairest system that could be built, as it would directly touch at least 80% of the people of the State and indirectly benefit all. Time has shown that he was right in this belief.

Our father continued to teach in the North Georgia College until June 1911. He then engaged in the practice of law in Dahlonega, and handled a number of interesting cases in the Superior Court. Leaving his family in Dahlonega he went to Louisville, Kentucky early in 1912 to accept a position with L & N Railroad Company to make estimates for railway construction.

His nephew John Augustus Witt, who was employed by the same company, was instrumental in helping him to secure this position, and we are grateful to John for this kindness to our father.

During the latter part of 1912 our father accepted the position of president of Fairmount College, Fairmount, Georgia. Prior to moving his family there in August of that year quite a number of the faculty and Board of Trustees of North Georgia College presented him with testimonials in which he was regarded as an outstanding educator, public spirited citizen, and a man of high moral and Christian character.

Our father directed and taught in Fairmount College for two years, and did much constructive work in and for it. He was recognized by the people of the section as being an able educator, lawyer and Christian gentleman. Upon relinquishing his work as President of Fairmount College he engaged in the practiced of law in Fairmount, and worked for the creation of a new county to be named Tate and for Fairmount to be the County seat. The bill was introduced in the General Assembly of Georgia, and he spoke very convincingly and eloquently in behalf of the measure before a legislative committee. However the bill was defeated.

In August 1915 he moved with his family to White Plains, Greene County, Georgia, to be superintendent of the combined elementary and high schools in which he taught for two years.

There, as in Young Harris, Dahlonega and Fairmount, he was recognized for his outstanding service as a teacher and public spirited man.

In 1917 he moved with his family to Atlanta to become Assistant Engineer of the newly organized State Highway Department. Mr. W. R. Neel was the Chief Engineer. Our father did the actual surveying of road projects in the counties of Bacon, Spaulding, Pickens, Cherokee, Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin and Union. At that time the plan was to construct a chain of highways linking the county seats throughout the State. The funds for the Building of these highways were provided by the County, State and Federal Governments.

The road which he surveyed from Canton, county site of Cherokee County, to Jasper, county site of Pickens County, is most probably State Route 5, which is now the primary route between these two towns. He surveyed sections of U. S. Highway 19 extending north from Dahlonega, and extending south from Dahlonega to Roswell, and then from there on to Atlanta and Griffin. Two of the most outstanding roads which our father surveyed were those across the Blue Ridge Mountains and Neel's Gap (U. S. Highway 19, State 129) and the one across Woody's Gap (State 60). They were outstanding because the ruggedness of the terrain made surveying an arduous undertaking, requiring constant climbing, cutting out the dense undergrowth and making intricate mathematical calculations in order to obtain the most favorable grades.

I had the privilege and the pleasure of working with our father on some of his highway surveys. During the spring and summer of 1920 I was his flagman on his preliminary surveys of the upper route from Dahlonega to Gainsville. I was roadman on the final survey when he used the level to get the proper grades and to estimate the cuts and fills. On the next survey from Dahlonega to Dawsonville I did the same work (U. S. 19). He continued that project without me from Dawsonville through Silver City, Cumming and Roswell; then from Atlanta to Griffin. During the fall of 1920 I helped him at home in Atlanta with the drafting when we plotted the profiles of the roads and the cross sections to show the number of cubic feet of the cuts and fills that had to be made in the road construction.

While working in Dawson County during the latter part of August 1926 he became ill with a heat stroke at the age of sixty-one. Over a period of many years he had longed to move back to his childhood home in Dahlonega, and this dream was realized just a short time before he became ill. He developed influenza and pneumonia which affected his heart. During his illness in Dahlonega two of his close friends and prominent citizens, Mr. John H. Moore and Judge J. F. Pruitt, visited him faithfully, and did everything they could to encourage him and make him comfortable. His physician, Dr. Cantrell, gave him faithful and devoted attention, and succeeded in making him fairly comfortable. Since Dr. Cantrell was a general practitioner, he advised our mother to take our father back to Atlanta and put him in the care of a heart specialist. Our father and mother continued to maintain a home in Atlanta, and after she carried him back in November 1926 Dr. Trimble Johnson, a noted heart specialist, was engaged to take care of him. As a result of Dr. Johnson's skillful care our father attained a partial recovery, and wanted to return to his road work in northeast Georgia. Although Dr. Johnson had little hope of our father's complete recovery, he advised our mother to let him return to his work, since it would give him satisfaction, but advised him to slow down and not work strenuously.

He did return in May 1927, and was able to complete his last project, the road over Woody's Gap, State 60. He worked until November 1927, when he became ill again, and return home to Atlanta. He was again under the care of Dr. Trimble Johnson. Our mother gave him her constant and devoted care. He started reading the Bible, and read from Genesis to First Kings, and then she read Acts and other parts of the Bible to him. He also enjoyed reading several other books, including Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif, and Trader Horne by A. A. Horne, and adventure story with the setting in Africa. He also kept up with current happenings. He was thrilled over Charles Lindburgh's non-stop airplane flight from New York to Paris, and read with interest the newspaper accounts of Lindburgh's later flights in this country and in Mexico.

