DR. FRANK D. BOYD, oculist for the State and Masonic Orphans’ and Widows’ Home at Fort Worth and lecturer on hygiene and physical diagnosis in the medical department of the Fort Worth University, while in his private practice he is an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist at Fort Worth, was born in Rusk, Cherokee county, Texas, his parents being John A. and Amy (Harrison) Boyd. The father is now living in a country home three and a half miles from Fort Worth. He was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and came to Texas in 1852, locating in Cherokee county, since which time he has followed mercantile pursuits, becoming a substantial merchant. It was in that county that he was married to Miss Amy Harrison, who was born in Selma, Alabama, and came to Texas in 1854.
Dr. Boyd was reared upon the home farm in Cherokee county, near Rusk, and completed a high school course at that place by graduation, after which he became a student in the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. He began his professional studies rather early in life, his first preceptor being Dr. Gracey, a prominent physician of Waxahachie. Subsequently he entered the medical department of the University of Louisville at Louisville, Kentucky, where he was graduated in 1890. He had decided upon becoming a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and, following his graduation at Louisville, he pursued post-graduate work in the above mentioned branches in a post-graduate medical school and hospital of New York City. For the purpose of acquiring still further knowledge, experience and proficiency he then returned to Louisville and became assistant in the office of Dr. Cheatham, a noted specialist of that place. Later he became assistant in the office of Dr. E. Fletcher Ingals of Chicago, from which city he removed to San Antonio, Texas, where he practiced as a specialist for five years. In June, 1896, he removed to San Antonio, Texas, where he has since followed his profession with gratifying success, resulting from an ambitious effort to acquire the best training and preparation possible. His labors have been most efficient, being attended by excellent results in the line of scientific work and in addition to the duties of a large private practice he is now serving as oculist for the State Masonic Orphans’ and Widows’ Home at Fort Worth and is lecturer on hygiene and physical diagnosis in the medical department of the Fort Worth University.
Dr. Boyd has contributed largely to the literature of ophthalmology and otology and devotes as much of his spare time as possible to preparing articles for the technical journals, usually upon subjects in connection with his specialty. He is an original thinker and investigator and his labors have brought valuable knowledge to the profession. He is a member of the various medical societies of Texas and the American Medical Society, including its specialized branches, while his fraternal relations connect him with the Masonic lodge, chapter and commandery.
Dr. Boyd was married in Louisville to Miss Mattie E. Callahan, and they have a little daughter, Amy Margaret. They lost their oldest child, a boy, Frank Douglas, Jr., at the age of five years.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas, Vol. II (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), pp. 96-97.