A circulation of 500,000 copies per week in 1894 established William D. Boyce as a formidable figure in the American newspaper industry. By leveraging a massive network of newsboys to distribute the Saturday Blade, he successfully captured a wide rural audience, transforming his publication into a highly profitable enterprise and cementing his status as a self-made multi-millionaire.
Early Career and Business Expansion
Born in Plum Township in 1858, Boyce began his career as a schoolteacher and coal miner before attending Wooster Academy in Ohio. He gained early professional experience across the Midwest and Canada as a lumberjack, secretary, and salesman. After moving to Chicago with his first wife, Mary Jane Beacom, he formed the Mutual Newspaper Publishing Company. His business ventures expanded beyond the Saturday Blade to include international holdings like The Commercial in Winnipeg and the Lisbon Clipper in North Dakota.
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By the early 20th century, Boyce scaled back his direct involvement in daily business operations to focus on global travel. Between 1909 and his death in 1929, he led extensive photographic expeditions to Africa, South America, and Europe. During these trips, he visited the tomb of King Tutankhamun and documented various regions with notable figures such as George R. Lawrence and John T. McCutcheon.
The Scouting Movement
In 1909, Boyce encountered the scouting movement while passing through London. Upon returning to the United States, he founded the Boy Scouts of America, emphasizing the development of self-reliance and civic duty. Following internal disagreements with Chief Scout Executive James E. West, Boyce established the Lone Scouts of America in 1915 to serve rural youth. In 1924, he oversaw the merger of the two organizations and was later honored with the Silver Buffalo Award in 1926.
Personal Life and Residence
In 1903, Boyce purchased a four-story mansion in Ottawa, Illinois, situated on 38 acres. His personal life was marked by significant upheaval, including a high-profile divorce from Mary Jane Beacom in 1908 and a subsequent marriage to Virginia Dorcas Lee in 1910, which ended in a 1912 divorce. He eventually remarried his first wife, Mary, in 1913. Boyce died in Chicago in 1929 and is buried at the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1858, Plum Township
- Died: 1929, Chicago
- Occupations: writer, entrepreneur, journalist, publisher
- Primary Business: Mutual Newspaper Publishing Company
- Notable Award: Silver Buffalo Award (1926)
- Scouting Organizations Founded: Boy Scouts of America, Lone Scouts of America
- Education: Wooster Academy
- Burial Site: Ottawa Avenue Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the Lone Scouts of America?
Founded by Boyce in 1915, it was an organization designed specifically for rural boys who lacked the opportunity to participate in local troops or patrols.
Did William D. Boyce graduate from Wooster Academy?
School records indicate he attended from 1880 to 1881, but it remains uncertain whether he graduated or was expelled.
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