The end came on the night of April 1, 1928 after he had passed his sixty-third birthday on January 28. His funeral was conducted by Dr. Thomas R. Kendall, his brother-in-law, who was a noted Methodist minister. Many relatives and friends, including a number from Dahlonega, attended the funeral. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Atlanta on a lot which he had selected several years before.

Regarding his personality and character, I will summarize as follows: Truth has been liked to the facets of a diamond. Both have many sides. This simile is strikingly applicable to Joseph Wier Boyd. He inherited from his paternal Scotch-Irish ancestors strength, firmness, perseverance, patience, directness and refusal to sacrifice principle for expediency. He inherited from his maternal English ancestors his intellectual acumen, his liberal mindedness, his love of beauty, his love of freedom and his love of God. And, too, since the associate members of the family in which he was reared possessed all of these fine characteristic, the suggestive effects upon him must have been pronounced. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the great American novelist, wrote a fascinating story about a young mountain boy who daily gazed in awe at a magnificent stone face carved out of granite of a not too distant peak. As a result, the nobility and grandeur expressed in the stone face were infused into the life, character and bearing of this boy. So in a similar way there was infused into the life, character and bearing of Joseph Wier Boyd the rugged grandeur of the mountains which surrounded him.

He was truly a practical idealist. One of his first ideals was to obtain a good education, and through his determination and perseverance he attained his goal. But he was not satisfied for his education to remain theoretical; he must demonstrate it and put it into practice, and this he did. He became a splendid student of mathematics, and he put this knowledge into practice by becoming a teacher of mathematics, a surveyor and highway engineer. He studied the stars and became a teacher of astronomy. His great love of truth caused him to join the church, to study the Bible and the works of great religious teachers and preachers, and he became a local Methodist minister. He expressed his love of beauty by communing with nature and writing a number of poems. His love of music inspired him to learn to play the piano, guitar, violin and harmonica as an amateur.

It is fitting to conclude this brief sketch of the life of Joseph Wier Boyd by quoting two beautiful poems, the first of which is "To the Grave of an Engineer" written by Platt Young, and the second of which is "The Monument of an Engineer" written by Ernest Harris Boyd, our brother, in memory of our father.

TO THE GRAVE OF AN ENGINEER

Blow softly, breezes, o'er this earthen mound

Who rest beneath now sleeps in hollowed ground;

Returning him to clay, to depths of soil

As compensation for a life of toil.

Drop lightly, springtime rains, upon the sod,

For here lies one whose partnership with God

Blent perfect art with Nature's artful plan

That man shall build for betterment of man.

There was no task his mind could not evolve

Nor problem deeper than his will to solve;

Bridges that span the waters swift and fleet,

Structures of mortar, iron, steel, concrete;

Are all his deeds, and rocks became as sands

Of molten lava in his magic hands.

He wrought with skill, made life's eternal grade

With little thought of pageant or parade.

He built the road to progress, blazed the trail

O'er hill and lea of wagonrut and rail;

His was the hand that gave the mountainside

Its lanes of beauty over which men ride.

His was the art to seize 'mid wooded hills

The energy that purled in rippling rills

Till all has own consumed his mortal breath

And Fame went out to greet him at his death.

THE MONUMENT OF A HIGHWAY ENGINEER

Son of a Confederate hero;

Brother to the Silver Tongue;(see note)

His name we will forever hallow;

For in true greatness he won.

Throughout the short span he did live,

Of years only three score and three,

The whole of his life he did freely give,

That the way might be smoother for you and me.

NOTE: His older brother Marion G. Boyd, was an outstanding jury trial lawyer who practiced in the northeastern judicial circuit and who had served in the State Senate.

Of his life no poet has sung;

He lived, he worked, he died unknown,

To the world for whom he had run;

But his was the joy when he finally went home.

In the day of his trial, his struggle, his prayer,

He gathered not for himself, but for others,

The mighty fruits of his work did bear,

But left them all for his earthly brothers.

Like unto One who had gone before,

"He walked through his own home town,

A pilgrim, a stranger", with a heart that was sore,

Still in his soul did great love abound.

Of their wrongs he freely forgave,

And for every rebuff he blessed anew,

For like them do men behave,

But the record he left is clear to view.

High on the mountain, and on through the Gap,

In grandeur and beauty, forever to stay,

He wrote a new home to be placed on the map,

For the Chief of his dream, the State Highway.

Not only once - not merely twice,

He wrote in letters, never to turn void,

Till he made the supreme sacrifice,

To cross the Gap named Woody - should it be Boyd?

