Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin1,2

Male, #9787, (1 Jan 1836 - 3 Dec 1901)

ParentDr. Samuel Boykin (1786 - 29 Apr 1848)
ParentNarcissa Cooper (28 Apr 1803 - 14 Jun 1857)
Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin|b. 1 Jan 1836\nd. 3 Dec 1901|p9787.htm|Dr. Samuel Boykin|b. 1786\nd. 29 Apr 1848|p9994.htm|Narcissa Cooper|b. 28 Apr 1803\nd. 14 Jun 1857|p9995.htm|Major Francis Boykin|b. 1751\nd. 17 Aug 1821|p9997.htm|Catherine Whitaker|b. say 1748\nd. after 1800|p10028.htm|Thomas Cooper Jr.|b. 1771\nd. 5 Jul 1843|p10034.htm|Judith Harvey|b. say 1775|p10007.htm|

Birth*1 Jan 1836 Thomas was born at Baldwin Co., Georgia, on 1 Jan 1836. Birthplace assumed from father's known residence.3 
 He was the son of Dr. Samuel Boykin and Narcissa Cooper. 
(Family Member) Relocation1836 Family member(s) Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin, accompanying Dr. Samuel Boykin, relocated in 1836 at Columbus, Muscogee Co., Georgia.4 
(free wh male 00-05) 1840 Census1 Jun 1840 Thomas was probably a free white male, under 5 years old, in Dr. Samuel Boykin's household, on the 1840 Census on 1 Jun 1840 at Muscogee Co., Georgia.5 
(heir) Will28 Apr 1848 In Dr. Samuel Boykin's will on 28 Apr 1848 at Muscogee Co., Georgia, Thomas was named as an heir.
     Last Will and Testament of Samuel Boykin
Executed 28 Apr 1848 and proved 22 May 1848 in Muscogee Co., GA.
     In the name of God, Amen. I Samuel Boykin being of sound mind and desirous of disposing of all property that I may be entitled to at my death constitute this as my last will & testament.
     1st, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Narcissa my carriage and horses, plate and household furniture absolutely.
     2nd, I give and bequeath to my wife Narcissa, for her special use and benefit during her life the following property - to wit: my residence in the city of Columbus with the four lots immediately joining it, and the four other lots lying near it on the opposite sides of the street on which my residence stands, and the following house servants - to wit: Charlotte & her two children Lin and Bird Grace, Leila & her two children Mary Ann & Dafra, Lizzy and old Sall, and at her death I wish said property to go in equal shares to such of my children as shall survive her and the children of such as may be dead at her decease.
     3rd, I give and bequeath all the balance of my property in equal shares to my wife (in case she declines dower) & my children the child's part assigned to my wife by this item. I give and bequeath to her during her natural life, at her death to be distributed in the same way I have directed the property assigned for her use in the second item of my will. I further will and bequeath to each of my daughters her share for her special use & benefit not to be sold or in any way disposed of by her husband, in case she marries and at her death in case she marries and dies without issue leaving a husband, one half this property to her husband and the other half to each of my children as may survive her. I further will and bequeath to each of my sons his share, and in case he should marry and die without issue, one half of said share to his surviving wife, and the other half to such of my children as may survive him. I further will and desire my executors hereinafter appointed to give to each of my sons, Francis, Samuel, Thomas and Leroy as a portion of that part of my estate falling to his share one fourth part of my plantation lying on the Chattahoochee in Russell County, if each one when he becomes of age should be willing to take said fourth part of said plantation as a portion of his distribution share, and it should be deemed possible by my executors so to assign my said plantation to my sons, in four equal parts and at such time as my executors shall deem it proper and expedient for the interest of all the legatees.
     4th, I will and desire my executors to sell and dispose of all my real esate not mentioned in any of the foregoing items at such time & in such way as they may deem to be for the interest of my estate.
     5th, I here appoint and constitute my wife Narcissa Boykin, Mark A. Cooper, and my two sons Francis & Samuel Boykin my executors under this my last will and testament.
     In witness whereof I have signed, sealed and published these presents this 28th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight. /s/ S. Boykin
     In the presence of Leroy Holt, Frank A. Nisbet, James N. Owens, John E. Bacon.
.6 
(household member) 1850 Census1 Jun 1850 Thomas was listed as a household member living with Narcissa Cooper on the 1850 Census at Columbus, Muscogee Co., Georgia.7 
Marriage13 Apr 1858 He married Arabella Harris Alexander at Huntsville, Madison Co., Alabama, on 13 Apr 1858.3,8 
Marriage*4 May 1881 He married Martha S. Dickson on 4 May 1881.3 
(Witness) Biography Thomas Cooper, born in Henry County, Virginia, in 1767, came to Putnam County, Ga., and died in Eatonton, Ga., in 1842. He was the first man to raise cotton for market in Hancock County. The cotton gin had not then been invented, and he invented a roller gin for his own use. Cotton was then worth from fifty to seventy-five cents a pound. Thomas Cooper was one of the original subscribers to the Georgia Railroad. He aided in the founding of Mercer University, was among the first subscribers and supporters of the Columbian Star, afterwards The Christian Index, published first in Washington, D. C., then in Philadelphia, and now in Atlanta.
     He joined the Baptist Church in 1813, was prominent in the church councils, and was a deacon. Among his intimate friends were Jesse Mercer, Adiel Sherwood and Jesse H. Campbell. James C. Clark, of Atlanta., speaking of him to his grandson, the Rev. T. C. Boykin said, "A more devoted, useful, and spiritually minded man than Mr. Cooper I never knew."9 
Death*3 Dec 1901 An unknown person died at Georgia on 3 Dec 1901. "REV. T. C. BOYKIN IS DEAD. Rev. Thomas Co. Boykin, one of the best ministers in the Baptist church in Georgia, was found dead in his bed yesterday morning at the home of his son, B. M. Boykin, 101 Capitol Avenue. Heart failure or apoplexy is supposed to be the cause of death. The death was unexpected as Mr. Boykin had appeared in good health Tuesday. The deceased was 65 years of age and for forty years had been a minister in the Baptist church. For a number of years he was Sunday school evangelist for the state of Georgia, and in his travels over the state became well known. He was afterwards state evangelist for the state of Texas, Dallas being his home.He resided in Decatur, Ga., for ten years and for a long time made Atlanta his home. During the last three years he has not been engaged in active ministerial work and has resided with his son on Capitol Avenue. He is survived by five children, as follows: B. M. Boykin of Atlanta; James C. Boykin of Washington, DC; Miss Belle Boykin and Misses Effie and Mattie Boykin of McIntyre [sic], Fla. The funeral services will be conducted at the residence this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The interment will be in Oakland Cemetery."

