Boynton-Binford Letters

Collection

Identifier: A-0070

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The letters describe Central and East Texas -- the land, weather, transportation, business. They discuss philosophy of love and marriage. Places mentioned include Auburn and Crawford, Alabama; and Henderson, Waxahachie, Dallas, Larissa, and Jamestown, Texas.

Dates

Creation: 1865-1866

Creator

Boynton, Andrew Jackson (Person)
Boynton, Martha Elizabeth (Person)

Language of Materials

The collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Biographical or Historical Information

Andrew Jackson Boynton (b. May 1, 1836) and Martha Elizabeth (Pattie) Binford (b. April 6, 1843) met in Crawford, Alabama after the end of the Civil War when Boynton was on his way home to Henderson, Texas. These letters represent their courtship correspondence in 1865 and 1866, with her letters coming from Auburn, Alabama, while his were written from various Texas towns as he traveled on business. They married January 8, 1867 in Macon Co. Alabama, and eventually settled in Panola County, Texas. They had five children; John Binford, Oscar P., Leila, Jesse and Archie. Andrew Jackson Boynton died on January 8, 1888 in Rusk County. Martha Elizabeth Boynton died January 29, 1925 (7?) in Mt. Enterprise. They are both buried in Boynton Cemetery, Panola County.

(Rusk County Rebels. Davis, Kathryn Hooper and Ericson, Carolyn Reeves. Nacogdoches, Texas: Ericson Books, 1998. p. 75; Worley, Joyce Haley. "The Family of Moses Boynton, Jr." A History of Panola County, Texas 1819-1978 . Panola Historical Association, 1979. page 180).