Basil Manly Boykin1

Male, #43363, (14 Jan 1869 - 23 Jan 1947)

Parent*Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin (1 Jan 1836 - 3 Dec 1901)
Parent*Arabella Harris Alexander (27 Aug 1839 - 2 Oct 1879)
Basil Manly Boykin|b. 14 Jan 1869\nd. 23 Jan 1947|p43363.htm|Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin|b. 1 Jan 1836\nd. 3 Dec 1901|p9787.htm|Arabella Harris Alexander|b. 27 Aug 1839\nd. 2 Oct 1879|p9930.htm|Dr. Samuel Boykin|b. 1786\nd. 29 Apr 1848|p9994.htm|Narcissa Cooper|b. 28 Apr 1803\nd. 14 Jun 1857|p9995.htm|Robert B. Alexander|b. 12 Nov 1811\nd. 14 Sep 1851|p44438.htm|Ann M. Harris|b. say 1814\nd. 4 Mar 1858|p44439.htm|

Birth*14 Jan 1869 Basil was born at Shelby Co., Alabama, on 14 Jan 1869.2 
 He was the son of Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin and Arabella Harris Alexander. 
1880 Census1 Jun 1880 Basil was listed as a nephew in Harris Toney's household on the 1880 Census at Madison Co., Alabama.3 
Letter Text6 Nov 1892 [ D] at Decatur, DeKalb Co., Georgia. Letter from Mattie Boykin [age 35] in Decatur, GA to her step-son, Manly Boykin [age 23] in Lamar, Barton Co., MO.

My Dear Manly,
     You begin to think, no doubt, that I am as slow to reply as you were to write. I have been trying to do so ever since the reception of your letter.
     I was glad to hear from all and that Eva [Eva Paxton Boykin, 24, sister of Manly and step-daughter of Mattie] and the children were so much benefitted by their stay in the country.
     We were moving along in a quiet way, enjoying the baby [Effie/Eleanor Boykin, her daughter who was three days short of one year old], if not everything else that comes into our lives. Narcissa [a reference to Eleanor] has improved very much in so many respects since you were here and is, of course, a growing delight. The "Baby Tender" has been a blessing truly.
     It has strengthened her limbs and given her a great deal of pleasure. She just runs all about in any direction she wishes -- in the "Tender" I mean. She pulls up by chairs on anything convenient and walks around them some. I do not think it will be a great while before she walks.
     You know already of Florence's visit and the length of it. [Florence Barnard, age 18]. I have never had any girl visit in the house who was so pleasant in every way. I got better acquainted with her than ever before and love her that much the more. She did not tell you some things about her stay in Decatur that I certainly will not hesitate to tell you. Perhaps you know she spent a day and night at Mrs. Ramspick's. Mr R. told her she had the advantages of Mamie [identity unknown], that she was here, getting on the good side of me, "Jm(?) Manly"! A mean little thing for him to say. Mrs. R. also joined in and said the same thing in a little different way! As if Florence was the kind of girl to do such a thing!
     Mamie showed her the heart you gave her and told her where she got it -- said she was sorry you did not give her the "love-chain" with it, but she supposed she would get that Christmas! I tell you so you may not disappoint her! She also showed Florence her private "memorial book" and in it a piece of sentimental poetry marked underneath "From B. M. B." They quizzed her to know if you had written to her -- and of course she was too truthful to deny it. Mamie asked her to tell you she would answer your letter in about six months! I wish I could talk with you -- I would tell more than I will write -- some things about the R's that would seem too trivial to write.
     I want to say some other things to you in all seriousness and affection. I certainly feel a deep interest in your future -- and I trust you will let me speak freely to you. I love Florence, too, and feel more interest in her welfare than when you were here. What I want to say is, that if you do not truly and sincerely love Florence, I want you to let her alone. Don't make her think you love her if you do not. I do not know that you could win her love easily, after those two years of leaving her alone -- but do not try unless you will love her on to the end, as any woman with a woman's heart wants to be loved -- supremely.
     I feel for Florence, something of the same kind of concern I will for Belle [Belle Boykin, age 18, Manly's sister and Mattie's step-daughter] when the time comes and I tell you I do not want ever you to trifle the least bit with her. Your going to see her the second time, and writing after you go away, with what you said makes it hard for me to conjecture what your correspondence will lead to. And if you do love her, in justice to her, you surely ought not to continue a course that would lead another to think you aren't in love with her. I should have said in justice to yourself -- for I do not see how you can expect the respect of Florence otherwise.
     Florence would be shocked, no doubt, if she knew I had foreseen to write all this of her -- but it is love for her as well as you that has prompted me. I remember so well, too, the undecided way you spoke of your feelings when here. Since your visit home, I have been more anxious about your future and sincerely interested than before. You understand why. If it seems to you I have gone beyond my privilege in what I have said, that has been my inspiration, and if my words have been out of place in regard to Florence, think no more about them.
     Belle was sick in bed for several days a few weeks ago, but is well now and seems to be doing well.
     Your father [Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin, Mattie's husband and a Baptist evangelist who traveled a great deal] has not been at home more than a few days at a time since you were here. He is well as usual.
     Give my love to Jim, Eva and the children and include yourself in the division.
               Sincerely,
               Miss Mattie

