History of Port Huron, (Saint Clair County) Michigan United States of America

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Biographies:

Nathan S. Boynton, soldier, was born at Port Huron, Mich., June 23, 1837. He enlisted in 1862 as a private in the 8th Michigan cavalry. He cut off the retreat of Gen. John Morgan in Kentucky, and served under Burnside in the east Tennessee campaign. At Athens, Tenn., he took possession of a Confederate printing-office, and he issued therefrom the first number of the Athens Union Post; the second number was ready for the press when the town fell into the hands of the enemy, the printers were captured and sent to Andersonville, and the types pied, but the editor, who was on duty at headquarters, escaped. Lieutenant Boynton was at the siege of Knoxville, and served during the Georgia campaign, two-thirds of his regiment being killed, wounded or captured in Stoneman's raid at Macon, Ga. After a service of three years, Major Boynton was commissioned major in 1865, and was mustered out of service at the close of the war. He established himself at Marine City, Mich., where he for several years was deputy assessor of internal revenue. In 1868 he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature In 1869 he removed to Port Huron, where for three years he edited and published the Port Huron Press. He was twice elected mayor of Port Huron, and served for two years as president of the board of education, and as superintendent of the water works. He invented the Boynton fire-escape, and hook-and-ladder truck, and the Boynton system of wire rope trussing for ladders. In 1883 he retired from business.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jeremiah Hall, educator, was born in Swanzey, N.H., May 21, 1805. He attended the academies at Ashfield, Mass., and at Brattleborough, Vt., and was graduated from the Newton theological institution in 1830. He afterward pursued a regular college course without assistance and in 1847 was given the degree of A.M. by Madison university. He preached at Bennington, Vt. 1832-35; at Kalamazoo, Mich., 1836-42; at Akron, Ohio, 1843-45; at Norwalk, Ohio, 1845-50; and at Granville, Ohio, 1850-53. In Bennington he founded a Baptist academy; in Kalamazoo he was active in establishing what was afterward Kalamazoo college; and in Norwalk he organized and was president of the Norwalk institute, a Baptist seminary. In 1853 he was elected president of Granville college, the name of which soon after ward changed to Denison university. He resigned the position in 1863, and subsequently held pastorates in Fredericktown, Ohio, Chillicothe, Mo., and Waverly, Iowa. He died at Port Huron, Mich., May 31, 1881.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor