Henry Boyd was born a slave in Kentucky. Of imposing stature, well-knit
muscles, and the countenance of one of nature's noblemen. At the age of
eighteen he had so far won the confidence of his master, that he not
only consented to sell him the right and title to his freedom, but gave
him his own time to earn the money.
With a general pass from his master, Henry made his way to the Kenhawa
salt works, celebrated as the place where Senator Ewing, of Ohio,
chopped out his _education_ with his axe! And there, too, with his axe,
did Henry Boyd chop out his _liberty_. By performing double labor, he
got double wages. In the daytime he swung his axe upon the wood, and
for half the night he tended the boiling salt-kettles, sleeping the
other half by their side.
After having accumulated a sufficient sum, he returned to his master
and paid it over for his freedom. He next applied himself to learn the
trade of a carpenter and joiner. Such was his readiness to acquire the
use of tools, that he soon qualified himself to receive the wages of a
journeyman. In Kentucky prejudice does not forbid master mechanics to
teach colored men their trades.
He now resolved to quit the dominions of slavery and try his fortunes
in a free State, and accordingly directed his steps to the city of
Cincinnati. The journey reduced his purse to the last _quarter of a
dollar_; but, with his tools on his back and the consciousness of his
ability to use them, he entered the city with a light heart. Little did
he dream of the reception he was to meet. There was work enough to be
done in his line, but no master workman would employ a colored man.
Day after day did Henry Boyd offer his services from shop to shop, but
as often was he repelled, generally with insult, and once with a kick.
At last, he found the shop of an Englishman, too recently arrived to
understand the grand peculiarity of American feeling. This man put a
plane into his hand, and asked him to make proof of his skill. "This is
in bad order," said Boyd, and with that he gave the instrument certain
nice professional knocks with the hammer, till he brought it to suit
his practised eye.
"Enough," said the Englishman; "I see you can use tools." Boyd,
however, proceeded to dress a board in a very able and workmanlike
manner, while the journeymen from a long line of benches gathered
around with looks that bespoke a deep personal interest in the matter.
"You may go to work," said the master of the shop, right glad to employ
so good a workman. The words had no sooner left his mouth than his
American journeymen, unbuttoning their aprons, called, as one man, for
the settlement of their wages.
"What! what!" said the amazed Englishman, "what does this mean?" "It
means that we will not work with a _nigger_," replied the journeymen.
"But he is a first-rate workman." "But we won't stay in the same shop
with a _nigger_; we are not in the habit of working with _niggers_."
"Then I will build a shanty outside, and he shall work in that." "No,
no; we won't work for a _boss_ who employs _niggers_. Pay us up, and
we'll be off." The poor master of the shop turned with a despairing
look to Boyd--"You see how it is, my friend; my workmen will all leave
me. I am sorry for it, but I can't hire you."
Even at this repulse our adventurer did not despair. There might still
be mechanics in the outskirts of the city who had too few journeymen to
be bound by their prejudices. His quarter of a dollar had long since
disappeared, but, by carrying a traveller's trunk or turning his hand
to any chance job, he contrived to exist till he had made application
to every carpenter and joiner in the city and its suburbs. _Not one
would employ him._ By this time, the iron of prejudice, more galling
than anything he had ever known of slavery, had entered his soul.
He walked down to the river's bank below the city, and throwing himself
upon the ground, gave way to an agony of despair. He had found himself
the object of universal contempt; his plans were all frustrated, his
hopes dashed, and his dear-bought freedom made of no effect! By such
trials, weak minds are prostrated in abject and slavish servility, and
stronger ones are made the enemies and depredators of society; it is
only the highest class of moral heroes that come off like gold from the
furnace.
Of this class, however, was Henry Boyd. Recovering from his dejection,
he surveyed the brawny muscles that strung his Herculean frame. A new
design rushed into his mind, and new resolution filled his heart. He
sprang upon his feet and walked firmly and rapidly towards the city,
doubtless with aspirations that might have suited the words of the poet:
"Thy spirit, _Independence_, let me share,
Lord of the lion heart and eagle eye."
The first object which attracted his "eagle eye," on reaching the city,
was one of the huge river boats laden with pig iron, drawn up to the
landing. The captain of this craft was just inquiring of the merchant
who owned its contents for a hand to assist in unloading it. "I am the
very fellow for you," said Boyd, stripping off his coat, rolling up his
sleeves, and laying hold of the work. "Yes, sure enough, that _is_ the
very fellow for you," said the merchant.
The resolution and alacrity of Boyd interested him exceedingly,
and during the four or five days in which a flotilla of boats were
discharging their cargoes of pig iron with unaccustomed despatch,
he became familiar with his history, with the exception of all that
pertained to his trade, which Boyd thought proper to keep to himself.
In consequence, our adventurer next found himself promoted to the
portership of the merchant's store, a post which he filled to great
satisfaction.
He had a hand and a head for everything, and an occasion was not long
wanting to prove it. A joiner was engaged to erect a counter, but
failing, by a drunken frolic, the merchant was disappointed and vexed.
Rather in passion than in earnest, he turned to his faithful porter:
"Here, Henry, you can do almost anything, why can't _you_ do this job?"
"Perhaps I could, sir, if I had my tools and the stuff," was the reply.
"Your tools!" exclaimed the merchant in surprise, for till now he knew
nothing of his trade.
Boyd explained that he had learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner,
and had no objection to try the job. The merchant handed him the money,
and told him to make as good a counter as he could. The work was done
with such promptitude, judgment and finish that his employer broke off
a contract for the erection of a large frame warehouse, which he was
about closing with the same mechanic who had disappointed him in the
matter of the counter, and gave the job to Henry.
The money was furnished, and Boyd was left to procure the materials and
_boss_ the job at his own discretion. This he found no difficulty in
doing, and what is remarkable, among the numerous journeymen whom he
employed, were some of the very men who took off their aprons at his
appearance in the Englishman's shop! The merchant was so much pleased
with his new warehouse, that he proceeded to set up the intelligent
builder in the exercise of his trade in the city.
Thus Henry Boyd found himself raised at once almost beyond the reach
of the prejudice which had well-nigh crushed him. He built houses and
accumulated property. White journeymen and apprentices were glad to
be in his employment, and to _sit at his table_. He is now a wealthy
mechanic, living in his own house in Cincinnati; and his enemies who
have tried to supplant him have as good reason as his friends to know
that he is a man of sound judgment and a most vigorous intellect.
Without having received a day's schooling in his life, Henry Boyd
is well read in history, has an extensive and accurate knowledge of
geography, is an excellent arithmetician, and is remarkable for his
morality, generosity, and all those traits which mark a noble character.