Of his greatness, can truly be said,

He thought first of others;

The rest all could go dead;

But time will unroll the covers.

His own monument he did survey,

And with him now are the saints of old,

For his gift to Georgia's Highway,

He rides in splendor through streets of gold.

We, the four surviving children of Joseph Wier Boyd and Emma Lovelace Boyd, have collaborated in compiling this memorial to our father. We sincerely regret that we have waited so long to perform this labor of love. If we could have done so, it would have been better to have compiled it soon after his demise and while many of his friends and relatives were still living.

Fortunately we have found among his papers some very fine testimonials written by Rev. C. C. Spence, former President of Young Harris College and Piedmont College; Dr. Gustavus R. Glenn, President of North Georgia College at the time and signed also by quite a number of the faculty member at the time, and one by Honorable R. H. Baker, a member of the Board of Trustees, North Georgia College and also a member of the House of Representatives from Lumpkin County. These are herewith quoted in full as follows:

Cornelia, Ga., June 21, 1911

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

The bearer, Prof. J. W. Boyd, was connected with Young L. G. Harris College during my entire official position as its head. He gave PERFECT SATISFACTION. Commanding in an unusual way, both by his competency and his upright manner of living, the respect of the entire faculty, the citizens of the community, and had as no other man possessed, the love and esteem of the five hundred or more pupils matriculating annually.

After an experience in the school room of thirty years, let me say I had rather be associated with him in teaching than any other man of my acquaintance.

I commend him most heartily to any high school, or to any community needing the services of a first class man.

Respectfully,

C. C. Spence

Ex-President of Young L. G.

Harris and Piedmont Colleges

--------------------------------------------

August 8, 1911

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

We, the undersigned members of the Faculty of North Georgia Agricultural College, HEREBY TESTIFY TO THE ABILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS of Prof. J. W. Boyd as a teacher of mathematics. As head of the Department of Mathematics in this college, he has taught successfully for the last twelve years, thorough and comprehensive courses in higher Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, practical field work in Surveying, Levelling, Analytic Geometry, Differential and Integral Calculus, Higher Mechanics and Mine Surveying, and a short course in Astronomy.

WE CHEERFULLY RECOMMEND him as a competent professor of Mathematics and very successful instructor.

SIGNATURES

Gustavus R. Glenn, President

Bernard C. Ansted Professor of French Language & Bus. Science

B. P. Gaillaird " " Science

C. J. Barnes " " Applied Mathematics

W. J. Bradley " " History & Pol. Ec.

E. B. Vickery " " Latin

C. F. Niven " " Agriculture

B. N. Snyder " " Mining Engineering
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June 10, 1911

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I never had the pleasure of saying a word for anyone that stood higher in my estimation as a man, as a neighbor, as a Christian, and as an educator than Prof. Joseph W. Boyd.

I have been a next door neighbor to him for four years; I have been associated with him in college work during the same time; have served with him in committee meetings, in faculty meetings, in church work. Everywhere I have found him to be a cultured, Christian gentleman of the highest type.

For many years, he has been professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in this institution and he has an unblemished reputation of work well and satisfactorily done. He is capable and faithful, and has the esteem and respect both of his colleagues and the student body here.

Respectfully,

Geo. W. Camp,

Department of English

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June 28, 1911

Sheriden's Teachers' Agency

Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Sirs,

I have known Prof. Boyd ever since he was a child. He was born and raised in my town; was raised by a Christian family, and is a moral, high-class Christian gentleman. He was educated and graduated from the North Georgia Agricultural College, and has filled the Chair of Mathematics and Astronomy in this college for the past twelve years. I consider him a most capable teacher, not only in Mathematics, but in any chair he might aspire to.

Mr. Boyd is a most pleasant and agreeable teacher, having had a great success in the control and management of the cadets of this college. The entire student body of the N. G. A. College loved and honored him. I cheerfully recommend him to any college wishing a high-toned, capable teacher.

R. H. Baker

(Member of Board of Trustees

N.G.A. College and Member,

House of Rep. Lumpkin County)

Prof. J. C. Barnes, Department of Mathematics and Astronomy, who was one of our father's early students at N. G. C., became a member of the faculty after his graduation in 1900 or 1901, and he always had the greatest respect and admiration for our father. Prof. Barnes was an honored member of the faculty for forty-eight or fifty years, having retired in 1950, and even then he continued to work for the college. He was and still is universally and admired by the students of the college and the citizens of the town.

Joseph W. Boyd's High School and Supervisory Teacher's Certificate issued by W. A. Purks, Superintendent of Greene County Schools on Aug. 4, 1916 and countersigned by M. L. Brittain, State Superintendent of Schools, shows that Joseph W. Boyd was duly examined in the subjects indicated and was given the following grades: Algebra 95%, Geometry 100%, Grammar 100%, Rhetoric 98%, Literature 98%, Latin 100%, Ancient History 100%, Modern History 100%, English 100%.

