My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES HENRY BOYDEN, senior member of the firm of Boyden & Prescott, wholesale dealers of fruit and produce at Northampton, is a native of Conway, Mass., born February 10, 1852, a son of William and Maria H. (Bardwell) Boyden, the former of whom was born in the same place, on February 10, 1817, just thirty-five years before. The Boyden family have been among the well-to-do farmers of Conway for some generations.

William Boyden was reared on a farm, and succeeded to the occupation of his ancestors. He engaged in mixed husbandry until his decease, in October, 1874. In 1848 he married Maria H. Bardwell, who was reared in Whately and Chicopee Falls; and they became the parents of four children, all of whom married and have families. They are as follows: Cyrus James, a farmer living in Conway; Charles H., the subject of this sketch; Varnum Taylor, a conductor on the electric cars in Springfield; and George William, a painter and farmer in Conway.

Charles H. Boyden received a substantial common-school education. He left school at the age of fourteen years to assist on the home farm, whereby he became familiar with farming in the course of the following five years. From that time until attaining his majority Mr. Boyden worked by the month on a neighboring farm. He subsequently learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed three years. In 1876 he came to Northampton, securing work with the Northampton Emery Wheel Company. He was box-maker at first, afterward a workman on the wheels, and subsequently foreman of the Crystal Emery Wheel Company. This position failing health obliged him to give up after five years. Mr. Boyden then bought the restaurant and confectionery business of A. Pitringer. He built up a very large and lucrative trade; and before selling to Daniels & Kellogg, seven years later, he required the assistance of thirteen persons. In 1893 Mr. Boyden embarked in a new branch of business, opening a store at 197 Main Street, for the wholesale and retail sale of foreign and domestic fruits and produce, occupying two floors. In connection with this he conducts an ice-cream and confectionery parlor. On March 10, 1894, Mr. Boyden took in, as a partner, Alfred C. Prescott; and these gentlemen have since carried on an extensive business, their annual sales amounting to from seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Boyden is a member of the order of Knights Templars.