David Dekalb Davidson Boyd (1946)
BOYD, GAY, GETTS, JOHANNES, MILLS, MOWERY, PALME, WEBER
Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:51
The Columbus Telegram
Columbus, Nebraska
Friday, July 19, 1946
Page 8, Columns 1 & 2Heart Attack Is Fatal To D. D. D. Boyd
Prominent Business Man Dies Unexpectedly At 6:30 a. m. Today
D. D. D. Boyd, 71, prominent Columbus man, died about 6:30 a. m. today at his home, 2422 Nineteenth Street, as result of a heart attack suffered in the night.
“Dave” as he was know to his many friends, was born Feb. 17, 1875, at Winterset, Ia., the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Boyd, and when eight years of age came to Columbus with his parents to since reside. In the 90’s Mr. Boyd began work as a clerk in the hardware store which was then operated by Sidney C. Gray and his son, Clinton C. Gray, at the site of the present Columbus Bank building. That was 1898. During the time that he worked at his first job, the Gray Mercantile company was formed, becoming one of the leading general merchandise firms of the city.
On Sept. 25, 1901 he married Miss Mabel Getts, who survives him.
A bit of local history revolves around the beginning of the 37-year-old hardware store. In 1906, G. W. Phillips, Theodore Friedhof and several others formed a banking corporation and erected the entire building now occupied by the Central National bank and Boyd Hardware company. The bank opened for business in 1906, and about the time that Mr. Boyd was interested in starting his business, the Lyric theatre occupied the center 22 feet of the building, the bank being on the west corner and Boyd going into the east 22 foot section. The Lyric continued to operate at that location until William Swan built the present Swan theater building in 1917, changing both the location and name of the amusement house. For about a year following this, Mr. Friedhof had his stock of merchandise in the middle section of the building while the present Friedhof building now housing George Schweser’s Sons department store, was being remodeled into its present proportions. The hardware store took the entire 44 feet in 1919, which it continues to use to this date, save for the cutting off of a portion of the sales room on the west when the Central National bank was enlarged in 1934.
Own Business in 1908
In September of 1908, D. D. D. Boyd began his own hardware business and had as his first partner the late James Murray, and the firm name was Boyd and Murray. Mr. Murray stayed in the business about three months and then sold his interest. William Ragatz was the purchaser and entered the partnership of Boyd and Ragatz on Jan. 1, 1909. Mrs. Boyd and Mr. Ragatz continued this partnership until February 1924, when the latter sold his interest to Mr. Boyd. Since that date, D. D. D. Boyd has operated the business as sole owner, being assisted by his two sons, Merwin and Gayle.
Member Methodist Church
Mr. Boyd was a life-long member of the First Methodist church and belonged to the church Brotherhood. He was a veteran member of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Izaac Walton League, the Modern Woodmen, and Macabee Lodge, and also the Nebraska Retail Hardware Association, serving for many years on the association’s board of directors.
Actively interested in civic affairs throughout his life, Mr. Boyd took pride in the progress of Columbus and its people. To know him was to be his friend, for he had the gift of turning a casual acquaintance into a life-long friendship.
Survivors
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Merwin and Gayle Boyd, both of Columbus; two grandchildren, Barbara Gay and David Boyd of Columbus; five sisters, Mrs. C. A. Palme of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Fred Weber of Sterling, Colo., Mrs. Motto Mowery of El Monte, Calif., and Mrs. Otto B. Johannes and Mrs. Frank Mills of Columbus; and three brothers, Ralph Boyd of Norfolk, Harold Boyd of Vancouver, Wash., and J. Thomas Boyd of Columbus.
One sister, Christine Boyd, preceded him in death, and two brothers died in infancy.
The body is at the Gass funeral home and arrangements are pending.
________________________The Columbus Telegram
Columbus, Nebraska
Saturday, July 20, 1946
Page 2, Column 4Boyd Services—Funeral services for D. D. D. Boyd, 71, prominent Columbus business man who died Friday morning at his home, following a heart attack, will be held at 3:30 p. m. Sunday at the Methodist church with Rev. Walter Jackson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Roselawn Memorial Park. The body will lie in state at the Gass funeral home from 1 p. m. today until 2:30 p. m. Sunday when it will be removed to the church.
________________________The Columbus Telegram
Columbus, Nebraska
Monday, July 22, 1946
Page 8, Column 3Boyd Service—Funeral services for D. D. D. Boyd, 71, prominent Columbus businessman who died Friday morning at his home, following a heart attack, were held at 3:30 p. m. Sunday at the Methodist church with Rev. Walter Jackson, pastor, officiating. Burial was in the Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers were George Johansen, J. O. Peck, Herbert Alpers, S. L. Whitney, Alfred Tooley, and O. H. Walters. At the service, Robert Palme of Lincoln, a nephew, sang, “The City Four Square” and “Sunrise Tomorrow,” accompanied by Mrs. Harry Brown, organist. Present from out of town were Mrs. W. H. Swartsley, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Swartsley, and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Swartsley, all of Riverdale, Mrs. Gladys Schiff and Mrs. Edna Krauss of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Gladys Wright and Miss Wanda Wright of Englewood, Colo., Mrs. Lula Burns of Osceola, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Burns and Miss Elnore and Joyce Burns of Lincoln, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Russell of Fullerton, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Palme of Oklahoma City, Okla., Robert Palme of Lincoln, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Boyd and sons, Leo Young and Mel. Schroeder of Norfolk, Lou. Zinnecker of David City, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schmit of Firth, Harold Zinnecker and Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Endicott of David City, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Campbell of Geneva, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Tritten and son, Tommy, and Earl Tabor of Omaha, and Mrs. Raymond Henderson of Lincoln.
________________________Transcriber's note: Full name taken from WWI Draft Registration.
Link to Gravestone Photo
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen