Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Family Group Records B
Rev. Adlai Boyd 1804-1881
- Rev. Adlai Boyd.
- Born 26 Nov 1804, Iredell County, North Carolina.
- 31 Dec 1881, Greenville, Kentucky.
- Old Liberty Cemetery, west of Greenville, Kentucky.
Parents
- Father John Boyd.
- Mother Elizabeth Leach.
Spouses
- Married 1) Joanna Cessna, 9 Sept 1828, Muhlenberg County.
- Married 2) Almira J.M. Boyd.
Adlai Boyd was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, November 26, 1804. His parents were John Boyd and Elizabeth Leach, and Adlai was one of 10 children. In 1811, the Boyd family moved to Wilson County, Tennessee; and in 1814, they moved to Christian County, Kentucky. The following year, they moved again to Stewart County, Tennessee, and settled near the Kentucky border.
In 1817, Adlai joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the age of 13, and in 1822, he led prayer meetings at Liberty meeting-house. Later, he had his first appointment with the Christian circuit. He spent over 50 years in earnest devotion to the cause of Christian Religion. He was a noted pioneer Cumberland Presbyterian minister. He was an elegant and impressive speaker and one of the ablest preachers that ever lived in the county.
After the death of his first wife Joanna, he remarried and moved to Henderson, Kentucky. He and his second wife Almira had seven children, four boys and three daughters.
Rev. Boyd was visiting in Muhlenberg County when he took sick and died, and was buried in an unmarked grave beside his first wife Joanna and their daughter Margaret Ann.
Children
Children of Adlai Boyd & Joanna Cessna:
- Mary Elizabeth Smith Boyd. Born 7 Oct 1829. Died 13 Jan 1900. Married Richard D. Reynolds, 10 Dec 1846, Muhlenberg County.
- Margaret Ann Cessna Boyd. Born 25 Mar 1832. Died 7 May 1839.
- Sylvanus John Boyd. Born 11 Aug 1833. Died 5 Feb 1908, Louisville, Kentucky. Married Annie A. Alexander, 19 Dec 1872, Calhoun, Kentucky. Sylvanus was an attorney and a judge.
- Sarah Emily “Emma” Boyd. Born 23 May 1836. Died 2 Feb 1888, McLean County, Kentucky. Married William Grundy, 31 Oct 1878.
- Josie Isabella Boyd. Born 5 Feb 1838. Died 11 June 1892, McLean County, Kentucky. Never married.
- Rufus Marian Boyd. Born 7 July 1840. Died 30 Nov 1909, McLean County, Kentucky. Married Nanny Gish, 19 Oct 1864.
- Robert Adlai Boyd. Born 12 Oct 1843. Died 17 Nov 1927. Married Viola Alice Jennings Robinson, 24 Dec 1895.
- James Quisenberry Boyd. Born 20 Aug 1845. Died 10 Feb 1908, Anthony, Florida. Married Emma R. Weldon, 24 Sept 1872, Daviess County, Kentucky.
- Benjamin Thomas Boyd. Born 4 Apr 1848. Died June 1914, Lakeland, Florida. Married Sarah Elizabeth Sapp.
Contributed by Cheryl Cessna.
Updated April 12, 2025.