In October 1963 Prof. Henry E. Nelson, a former student, made substantially the following statement in conversation with our sister, Sarah Boyd Barrett: There never was a mathematics teacher like Prof. Boyd. He could make everything so plain and interesting. He was the greatest teacher I have ever known. It had been decided one year to turn over some of Prof. Boyd's classes to an associate teacher. So Grady Wood and I went to Dr. Glenn, the President, to protest. I said my piece, then Grady made the most eloquent, fiery speech I ever heard. At the conclusion of the hearing Dr. Glenn said, "Well, gentlemen, you have your wish, stay with Prof. Boyd."

Years afterwards when he was Assistant State Highway Engineer and was surveying the Woody Gap Road across the Blue Ridge Mountains, I was in that vicinity, and happened to meet him on the job. We sat down together on the mountain side, and I asked him why he was building the road on top of the mountain instead of on a lower route. He replied "Because this is to be a scenic Highway of the Appalachians." I said that was explanation enough for me.

In a letter written to me, Wier L. Boyd, on November 7, 1963, Prof. Nelson had this to say in regard to our father: "It is a real pleasure to think back about your wonderful father,

Prof. Joseph Boyd. I took all my mathematics under him during my four years at N. G. A. C., and truly enjoyed every course from algebra through astronomy. He was indeed a most inspiring

Christian teacher. He taught by principles and not by memory verses, and had the greatest tact for creating a desire in the student for searching for the truth of anyone I have ever known. I heard hum say many times; "God is truth. Mathematics is truth. Therefore mathematics is akin to God." Many nights he would take our Senior Class in astronomy on the campus, and lecture to us on the solar system- moon, sun, planets and stars, which he always called "the handiwork of God." How he did inspire all of us to appreciate, admire, and love God's wonderful creation! I thank the Lord for his sublime teaching and great Christian life.

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Clark Ray, Attorney-at-Law, in a letter addressed to me on Feb. 13, 1964 wrote the following: "I graduated from the North Georgia College in 1910, and took most of my mathematics under Joseph W. Boyd. We all liked him as a teacher and as a man. He knew higher mathematics well. He knew how to explain the theory well, and how to assign our work. He was very practical. He was a good surveyor. I was associated with him at times after he became Assistant Highway Engineer. I was told that when Mr. W. R. Neel, Chief High-Engineer, went into military service during World War I, Prof. Boyd was elected State Highway Engineer, but that he refused to take the position, although he agreed to serve as Acting Chief Engineer while Mr. Neel was in military service. Prof. Boyd's reason was that he wanted Mr. Neel to step back into his position as Chief Highway Engineer when he left military service, which he did.

On one particular occasion while Prof. Boyd was teaching mathematics in the North Georgia College at Dahlonega, he made out questions for a final examination and then wrote a problem, and stated that it was not a part of the examination, but he would add 10% to any one's grade who could work the problem correctly. My brother Bruce Ray worked the examination problems, and also the additional problem. He was the only one in the class who worked the additional problem. Prof. Boyd rated Bruce's paper 110%, and gave him 100% plus on his report card."

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Prof. Bruce Ray, former student, in a letter of Feb. 24, 1964, stated: "Prof. Boyd was a wonderful teacher of mathematics. He taught me most of my mathematics while I was in school at Dahlonega. He was an instructor who was greatly respected by all the young people that he taught...Kepp building to what you have about your father."

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Thad S. Oliver, former student, in a letter of Feb. 13, 1964 stated: "Your letter asking me to write you as to what I thought of your father while I was a student at N. G. A. C. was like a nice breath out of the past. I have always thought of your father with a great deal of respect and admiration, and considered him one of the nicest and finest men I ever Known."

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Cecil Jackson Oliver, former student, in a letter of February 13, 1964 stated: "Your father was not only a very good teacher, but a very fine Christian. Our church in Dahlonega was helped many times by him. Good luck in compiling a memorial to Prof. Boyd.

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Miss Sallie Purks, former student in White Plains School and now a teacher, in a letter of February 12, 1964 stated:

"Erect, tall, a fine physical build, Mr. Boyd bore himself with a dignity becoming a scholar and a teacher.

As a high school girl I well remember his keen interest in his students. Never sarcastic nor critical, but always bringing out their best through his understanding, patience and kindness.

He was truly a Christian- my teacher, my neighbor, and my friend."

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No one would have been more willing and eager to write his impressions and memories of our father than Mr. W. A. Purks, who as Superintendent of Green County Schools, had supervision over our father's work as Principal of the White Plains School. As his daughter. Miss Sallie Purks, says in her memories, they were our neighbors and friends. I remember Mr. Purks frequently visited us, and especially enjoyed talking with our father. Mr. Purks was genuinely interested in the welfare of his schools, town, county, State and Nation, and was a sincere Christian gentleman and educator of the highest type.

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Excerpt from Miss Willie Harris's letter of April 4, 1928 to her sister Grace Harris Boyd:

"I am so grateful for dear Prof. Boyd's life. I know that he will live on in the lives of his loved ones and countless others whom his life has blessed. I know my own is the nicer and better for even the few fleeting glimpses I had of his noble life. One of the joys of the Better World that I expect to realize is the privilege of visiting with him- a privilege denied here, but will be realized there."

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Excerpt from Miss Willie Harris' letter of April 4, 1928 to our brother Ernest H. Boyd, who married her sister Grace H. Boyd:

"I know that you know without my saying so that your father made the greatest contribution to humanity that is possible for a human being to make. Know too that as the days go

by you will realize more and more your father's greatness and how priceless is your heritage. I am persuaded that you are proving yourself worthy of the heritage daily and that you are passing it on to your own children untarnished. I am thankful to have had the few fleeting glimpses that were mine of so splendid, so really great Christian gentleman. I loved him and I realize this old world is the poorer for his passing. May you know the comfort, the guidance, the keeping of the blessed Holy Spirit."

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AUNT EVELYN L. COX'S MEMORIES

Aunt Evelyn L. Cox, our mother's sister, was a great admirer of father and were she living would gladly write her memories of him. So I am taking the privilege of recording one incident about him which she related to me a few years ago. She told me about a visit he paid her in her Florida home at Howie-in-the-Hills near Leesburg. It was during his heart illness, but after he had attained enough improvement to be up again. She and our mother thought that this visit would be helpful to him. One day Aunt Evelyn and our father were driven to Daytona Beach in her car where he had his first view of the ocean. Aunt Evelyn said he stood gazing in wonderment for a few moments, then turning to her he said, "Sister Evelyn, this is a grand and inspiring view, but the north Georgia mountains are even more so."

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COUSIN MABEL LOVELACE'S MEMORIES

Cousin Mabel Lovelace, our oldest living first cousin, in a recent interview gave her earliest memories of our father substantially as follows: In 1889 our mother who was then Miss Emma Lovelace of Rome, Ga. was selected as one of the teachers in the Primary Department of Young Harris College. She was accompanied to Young Harris by her niece, Mabel Lovelace, who was a little eight year old girl. She entered the Primary Department together with her little friend Effie Forsyth, and both children were pupils of our mother. Our father who was a young man of twenty-five came over from Dahlonega at the same time to be a teacher in the college. Cousin Mabel remembers him as being especially kind to her and Effie. He would take them on walks to pick trailing arbutus, the dainty little mountain flower with delicate white and pink petals and an indescribable fragrance. On other occasions he would take them to pick wild strawberries and to a holly grove with its beautiful red berries intermingled with the dark green leaves. She and the other little children, as well as the college students, did not know that our father and mother were in love, and they all were very much surprised when our parents were married in the college chapel one Sunday morning immediately after the church service. This was in November 1891.

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LENA DENNARD BOYD'S MEMORIES

"When Wier and I were married, Daddy Boyd graciously accepted me and welcomed me as a member of the Boyd family. He was always pleasant and kind to me and treated me like one of his own daughters. This is vividly impressed on my mind, because during the three months that Wier was in Washington, D. C. working on his new job with the Veterans Administration, I was living in Daddy and Mother Boyd's home with their three daughters, Sarah, Martha (Mott), and Emma (Jimmie). That included the first Christmas that Wier and I were married, and he had to be away at that time. Christmas morning Daddy Boyd brought little wrapped packages to the breakfast table, and put one at each place. When we unwrapped our packages, we saw that they were little bottles of perfume, and he said, "I want things to get to smelling better around here."

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THE CHILDREN'S MEMORIES OF THEIR FATHER

Sarah Boyd Barrett

"My earliest memory was sitting on his lap listening to his big gold watch tick. Later, sitting on his lap, the other larger children gathered around him as he told us stories, one in particular which he called "Jack-a-Majingo", which I think he made up. He sang a song about a cat who left home to see the world; how he met a warrior bold, robbers, and fell into all sorts of trouble. Finally, he ended up at home again, all covered with scars and scratches, saying, "I'll never more be bad."

The memory of his leading the family prayers every morning; He read from a big Bible as Mama and we six children sat around the open fire in our sitting room. His prayer was: "We humbly bow before Thee our Heavenly Father to return our thanks for preserving our lives to see the light of another new day. We thank Thee for our blessings both temporal and spiritual. Forgive us our trespasses. May we grow in grace and the knowledge of Thy truth. Lead and direct us all the days of our lives. For Christ's sake, Amen."

As children we loved to skip and run up and down the long hall while he played the violin.

