Boykin, James, 1823-1907

James Boykin (8 August 1823-13 July 1907), was one of six sons of Francis Boykin (1785-1839) and Mary Darrington James Boykin (1795-1854), who arrived in Alabama from Camden, South Carolina about 1818. The Boykins were part of a large and prominent Southern family with branches in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. James was a cousin of Mary Boykin Chestnut.

James Boykin was a planter and soldier from Tilden, Dallas County, Alabama. On 16 March 1847, he married Elizabeth Ann Scott (1827-1894). They had seven children who survived to maturity: Frank, Mary Bibb (d. 1900), James W. (d. 1885), Charlotte Taylor, James Burwell, Thomas Scott (d. 1900), and Ernest Cuculu (d. 1897). Boykin served in the Mexican War and in 1861, raised a company of cavalry and was stationed in Mobile. Known as the Alabama Mounted Volunteers, or the Alabama Mounted Rifles, the company was attached to Matthew’s Guards and later served with the Third Alabama Cavalry.

His business losses as a result of the war forced him to declare bankruptcy in 1869. He continued farming until his eyesight failed completely near the end of his life. Eliza Ann died in 1894; Boykin himself in 1907.

From the guide to the James Boykin papers MSS. 0196., Bulk, 1848-1870, 1833-1967, (W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama)