Details: William Ellison Boykin
***William Ellison Boykin***
(b. Abt. 1856)
South Carolina. Born enslaved. Black/Mulatto.
Occupation: farmer, storekeeper, teacher
Father's occupation: minister
William Boykin was born in South Carolina to Monroe and Mary Ann Boykin. He grew up in Kershaw County, near Camden, South Carolina. His father was the first pastor at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Camden. The city park Monroe Boykin Park was named to honor him. Growing up in Camden, William was friends with Johnson Whittaker, another student at U of SC.
William first appears in university records in the January 1876 University of South Carolina catalogue. He described as a freshman from Camden following the modern studies track. This university closed before he completed his degree.
By 1880, William was living in Marion County and working as a school teacher. However, most of his life was spent in Camden, a city he had moved to by 1900. There he received government appointments as gauger, postmaster, and storekeeper. He also worked as a farmer. Fellow former U of SC student C. C. Scott said that William as a "substantial citizen in Camden."
Sources Cited
1). Caldwell, A. B. History of the American Negro: South Carolina Edition. A. B. Caldwell Publishing, Atlanta, GA. 1919.
2). Marszalek, John F. Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker. Simon and Schuster, 1994.
3). 1870; Census Place: De Kalb, Kershaw, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1499; Page: 175B.
4). 1880; Census Place: Kirby, Marion, South Carolina; Roll: 1234; Page: 165D.
5). 1910; Census Place: Camden Ward 1, Kershaw, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1463; Page: 7B.
6). "When Negroes Attended the State University", May 8, 1911. State (published as The State). Page 9.
Posted 4/25/20