I can see him now as superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, standing before the audience announcing the songs. One of his favorites was "Trust and Obey". He would take the family to the Sunday School picnics in the park, or over in "Happy Hollow" near our home.

The long walks through the woods were always so much fun. He would tell us about the birds and animals of the woods. He taught us the different kinds of trees and wild flowers. His favorite wild flower was the beautiful trailing arbutus.

On clear nights he would show us the stars, planets and constellations, calling them by their names: The North Star, Dog Star, Sirius, Jupiter, Mars, the Milky Way, the Big Dipper, Orion, Cygnus the Swan, Scorpio, Antares (the red giant star in the Constellation of Scorpio), etc. He taught Astronomy in the college, and I remember the lectures he gave to the student body, showing magic lantern slides.

Once he played several violin solos in the college auditorium, celebrating Confederate Memorial Day on April 26th. When he played "Dixie", the group of old soldiers sitting in seats of honor on the stage, stood up, throwing their old hats in the air, giving the rebel yell, and waving walking sticks and wooden legs.

One cold afternoon when I was recuperating from mumps I decided to come down the stairs by sliding down the rail route; lost my balance, and fell from upstairs to the hall below. Papa was wakened from a nap in the sitting room by the fall. When I came to myself I was sitting up in bed with my arm in a big pitcher of hot water. He thought my arm was badly sprained. Luckily for me I was not hurt too badly. Mama was at the dressmaker's.

One evening I sat crying because I couldn't memorize a poem, an assignment in the Third Grade Reader. Papa put his paper aside, took me in his lap, read the poem to me, and helped me pronounce those hard Indian names. "By the shores of Gitchegummee, by the shining Big Sea Water, Stood the wigwam of Nakomis" (from Longfellow's Hiawatha).

There were several pieces he always asked me to play for him on the piano: "Humoresque", "Melody of Love", the Hawaiian piece, "Forget Me Not". He said the piece "By the Waters of Minnetonka" reminded him of an old song he heard as a boy at camp meeting.

I was very fortunate to be one of his pupils in Fairmount College one year. History, English and Mathematics, especially Algebra, were made so clear and interesting.

The night of my marriage, walking down the hall to the alter in the living room on Papa's arm, he said, "Don't be afraid Sarah, Papa is with you."

He became very ill while living in Dahlonega, just before my first baby was born. When George was five weeks old, we took him to see Papa and Mama. Papa held George in his arms, and said he looked like a Boyd.

Papa improved and moved back to our home in Atlanta, but was unable to continue his work. When our baby girl was two weeks old we took her to see Mama and Papa. He held her in his arms and said "Little Anne Boyd, come to see Grandpa". Three months later on April 1, 1928, he went to his heavenly home. Before he lost consciousness Mama asked him if Jesus was with him, and he replied, "Yes, Jesus is holding my hand."

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Martha Boyd Abney's Memories

"I remember Papa as a kind, loving father who took time to play with us. I remember the walks in the woods and the whistles he made for us out of birchbark, and the wild flowers and birds he pointed out to us. I also remember the poems he used to recite, especially "A Warrior Brave", and the pieces he plays on the guitar and violin: "Raindrops", "Corn Flower Waltz",

"Evening Star Waltz", "Over the Mountain Waltz", "Carnival of Venice", and others.

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Emma Boyd Ussery's Memories

"I remember our Papa as kind, sweet and loving. He was always so thoughtful of us. I remember a big wicker rocking chair we had, and Papa would take me on one knee and Mott (Martha) on the other, and sing us to sleep. He would sing "Blue Galilee", "The Land of the Unclouded Day", "Aboard the Sunshine Train".

When we were asleep he would carry us upstairs in his big, strong arms, and put us to bed. I remember stories he would tell about how the Indians were run out of Dahlonega, and many strange animals that were found in the nearby mountains. He never liked to correct us, and when he did he would give us a quick slap on top of the head, which didn't hurt. I shall be thankful for such fine Christian parents who set the right example for us."

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Wier L. Boyd's Memories

My memories of my father naturally begin with my early childhood at Young Harris where I was born. We lived in a little cozy white frame house with green blinds, situated on a hill under the shadow of Double Knob, which are twin mountain peaks. In the winter it was real cold with the wind blowing off of those icy snow-capped peaks. But our sitting room was well sealed with tongue-and-grooved lumber, and it had a large fireplace which burned logs. So we kept warm and comfortable in that room which one of our friends called "the cigar box". I remember sitting in front of the fire with my mother and father and hearing him play beautiful pieces on his guitar, and some times on a little home-made guitar which he had made for me out of a cigar box and a pine plank. He had whittled out the plank for a finger board, and also wooden pegs on which to wind the guitar strings. He used four strings instead of six on account of the smallness of the instrument, but he could play music on it which sounded good to me.

Sometimes he would bring me red and white striped candy, or chocolate drops from the store. One time he bought me a little leather purse which smelled like it had been perfumed, and I liked it so well that I slept with it.