"BOYKIN--The freinds of Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Boykin are invited to attend the funeral of the Rev. T. C. Boykin this (Thursday) afternoon, December 5 [1901], at 3 o'clock, at the family residence, 101 Capitol Avenue. Interment Oakland Cemetery. Pallbearers: A. D. Adair, W. M. Ragsdale, Dr. J. R. Goss, Hamilton Weeks, J. M. Mason, Dr. McGarrity.".10,11 
Probate7 Dec 1901 Thomas's will was probated at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, on 7 Dec 1901.12 
Biography* Thomas Cooper Boykin was born in Baldwin County, Georgia on January 1, 1836, and his family moved to Columbus, Georgia shortly after his birth. He grew up in an environment of wealth and culture.

Baptized at the Columbus (GA) Baptist Church on June 22, 1851, he attended Mercer University and the University of South Carolina, where he graduated with honors in 1856 (age 20). At 22, he married Belle Alexander of Huntsville, Alabama. For nearly ten years they lived on a farm in Russell County, Alabama, just across the river from Columbus. In 1865 (age 29), he was ordained to the ministry and served as pastor of several Alabama churches, including ones in Columbiana and Montevallo. In the winter of 1867-68, he moved to Shelby County, ALabama, eleven miles north of Montevallo. He was the pastor at Montevallo, Columbiana and Union chirches in Shelby County, and at Canaan Church in Jefferson County. In 1871, he assumed the Presidency of the Sunday School Board of Alabama.

In 1874, he was appointed by the Sunday School Board of Georgia to the position of Sunday School Evangelist. In this position, he made a systematic canvass of the Baptist churches of the whole state. His brother, Samuel, was editor of "Kind Words", a Baptist Sunday school publication. The work of each brother supplemented the other. Samuel supplied the literature; Thomas organized the schools. From their direct efforts over a 30 year period, over 1,500 Sunday Schools were formed in Alabama and Georgia. Their efforts were particularly noteworthy, for in the 1800's, the Sunday School had to fight its way into recognition by Baptist churches of the South. In many churches there were bitter debates as to whether it was scriptural for a church to organize a Sunday School. In the mid 1800's in Richmond, VA, the First Baptist Church withdrew fellowship from those who wanted to organize a Sunday School. However, by the early 1900's, Sunday School programs had become ubiquitous in Baptist churches, thanks in no small part to the work of the Boykin brothers.

