ALBERT AUGUSTUS BOYNTON – 2nd VETERAN CAVALRYSERVED IN MANY OFFICES IN LEWIS - Albert Augustus Boynton had ancestors who came over on the Mayflower. Some of whom gradually moved westward until his parents came to settle and farm in the wilderness of Essex County. Albert’s mother, Arathusa, had eleven children, only three of whom lived to maturity. His father, Joseph, died in 1860, but his mother lived to see him come home from the war.On September 5, 1864, Albert enlisted to serve for one year as a private in the 2nd Second Veteran Cavalry in Plattsburgh. He served in the Army of the Gulf, under General Butler and was present at the surrender of Mobile, AL. His regiment fought in Louisiana, and Mississippi before they came to Florida and Alabama. He was finally mustered out with his regiment on August 24, 1865, at Talladega, AL, after 11 months and 19 day’s service and returned home to resume farming.On December 18, 1872, he married Julia Parris of Lewis and they farmed until 1882 when he opened a store there. He was elected County Sheriff in 1892 and served until 1895. Albert also held various offices such as Town Supervisor, Town Clerk, Town Constable and Justice of the Peace until his final retirement.The Lake Placid News of March 29, 1929, carried this story on the front page – “Aged Civil War Veteran Succumbs – Albert Boynton, one of the few surviving Civil War veterans in Essex County, died at his home in Elizabethtown last Friday night, March 22nd.Funeral services, with full military honors, were held from his late home on Monday. He is survived by his widow and one daughter. He was well known throughout the eastern part of Essex County.”Albert was buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Elizabethtown, at age 85, and Julia joined him there in 1937.
