Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== A History of the Northern Peninsula and its People, Vol. 2 Alvah Littlefield Sawyer, 1911 [874-876] ANDREW J. BOYINGTON. - Distinguished as a pioneer resident of the Upper Peninsula and as the pioneer hotel keeper of Iron River, ANDREW J. BOYINGTON, now living retired from active pursuits was for many years actively identified with the leading interests of Iron River and a prominent factor in promoting its agricultural and material pros- perity and growth. He was born, September 3, 1842, in Allegany county, New York, a son of ASAHEL BOYINGTON. His father, JONATHAN BOYINGTON, who came from English ancestry, was a native, it is sup- posed, of Vermont, where he grew to manhood and married. He after- wards lived for a number of years in New York state, from there moving to Wisconsin and spending his last days in Jefferson county. Born in the Green Mountain state, ASAHEL BOYINGTON was there reared to agricultural pursuits, which he subsequently followed for a while in Allegany county, New York. From there he moved, in 1843, to Wis- consin, being accompanied by his family. Starting with a team, he traveled across the country to Buffalo, a distance of sixty miles, and there embarked, team and all, on a steamer and proceeded by way of Lake Erie to Milwaukee, then a small village. From there, with teams, he followed an Indian trail to Jefferson county, going forty miles through the forest. He there purchased a tract of timbered land in what is now Sullivan township, and having cleared an opening erected a log cabin in which to live. He was the only settler within a radius of five miles, while Milwaukee was the nearest post office and the only depot for supplies. The wild beasts of the wilderness had not then fled before the advancing steps of civilization, but, with the dusky savage, inhabited the forests, roaming at will through the dense woods. Clearing a part of the land, he was there one of the leading farmers until 1863, when he disposed of his homestead, although he remained a resident of the county. After the return from the army of his son, ANDREW J. BOYINGTON, the subject of this sketch, he bought a well improved farm in Hebron township, and resided there a few years. Moving then to Fort Atkinson, he lived there until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was ESTHER SANFORD, was born in New York state, a daughter of ABRAM and SUSAN (WOODWORTH) SANFORD. She lived until ninety-five years of age. Nine children were born of their union, as follows: TITUS, DAVID, JESSE, SARAH, HIRAM, MELINDA, GEORGE, ANDREW J. and LUCY. All the sons, six in number, served bravely in the Civil war. Reared among the pioneer scenes of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, ANDREW J. BOYINGTON remained beneath the parental roof-tree until after the breaking out of the Civil war, when his patriotic enthusiasm was aroused and he cheerfully offered his services to his country. Enlisting, September 30, 1861, in Company H, Thirteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, he served with his comrades at the front until the expiration of his term of enlistment. In 1863 MR. BOYINGTON re- enlisted and continued with his regiment in all of its marches, cam- paigns and battles until November 21, 1864. On that day, while on patrol duty, guarding a railroad at Huntsville, Alabama, he was shot by a bushwhacker, and as a result lost his left arm. In June, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the service and returned home. In partnership with his father, MR. BOYINGTON then purchased a farm in Hebron township, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until 1870. Traveling then by stage where there were no railways, he went to the Northwest territories, and until 1871 was employed in prospect- ing for the precious metal in Montana. Returning then to Wisconsin, MR. BOYINGTON married in the following spring, and in April, 1872, came to the Upper Peninsula, locating at Menominee, then a small log- cabin village. On July 16 of that year, he was joined by his bride, who came in on the first regular passenger train that entered the place. Opening a billiard room and a dispensary, he was there in business until 1877, when he sold out and went to the Pacific coast. He settled at Seattle, in the territory of Washington, which was then a town of three thousand inhabitants, with scant promise of its pre- sent proud position among the coast cities. He remained there until the fall of 1878, when he returned to Menominee, where he continued his residence for more than a year. Coming from there to Iron county, MR. BOYINGTON located at Iron Mountain on January 7, 1880. At that time there were but four build- ings in the place, and they were unfinished, although two of them were occupied by grocery stores. There was not a woman in the town until the advent of MRS. BOYINGTON, the few men residing there keeping bach- elor's hall. Buying two lots, MR. BOYINGTON erected two buildings, the ground floors to be used for stores, and the upper stories for residential purposes. Selling out in 1882, MR. BOYINGTON came to Iron River, making the removal with a pair of horses and a wagon, bringing his family and all of his household goods and arriving February 16, 1882. The site of Iron River was then a wilderness, the only build- ings in the vicinity being three small log cabins. He at once began the erection of a hotel, which, though it was then far from complete, he opened to the public on November 1, 1882. It contained fifty rooms, and was well equipped for those days. On June 27, 1885, the structure was burned, but MR. BOYINGTON, with characteristic enter- prise, moved to a house near by and continued as before to entertain travelers. In the meantime the work of rebuilding progressed rapidly, and on the first of July, 1886, the present BOYINGTON Hotel threw open its doors to the public. In addition to conducting his hotel, MR. BOYINGTON also operated his farm of two hundred and forty acres, two miles and a half from the village center, raising an ample supply of milk and vegetables for the hotel and all of the hay needed in his livery. In 1897 he admitted his son, PHILIP L., to partnership, and continued with him until 1906, when he sold out to his partner. Since that time MR. BOYINGTON has lived retired from active pursuits, having a most pleasant home but a few blocks from the hotel. MR. BOYINGTON married, March 16, 1872, LEFA WAIT, who was born June 30, 1850, at New Berlin, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, a daughter of THADDEUS WAIT. Her grandfather, SAMUEL WAIT, was born, it is thought, in England, came with his parents to the United States, and began life as a farmer in northern New York. From there he moved to Wisconsin and spent his last years in Waukesha county. His wife, whose maiden name was LORANIA COVEY, survived him and died at the home of a daughter in Winnebago county, Wisconsin. Born in New York state, THADDEUS WAIT was young when he moved with his parents to Wisconsin. Buying forty acres of land at New Berlin after his marriage, he re- sided there until 1852, when he went to Outagamie county, Wisconsin, becoming an early pioneer of that section. Buying government land, he built a log cabin, began the improvement of a homestead, and there re- sided until his death, at the comparatively early age of forty-three years. The maiden name of the wife of MR. WAIT was LURA BARBER. She was born in Vermont, which was also the birthplace of her father, GEORGE BARBER. A pioneer of New Berlin, Wisconsin, GEORGE BARBER moved there several years before there were any railways in that vici- nity, and for sometime was there engaged in teaming, taking produce from that place to Milwaukee, on his return trip bringing back mer- chandise of all kinds. He was accidentally killed by being thrown from his wagon when his team ran away. The maiden name of the wife of GEORGE BARBER was POLLY CRAMPTON. She survived him, passing away at the home of a daughter at the age of four score years. She reared five children, namely: VIOLA; LEFA, wife of MR. BOYINGTON; MANVILLE B.; JULIA; and JULIUS. Two sons were born to MR. and MRS. BOYINGTON, BURT L., who lived but fourteen years; and PHILIP L., of whome a brief sketch may be found following this. ===========================================================================