[Note: Mattie died just three months later, on 22 Feb 1893, two days after giving birth to Martha Boykin, who later married Harry Stuart Culpepper, Sr. Three weeks after Mattie's death, on 16 Mar 1893, Manly Boykin married Florence Barnard.]. 
Marriage*16 Mar 1893 He married Florence Barnard at Cobb Co., Georgia, on 16 Mar 1893.4 
Death3 Dec 1901  (an unknown value).5,6 
Probate7 Dec 1901 James and Basil was the executor of Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin's estate at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, on 7 Dec 1901.7 
1910 Census*15 Apr 1910 Basil was listed as the head of a family on the 1910 Census at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia.8 
Death*23 Jan 1947 He died at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, on 23 Jan 1947. 
Burial* His body was interred at Decatur City Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb Co., Georgia.9 

Family

Florence Barnard (5 Jan 1874 - 14 Jun 1957)
Children

Charts Edward Boykin Descendants
Last Edited 4 Dec 2003

Citations

  1. Boykin Family Papers.
  2. Death Certificate.
    GA Dept of Human Resources, certified 2 Nov 1989:
    Deceased: Basil Manley Boykin, born 14 Jan 1869 in Shelby Co., AL [sic]
    Father: Thomas C. Boykin, born in GA
    Mother: Belle Alexander, born in GA
    Died 23 Jan 1947 at residence: 1056 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA.
    Buried: 25 Jan 1947 in Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb Co., GA.
    Widow of B. M. Boykin. Occupation: Housewife.
    Informant: Mrs. Gerald Griffin, daughter, 1056 Spring Street NW, Atlanta.
    Died of basal cerebral hemorrhage, due to artereosclosis.
  3. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
    District 209, Madison Co., AL, page 155c
    Harris TONEY Self M Male W 36 AL AL PA Merchant
    Mary TONEY Wife M Female W 32 AL VA VA
    Matt TONEY Son S Male W 8 AL AL AL
    Analou TONEY Dau S Female W 5 AL AL AL
    May Bell TONEY Dau S Female W 4M AL AL AL
    Manly BOYKIN Nephew S Male W 9 GA AL AL
    Wiliam WESLEY Other S Male B 30 AL AL AL Servant
    Sally HORSLY Other S Female B 21 VA VA VA Servant.
  4. Photocopy of Marriage License, "Basil Manly Boykin and Florence Barnard, License dated 15 Mar 1893. Married 16 Mar 1893."
  5. The Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin and family, Official Plot Records, Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA.
    8 grave plot bought 1 Dec 1882 by T. C. Boykin at Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA
    Grave#/Name/Age/Date of Death
    2. Mrs. Mattie Boykin, 35, 22 Feb 1893
    3. Thomas C. Boykin, 65, 4 Dec 1901
    4. Mrs. Belle Boykin, 39, 2 Dec 1879 (apparently moved from a different location)
    4. Katie Boykin, 16, 1 Sep 1875 (apparently moved from a different location and buried with mother)
    ?. T. C. Boykin, Jr., 20, 5 Dec 1880
    ?. Mrs. T. C. Boykin, --, 29 Apr 1884
    ?. T. C. Boykin's child, --, 29 Apr 1884
    ?. T. C. Boykin's child, --, 29 Apr 1884
    ?. T. C. Boykin's child, --, 2 May 1884
    ?. Ella Boykin, 2, 10 Aug 1887
    ?. Ruth Boykin, 4 mos., 19 Jun 1890
    ?. Hubert Boykin, 2, 15 Nov 1890.
  6. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA.
    http://www.ajc.com
    Obituary of Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin, published Thursday, 5 Dec 1901. Pages 9 and 13 (Ancestry.com images).
  7. Atlanta Constitution, Sunday, 8 Dec 1901. Page 8 (Ancestry.com image).
  8. 1910 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 93, Page 257b, Family 194, Gen.com img 514, 413 Courtland Street, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA
    Basil M. Boykin, Head, M, 41, md1-17 yrs, AL/GA/GA, Cashier for Stationery Co.
    Florence Boykin, Wife, F, 36, md1-17 yrs, ch 6/4, GA/GA/GA
    Barnard A. Boykin, Son, M, 15, S, MO/AL/GA
    James M. Boykin, Son, M, 10, S, MO/AL/GA
    Florence M. Boykin, Dau, F, 5, S, MO/AL/GA
    Allen M. Boykin, Son, M, 4, S, MO/AL/GA
    Effie N. Boykin, Half-Sister, F, 18, S, GA/GA/GA
    Mattie N. Boykin, Half-Sister, F, 17, S, GA/GA/GA
    Belle A. Boykin, Sister, F, 30, S, GA/GA/GA, Nurse.
  9. Tombstone photograph: "Basil Manly Boykin, Jan 14, 1869 - Jan 23, 1947."