Boykin, Rev. Samuel, was horn in Milledge- ville, Baldwin Co., Ga., Nov. 24, 1829.

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Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran

Boykin, Rev. Samuel, was horn in Milledge- ville, Baldwin Co., Ga., Nov. 24, 1829. His mother’s maiden name was Narcissa Cooper, daughter of Thomas Cooper, whose ancestors came ‘from: England. His paternal ancestor, Ed- ward Boykin, came from Caernarvonshire, Wales, and settled in Isle of Wight Co., Va., in 1685. William Boykin, the grandson of Edward Boy- kin, emigrated to Kershaw Co., S. ©., in 1755 or 1756, and settled six miles south of Camden. His third son, Francis Boykin, participated in most of the battles of the State during the Revolutionary war, and rose to be a major of infantry in the army, having taken part in the battle of Fort Moultrie. About the year 1800 Mr. Boykin moved to Georgia, and settled near Milledgeville, where he died in 1821.. Three of his children grew to ma- turity,—Hliza, Samuel, and James. Samuel, born in 1786, died in 1848, was the father of the subject of this sketch. He graduated at the State Uni- versity of Georgia and at a medical college in Philadelphia, and practiced medicine in Georgia for twenty-five or thirty years. He was also a large planter. He removed to Columbus, Ga., where he spent the last years of his life. He en- gaged in planting and in banking, and was very prosperous. He was fond of books, and a lover of science; and at his hospitable home distin- guished literary and scientific men of the New and Old World were pleased to visit, and ever found in Dr. Boykin a congenial spirit. Samuel Boykin, his son, spent his earliest years in Columbus. He was sent to Pennsylvania and Connecticut for education, but came back to Georgia and took a full course at the State Univer- sity, where he graduated in 1851. He then spent nearly a year in foreign travel. While prosecuting his studies at the State University he made a pro- fession of religion and joined the Baptist church. He was licensed to preach in 1852, and ordained Sept. 16, 1861. In 1859 he became the editor of the Christian Index, then published in Macon, Ga., and owned by the Baptist Convention of the State. In 1861 he became the sole proprietor of the Index. He continued successfully its publication until 1865, when the disasters of the war between the States stopped it. His editorial management was characterized by decided ability. He subsequently sold the Index to J. J. Toon, of Atlanta, by whom it was revived. For several years he also pub- lished and edited the Child’s Index, which he re- sumed after the war. This child’s paper was merged into Kind Words in 1872, a paper owned by the Southern Baptist Convention, and published at Memphis, Tenn. In 1873, Mr. Boykin was elected editor of Kind Words, which position he has held ever since. Under his management the paper has reached a very large circulation, is now well established, and it is a paper of great value. Mr. Boykin was pastor for one year of the Second Baptist church of Macon, but having been called to Memphis to edit Kind Words in 1873, he re- signed that charge. When the Sunday-School Board was abolished in 1874, the paper was removed to Macon, and there published. Mr. Boykin then returned to Georgia. Editing has been his chief employment, for which he is peculiarly fitted. He has been identified with Baptist interests in Georgia for many years. In the cause of missions and Sunday-schools he has been very useful, wielding a large influence over the young of the denomination as editor and ex- positor of the ‘‘ Sunday-School Lessons.”’ He is now in the prime of life, with an active mind and un- tiring industry. The Baptist denomination may still expect large results from his labors and his commanding talents. ;From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart- photo from findagrave Tennessee heritage.