Thomas and Belle had eight children. In 1879, at the age of 40, Belle died at 34 Windsor Street, Atlanta, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery. In 1881, Thomas married Mattie Dickson, of Talbot County, Georgia, who bore him two daughters. Eleanor, the oldest, became Editor of Vogue Magazine. On February 20, 1893, Mattie died from complications in birthing her second child, Martha, and was buried in Oakland Cemetery.

After Mattie's death, Thomas accepted the call in 1894 of the Sunday School Board of Texas, and he served there for four years. According to the May 1936 issue of "The Teacher", published by the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, "In heat and in cold, in rain and in sunshine, over muddy roads and dusty highways, on horseback, in buggies, or on the train, with the slogan ever before him, 'a Sunday school in every Baptist church,' he toiled at his task to the utmost of his powers of body, mind, and soul."

In 1898, he returned to Georgia and spent his declining years with his son, Basil Manly Boykin. He died December 3, 1901 and was buried in the family lot in Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta.

Source: Written by his great-grandson Warren Culpepper from (1) notes written by an unknown Boykin family member, (2) an article published in the May 1936 edition of "The Teacher", a publication of the Baptist Sunday Board, (3) "History of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia", compiled for the Christian Index, Harrison & Co., Atlanta, GA 1881
(Names referenced above: Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin). 
Descendant* See footnote for the name and contact info of a descendant of Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin who would like to communicate with other descendants.13 

Family 1

Arabella Harris Alexander (27 Aug 1839 - 2 Oct 1879)
Marriage13 Apr 1858 He married Arabella Harris Alexander at Huntsville, Madison Co., Alabama, on 13 Apr 1858.3,8 
Children

Family 2

Martha S. Dickson (1857 - 22 Feb 1893)
Marriage*4 May 1881 He married Martha S. Dickson on 4 May 1881.3 
Children

Charts Warren Culpepper's Ancestry Chart
Edward Boykin Descendants
Last Edited 8 Nov 2007

Citations

  1. Boykin Family Papers.
  2. Harry Stuart Culpepper and Alma Elaine Payne Ancestors, Culpepper/Payne Family Bible, Steven Edward Culpepper, owner, Sandy Springs, GA, (2005).
  3. Mrs. Bun Wylie -- State Regent 1930-32, Boykin Family Bible (Given to Emily Boykin Tichenor on 16 Apr 1861 by Sam and Laura Boykin) Transcription contained in "Historical Collections of the Georgia Chapters, DAR, Vol. IV Old Bible Records and Land Lotteries, 1932.
  4. Katherine Bowman Walters, Oconee River Tales to Tell, Eaton, Putnam Co., GA: Eaton, Putnam Co. (GA) Historical Society, 1995.
    Chapter 5, pp 53-57.
  5. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Ancestry.com image.
  6. Muscogee Co., GA Court of Probate Records. Transcribed by Warren Culpepper from photocopy by Mrs. Eugene Millsaps III.
  7. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    pages 338 and 339, Ancestry.com images 87 & 89
    Mrs. Narcissa Boykin, 47, F, GA
    Samuel Boykin, 20, M, GA
    Emily C. Boykin, 18, F, GA
    Narcissa Boykin, 16, F, GA
    Eliza H. Boykin, 12, F, GA
    Leroy Boykin, 10, M, GA
    Lula Boykin, 4, F, GA
    Thomas C. Boykin, 14, M, GA (separated from rest of family and listed at very end of census).
  8. Photocopy of Marriage License, "T. C. Boykin and Isabella Alexander, License dated 13 Apr 1858, Madison Co., AL."
  9. William J. Northern, Men of Mark in Georgia, Vol. V A. B. Caldwell, 1910.
    " Samuel Boykin", pages 338-340.
  10. 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.
  11. Atlanta Constitution, Thursday, 5 Dec 1901. Pages 9 and 13 (Ancestry.com images).
  12. Atlanta Constitution, Sunday, 8 Dec 1901. Page 8 (Ancestry.com image).
  13. Warren L. Culpepper, Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.
  14. Dates are from T. C. Boykin notes, provided by Bunny Saussy. Evie was still born, and based on her position in the notes, she appears to have been first child by Mattie Dickson. A month and day was given, but the year is 188?. Thus, as Mattie and T. C. married in May 1881, the birth/death could have been either 1882 or 1883.
  15. From T. C. Boykin notes, provided by Bunny Saussy.