J. W. Boyer, a well known farmer of Sargent Township. and the present census enumerator for the same, was born in the vicinity of Ashmore, Coles County, Illinois, on the 11th day of April, 1850. For twenty-five years he has been identified with the industrial growth of his Township, and is well and favorably known as an intelligent and upright citizen. He is the son of James and Susan (Mack)Boyer, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter was born in Kentucky. As early as 1835 James Boyer came and settled with his father, Joseph, who was also born in Virginia, and who settled in the neighborhood of Ashmore. Here Joseph Boyer became one of the first settlers and afterward went to Missouri, where he died. William Mack (maternal grandfather) was also one of the early settlers in the same vicinity. James Boyer (father) is at present residing in the state of Kansas, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife is still living in the same year, of her age.
Jospeh Boyer was reared on a farm in Douglas County, where he received a very good common school education, and went to West-field College four terms. His farm of two hundred and nineteen acres, which lies in the north-east part of the Township, is well improved and valuable. ‘Nearly ever since Mr. Bower’s residence here he has served efficiently as school director, and in 1900 was appointed census enumerator of Sargent Township. In 1875 he married Josie, daughter of William Hopkins (see further notice of the Hopkins family on another page), who was one of the pioneer settlers in this section of the County. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have seven children living: Mamie, Robert, Belva, Clinton, Maggie, James and Floyd.