Every now and then I would get stung by some kind of bee, and his invariable remedy was a quid of tobacco he would take out of his mouth and slap on the place where the bee had stung me. It always worked by drawing out the poison the bee had left; I would quit crying and would soon be well.

He would tell me stories which held me spell-bound, and especially the one he composed which he called "Jack-A-Majingo", and which he later told to my sisters as they have testified. It was about the happy life of a carefree mountaineer.

My schooling started just after we moved to Dahlonega, and he and my mother were good to help me with my lessons. In fact they taught me how to write figures and the alphabet before I started school. As I grew older my studies became more difficult, and he continued to help me, especially with my mathematics and Latin. He encouraged me to read book and the newspapers and to keep up with current events, which he and I enjoyed discussing together.

He kept up his playing on the guitar, violin, piano and harmonica, and the entire family gained an unusual appreciation of good music which we have retained all of our lives. The little piece called "Raindrops", which he played on his guitar and which my sisters have referred to in their memories, was played entirely in harmonic notes and was dainty and exquisite. In our imaginations we could hear the raindrops falling on the roof as he played.

He was a fine pal to all of his children and a wonderful nature lover. We enjoyed our tramps through the woods when he would point out the wild flowers and birds. He would take us boys with him on tramps to Yahoola Creek and Cane Creek where we would fish and swim.

When he was elected to the Georgia State Senate it was my privilege and pleasure to accompany him to Atlanta in June 1907 and to stay with Uncle Tom and Aunt Sallie Lovelace. We had perfectly delightful times at their house, and I thought Aunt Sallie's cooking was the best I had ever eaten. Their daughter, Cousin Mabel, and their son, Brooks, were members of the family at the time. They were all congenial, warm-hearted people, and made us welcome and comfortable. We occupied a large cozy upstairs bed room fronting the house. During our stay in Atlanta we enjoyed visiting Uncle Billy Lovelace, Aunt Cordie, and their daughters, Nellie, Lillian and Lois, who lived on West End Avenue only a few blocks from Uncle Tom's on Park Street. We also enjoyed visiting Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Frank Cox and their son Earle, who lived on Cascade Avenue, and Aunt Mattie and Uncle John Eve, and their daughter Mattie, who lived on Highland Avenue. My whole family and I truly loved our Atlanta maternal relatives, because they were so cordial and kind to us.

I attended some of the Senate sessions with Papa, and heard him and other senators speak on bills which came up for consideration. And then during the second half of the 1907 session, I served as page boy, and enjoyed waiting on the Senators and hearing them debate.

During the time I was in Atlanta with my father I took my first violin lessons from Mrs. Erwin Mueller, and learned to play by note. Papa had previously taught me to play some of his pieces by ear.

As I have already mentioned in my sketch of his life, my two younger brothers and I helped Papa with his surveying while we lived in Dahlonega, and I helped him some after he became assistant engineer with the State Highway Department. We learned something from him about one of the most useful occupations, and the physical exercise was good for us. He always paid us for working for him, and this encouraged us to save our money.

He encouraged and honored me by coming to Dahlonega to see me graduate from the North Georgia College on June 4, 1913. He and the other members of the family were then living in Fairmount. He came via Atlanta where he bought a handsome blue serge suit for me to wear at my graduation exercise. Soon after my graduation he had a talk with his friend, Dr. Joseph A. Sharp, at that time President of Young Harris College. He referred to my graduation, and mentioned that I expected to teach. Dr. Sharp mentioned that he had a vacancy in the Academic Department which he thought I could fill and that he would be glad to consider me if I were interested. I applied for the place and was accepted. I spent three happy years in the Academic Department. The benign influence of Dr. Sharp and his other fine teachers improved my personality and develop my character. He was a Christian gentleman and educator of the very highest type, and was very much like our father.

After our father became Assistant State Highway Engineer I was his assistant both in the field and drafting work for approximately one year. This close association with him enabled me to understand and appreciate him more than ever before.

He was so good and kind to all of his children after we married, to our wives and husbands, and to his grandchildren whom he loved. He exercised remarkable forethought when he had a large family picture made of all of us with our wives, husbands and children. All of us cherish this photograph which was made about the year 1925 while we were all still in life.

THE POEMS OF JOSEPH WIER BOYD

SONG OF THE YAHOOLA

Beneath Black Mountain's lofty dome

I rise to seek my ocean home,

I hasten down the deep ravine,

My waters in the sunlight gleam.

I pause now and then

In wood covered glen

Where laurel blossoms grow,

Then down the rapids leap again

To join the swelling tide below.

I glide along the tended field,

I give it abundant yield,

To steal around the ivy hill

To turn John Anderson's corn mill.

I murmur a song

As I flow along

That red-skinned chieftains love,

But their proud souls have long since gone

To happy hunting grounds above.

Yahoola's land I love quite well,

There I would be content to dwell,

But on forever I must flow

To join the swelling tide below.

I linger a while

The hours to beguile

Along Rufe Baker's farm,

Each year I make his broad face smile

With corn and fodder in his barn.

Now on I plunge to Benning shoal

And glide along over sands of gold,

Then leap to turn the pounding mill

Just to the north of Findley Hill.

I linger again

In the fallow fen

By J. McDonald's home

Then other voices call me when

I gladly hasten on and on.

I'm looking now into the west,

The fates decree that this is best,

When hark! When ho! Who's this I see?

Ha! Ha! It is the Chestatee.

Together we flow,

Forever we go

To join the swelling tide

Where fragrant southern breezes blow

And ships upon our waters glide.

From mountain top to ocean shore

I wend my way forevermore,

I see the people come and go,

Their lives in constant currents flow

Out into the main

Far beyond the plane

That human beings know

Where life may be eternal gain

Beyond the sunset's radiant glow.

Comments on the Song of Yahoola

Yahoola is a Cherokee Indian word meaning drum beat, and is the name of a creek near Dahlonega which flows into the Chestatee (also an Indian name) River, mentioned in the poem.

This river flows into the Chattahoochee River which flows into Apalachicola Bay, an arm of the Gulf of Mexico. Our father and we boys often fished and swam in Yahoola Creek. The persons and places mentioned in the poem are all real.

YAHOOLA

Roll on, roll on, thou murmuring stream

Roll on o'er shoal and shallow,

Roll on to join the brimming sea

Through fielf and fen and fallow.

Me thinks thou're loath to leave the land

Thy home within the mountains

Where silvery ores and golden sand

Are washed beneath thy fountains.

But by inevitable law

Ye must, forever going

Haste on to join the swelling streams

Forever onward flowing.

So I by a like decree

Must leave the land that bore me

And cast upon a darkened sea

With tempest raging o'er me.

MY MOTHER'S PRAYER

As I wandered round the homestead

Many a dear familiar spot

Brought within my recollection

Scenes I'd seemingly forgot.

There the orchard meadow yonder,

There the deep old fashioned well

Sent a thrill no tongue can tell.

Through the house was held by strangers,

All remained the same within,

Just and when a child I rambled

Up and down and out and in.

To the garret dark spending,

Once a source of childish dread,

Peeping through the misty cobwebs,

Lo, I saw my cradle bed.

Quick I drew it from the rubbish,

Covered over with dust so long,

When behold, I heard in fancy

Strains of one familiar song.

Often sung by my dear mother

To me in that cradle bed.

"Hush my dear, lie still and slumber,

Holy angels guard thy bed."

While I listen to the music

Stealing on in gentle strain

I am carried back to childhood;

I am now a child again.

`Tis the hour of my retiring

At the dusky even tide.

Near my cradle bed I am kneeling

As of yore by mother's side

Hand on my head so loving

As they were in childhood's days.

I with weary tones am trying

To repeat the words she says.

`Tis a prayer in language simple

As a mother's lips can frame:

"Father, Thou who art in heaven

Hallowed ever by Thy name."

Prayer is over, to my pillow

With a good night kiss I sleep,

Scarcely waking while I whisper:

"Now I lay me down to sleep."

Then my mother over me bending

Prays in earnest words, but mild:

"Hear my prayer, Oh Heavenly Father,

Keep, Oh keep my precious child."

Yet, I am but only dreaming

N'er I'll be a child again.

Many years has that dear mother

In the quiet graveyard lain;

But her blessed angel spirit

Daily hovers o'er my head,

Calling me from earth to heaven,

Even from my cradle bed.

I LOVE MY MOUNTAIN HOME

I love my mountain home,

Where laurel blossoms grow

In shady groves from richest loam,

Where laughing waters flow.

I love the sparkling stream,

That flows from mountain cove,

Where speckled trout with golden gleam,

Swiftly up the current move.

I love the towering height,

O'er looking all the main,

Where lofty eagles in their flight

The highest summits gain.

I love to climb the peaks,

And look upon the scene,

And hear the word that nature speaks,

Of what the earth has been.

I love to note the trend

Of strata in the ground,

Of how they fold and pitch and bend,

The mountain sides around.

They tell me of a time,

A million ages ago,

When other life and other clime

Where in the region known.

I love the wild ravine,

Where sacred silence dwells,

Save for the wind adown the green,

And tinkling cattle bells.

I love the stately trees,

The oak, the mountain pine,

The chestnut filled with honey bees,

The birch with muscadine.

The maple and the ash

The hemlock and the elm,

The sycamore, the wild goose plum,

Are only some of them.

And when I look above,

Into the sky so blue,

I think of those I love, I love,

And hearts so true, so true,

I love my mountain home,

Where skies are blue and hearts are true,

I love my mountain home.