James Stoddard Boynton, born in Henry County, Georgia, to Elijah Snow Boynton and Elizabeth Moffett on May 7, 1833, attended Hearn's School at Cave Springs, studied law, passed the bar in October 1852, and practiced in Monticello and Jackson, Georgia. In 1860 he was elected Ordinary of Butts County, Georgia. As conflict grew between the United States and Confederate States, he enlisted as a private on September 25, 1861, in what became Company A, 30th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, was elected major on May 15, 1862, elected lieutenant colonel by December 16, 1862, and promoted to colonel on May 14, 1864, after Colonel Thomas W. Mangham retired. On July 22, 1864, while leading his men at the Battle of Atlanta, he was severely wounded and taken to Utoy Primitive Baptist Church, which served as a Confederate hospital. After discharge, he rejoined his unit and surrendered on April 26, 1865, in Greensboro, North Carolina. After the war he returned to his family in Griffin and resumed practicing law. In 1866 he served as City Court Judge in Spalding County, later served as mayor of Griffin from 1869 to 1872, was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1880 and served until 1883, and as a freshman was unanimously chosen president of the Senate, holding that position until March 4, 1883. When Governor Alexander Hamilton Stephens died in office that day, Boynton became governor and served until May 10, 1883. On January 1, 1886, he was appointed Superior Court Judge of the Flint Circuit and served until resigning on April 8, 1893. In 1896 he was elected to represent Spalding County in the Georgia House of Representatives for two years. He died at his home in Griffin on December 22, 1902, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. A.P. Adamson praised his popularity, character, military service, legal ability, and public leadership, and Boynton's name was later given to a local United Daughters of the Confederacy chapter, whose president for life was his wife, Susan Harris.