William H. Boyd was born in Hartwick, Otsego county, New York on October 6, 1811. He was educated at Ovid Academy and Rensselaer Institute, then returned to Ovid, New York where he worked with his father in his mercantile business. In 1836, he decided to move to Monroe, Michigan where he opened a dry goods business, to which he eventually added groceries, hardware and products.
In Monroe, Boyd continued his church activities begun in New York state. He joined the First Presbyterian Church and became active in the state Sunday School Association. He also attended national and international conventions of the association, and was a member and vice-president (1876) of the American Sunday School Union.
From the guide to the Boyd family papers, 1761-1945, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
