Biographies   Chesterfield County - South Carolina Genealogy Trails BOYD, REVEREND CHARLES WILLIAM, minister of the Protestant Episcopal church at Cheraw, Chesterfield county, South Carolina, was born at Union, Union county, South Carolina, April 28, 1863. His father, Charles William Boyd, was a lawyer by profession, who served throughout the War between the States as captain in the Confederate army. His mother, Mrs. Maria (Goudenlock) Boyd, was a descendant of General Grant, of the British army, and of the Fernandez family, Spanish political exiles who settled near Port Tobacco, Maryland; of whom Henry Fernandez came to South Carolina and married a daughter of Judge Henderson, brother of Colonel Henderson of Revolutionary fame. The first American ancestor of his father's family was Archibald Boyd, who, with his brother Alexander, immigrated from Kilmarnock and settled in Maryland. After preparation for college at schools within reach of his early home, Charles W. Boyd entered Union college at Schenectady, New York; but he did not continue his academic course at that institution beyond the second year. He studied law for a year at the University of Virginia. He began the practice of law at Darlington, at the age of twenty two, in 1885; and for ten years he followed the practice of that profession. But he writes, "through experience and reflection, and the conviction that it is best to live for the highest ends," he "was brought into the ministry." Private study and contact with men in active life, he feels, have been upon the whole the most potent influences in shaping his life and his work. Upon reaching the conviction that he ought to devote his life to the Christian ministry, he took up the study of theology in the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1896. While pursuing his studies there he was the winner of the Sewanee-Vanderbilt debate, in 1898. He also served as editor of the "Sewanee Review," a periodical published by the University of the South which has a high reputation among the literary publications of that section of our country. He completed his course in theology and was graduated from the theological department of the University at Sewanee in 1899. Since that date he has applied himself assiduously to the work of the Christian ministry, to the pastoral duties of his church, and to such reading . and study as would fit him to be useful through his sermons and in his relations with the community where he preaches. He has occasionally written articles for the papers and periodicals of his church, but has not attempted any other literary publications. On the 1st of January, 1903, Mr. Boyd married Miss Marion Godfrey, daughter of Mr. Gillespie Godfrey, of Cheraw, South Carolina. They have had three children, all of whom are living in 1907. Mr. Boyd does not interest himself actively in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. He is grand chaplain of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.   He is a master Mason. His favorite forms of exercise are tennis, hunting, and boating. To the young people of South Carolina he commends "a clear purpose in life; placing the aim of duty and usefulness first; the determination to do at least one useful thing excellently, and to look on the bright side of things; reacting quickly against discouragement and temporary defeat; and a clear appreciation of the word 'duty,' in social relations and in political life." Men of Mark in South Carolina By James Calvin Hemphill Published 1907 - transcribed and contributed by Barb Ziegenmeyer BACK to Chesterfield County SC Genealogy Trails © all rights copyright - reserved to the original submitter