WILLIAM BOYDEN, Hornellsville, New York. (Deceased.)
William Boyden was 59 years of age when his life yielded at last to the effects of a cancer, and thus closed a career that had been full of usefulness and marked by high success. Mr. Boyden was born in Chautauqua County, New York, in 1840, and left school at the age of 16. He began his railroad career in the fall of 1860, as a fireman on the Allegheny Division, and after four years was promoted to engineer. He ran an engine in the freight service until 1872, in which year he was promoted to a passenger train, and for many years pulled the most important trains on his division, Nos. 5 and 8, but for some time previous to his death had been in charge of trains 3 and 12. He had a singularly successful career in the cab, never having any accidents worthy of mention, and was never called up to the office "to explain."

Mr. Boyden was married on February 20, 1861, to Miss Olive Sweet, of Chautauqua County, New York, and one child was born to them, but it died when quite young. Mr. Boyden joined the B. of L. E. in 1864 and was always a prominent figure in the affairs of the order, not only locally, but in the higher councils. For many years he was on the Board of Adjustment, and was a valued member of the Legislative Board when he died on February 15, 1899.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From the September 30, 1887 issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
William Boyden, engineer of train 5 this a.m., was quite severely injured by jumping from his engine near Andover, sustaining a fracture of the ankle. He was brought to this city and medical assistance rendered by Dr. Baker and Green.

Train 5 came near being wrecked this morning at Andover. Regular 326 was to wait at that place and allow 5 to pass but when train 5 arrived, 326 had not yet drawn on the switch. An accident was avoided by Engineer Boyden who reversed the engine and stopped the train just in the nick of time.