DR. JOHN BOYD died February 27, 1889 remains at Newberryport, Mass.
A History of Uniontown: the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Author: Hadden, James, 1845-1923
Akron, Ohio: Printed by New Werner Co., 1913
Pg. 272
DR. JOHN BOYD came to Uniontown as a Baptist minister in response to a call from the Great Bethel Baptist Church, in 1864.He purchased this Diffenderffer property and occupied the house as a residence and the furniture warehouse as a physician's office.He seems to have risen to the dignity of a physician gradually, as his first practice was more of the nature of an amateur than that of a regular practitioner.More of the career of DR. BOYD is given elsewhere, in the history of the Great Bethel Baptist church.He died here February 27, 1889, and his remains were sent to Newberryport, Mass., where they were placed in the family vault.After the death of DR. BOYD the lot was sold to John K. Beeson who tore away the old buildings and allowed the lot to lay bare for a few years, when it was sold to Edgar S. Hackney, cashier of the First National Bank of Uniontown, who erected thereon a fine brick mansion in 1904 and has occupied it since its completion.
Pg. 714
REV. JOHN BOYD was called as pastor March 21, 1864.Dissension arose between the pastor and several members of the congregation.The opponents of the pastor secured the church records and withdrew from the church property and held services for some time in the court house, and subsequently in the old town hall over the market house.
At a meeting of the congregation held March 2, 1867, REV. BOYD was dismissed as their pastor, thus discharging themselves from any further liability for his support.An article was published in a town paper derogatory to the reputation of REV. BOYD which culminated in a suit for libel, March 5, 1867, which resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff.REV. BOYD still held possession of the property and preached to his adherents for several years, until his congregation diminished to insignificance and services were discontinued.
The Monongahela Association recognized the opponents of REV. BOYD as the Great Bethel Baptist church, and in December, 1882, suit was brought for the possession of the church property, which in February of the following year resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff.At a meeting of the congregation held March 25, 1867, it was resolved to erect a new house of worship, and for this purpose Mr. Samuel Clement donated a lot on the corner of Fayette and Union Streets.