So I’m learning a few tricks and skills in putting together these videos. Bear with me as I get better at piecing together different bits and pieces to make these stories a bit more interesting and informative…
Here’s a little video about my Great Grandfather and Grandmother Silas Wilson Edward Boyd (1856-1942) and Sara Ann (Adams) Boyd (1853-1920). I put this together using NotebookLM to generate the video portion, I used Canva to add front end… I think I’ll probably go back through some of my past attempts and tweak them to match the look of this one.
The picture below is a AI generated composite image from two individual photos.
Silas Wilson Edward Boyd (1856–1942)
A Legacy of the Texas Frontier
Silas Wilson Edward Boyd, known to many as “S.W.E.” or simply Wilson Boyd, was a true son of the Texas soil. His life spanned nearly nine decades of Texas history, moving from the northeast plains to the rugged hills of the San Gabriel and finally the quiet beauty of Driftwood.
Early Life and Roots
Born on October 17, 1856, in Lamar, Texas, Silas was the second child of Edward Boyd (1813–1862) and Eliza E. Freeman (1830–1884). His parents had married just three years prior in Collin County. Silas grew up in a household that would eventually include four siblings: Louisa, Matilda, John Elbert, and Rebecca.
The Civil War era brought significant change to the family, with his father Edward passing away in 1862 when Silas was only six years old. By 1870, a teenage Silas was living in Lampasas County, helping the family navigate the challenges of the post-war frontier.
Marriage and Family
On October 3, 1875, in Coryell County, Silas married Sara Ann Adams (1853–1920). Their union lasted forty-five years and produced seven children, establishing a robust branch of the Boyd family tree:
- John Richard Edward Boyd (b. 1876)
- Viola Caroline Boyd (1878–1955)
- Willie Angeline Eliza Boyd (b. 1880)
- James Pleas Boyd (1882–1959)
- Maggie Emaline Boyd (1884–1971)
- Scott Rutlidge Boyd (1885–1961)
- Joel Davis Boyd (1888–1953)
A Life in Motion
The census records paint a picture of a man dedicated to the land. From the 1880s through the turn of the century, Silas moved his family through the heart of Texas:
- 1880: Coryell County
- 1900–1910: Williamson County (specifically North of the South Fork of the San Gabriel River)
- 1940: Hays County
Following the death of his beloved Sara Ann in 1920, Silas remained in the Hays County area. The 1940 census records him as a widower, still residing in the community of Driftwood.
Final Rest
Silas Wilson Edward Boyd passed away on December 16, 1942, in Driftwood, Hays County, Texas, at the age of 86. He was laid to rest in the Driftwood Cemetery, remaining in the Hill Country that had become his final home.
Genealogical Summary
- Birth: 17 Oct 1856 • Lamar, Texas
- Death: 16 Dec 1942 • Driftwood, Hays, Texas
- Spouse: Sara Ann Adams (m. 1875)
- Parents: Edward Boyd & Eliza E. Freeman
The Life and Legacy of Sara Ann Adams (1853–1920)
Sara Ann Adams was a woman of the frontier, a bridge between the old South and the expanding Texas horizon. Born on January 6, 1853, in White County, Arkansas, she was the fifth child of Richard Adams and Juditha Angeline Freeman.
Early Years and Westward Movement
Sara’s childhood was marked by the typical migrations of mid-19th-century families seeking better land and opportunities. By 1860, the Adams family had moved from Arkansas to Bell County, Texas. As the Civil War and its aftermath reshaped the South, the family continued to move, appearing in Williamson County by 1870.
Sara grew up in a large household, surrounded by siblings who would also go on to settle across the Texas landscape:
- Mary E. Adams (b. 1841)
- Pleasant H. Adams (b. 1843)
- Corenthia Adams (b. 1846)
- Louisa Adams (b. 1848)
- Susan Ann Adams (1854–1936)
- Nancy Cinthia Adams (1858–1952)
- William M. Adams (b. 1873)
Marriage and Family
On October 3, 1875, in Coryell County, Texas, Sara Ann married Silas Wilson Edward Boyd (1856–1942). Their union began a decades-long partnership that saw the cultivation of land and the raising of seven children.
The Boyds were quintessential Texas settlers, moving between Coryell and Williamson counties. Their residence in 1900 was noted specifically as being in Justice Precinct 3, north of the South Fork of the San Gabriel River—a region known for its rolling hills and fertile soil.
The Children of Silas and Sara Boyd
- John Richard Edward Boyd (1876–Deceased): The eldest son, named in the tradition of honoring both grandfathers.
- Viola Caroline Boyd (1878–1955): A lifelong Texan who witnessed the turn of the century.
- Willie Angeline Eliza Boyd (1880–Deceased): Carrying the middle name of her grandmother, Juditha Angeline.
- James Pleas Boyd (1882–1959): Born during the family’s years in Coryell County.
- Maggie Emaline Boyd (1884–1971): Lived to see the massive changes of the 20th century.
- Scott Rutlidge Boyd (1885–1961): Another son who continued the Boyd legacy in Texas.
- Joel Davis Boyd (1888–1953): The youngest of the seven siblings.
Final Rest
Sara Ann Adams passed away on August 31, 1920, in Coryell County, Texas, at the age of 67. She was laid to rest at Hillsdale Cemetery in Coryell. Her husband, Silas, would live another 22 years, eventually passing in 1942, but Sara remained the matriarchal heart of the Boyd line during the pivotal years of their family’s establishment in the Lone Star State.
For more family history and genealogy, visit GaryWayneBoyd.com.
