Boyd's Mills, Pennsylvania
Boyd's Mills is near the Delaware River in the township of Damascus, Wayne county, Pennsylvania. The 2010 census listed the population of the whole township of Damascus at 3,659 people in an area of about 80 square miles. That averages out to about 46 people per square mile. This is a rural place of mostly farms.
Harriett Wood, our grandmother, talked about Boyd's Mills often. That would make sense because she met her husband Forrest there. I found documentation that records the Wood family at Boyd's Mills as important early founders of business and economy there. In A History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania By Alfred Mathews, published R.T. Peck & Company, 1886, Monroe County, PA. (at Internet Archive) , we read on page 471, "Boyd's Mills. - The settlement in the vicinity of this hamlet owes its existence chiefly to some mills that were built a short distance apart, some forty years ago. In 1843, Truman S. Tymmerson and Hiram Willis erected a saw-mill which was known as 'Tymmerson's Mill.' It was operated by its founders until 1867, when Joseph Wood and Thomas Y. Boyd bought out the business and rebuilt the mill, with steam as a motive-power, shortly after. Mr. Wood died in 1877, and his partner succeeded to the business, which has largely increased under his judicious management. The present [1886] capacity of the mill is about twenty-five thousand feet per day, and a dozen men are employed at the works." Continuing on page 472, we read: "Stephen Wood, who came from the eastern part of Connecticut, located near Eldred [the prior name of Boyd's Mills] in 1837, and was an active pioneer. Joseph Wood, his son, is widely known as a leading lumberman, and was a member of the firm of Wood & Boyd." We also read on page 472, "In 1836 John Leonard built a saw and cider-mill on the north branch of Calkins' Creek, and operated it for ten years. It was then sold to Captain Eli Beach, and in 1850 passed into the hands of Wood & Boyd. In 1859 Isaac Lovelass purchased a half-interest, and acquired the entire ownership in 1880."
Harriett Wood, our grandmother, talked about Boyd's Mills often. That would make sense because she met her husband Forrest there. I found documentation that records the Wood family at Boyd's Mills as important early founders of business and economy there. In A History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania By Alfred Mathews, published R.T. Peck & Company, 1886, Monroe County, PA. (at Internet Archive) , we read on page 471, "Boyd's Mills. - The settlement in the vicinity of this hamlet owes its existence chiefly to some mills that were built a short distance apart, some forty years ago. In 1843, Truman S. Tymmerson and Hiram Willis erected a saw-mill which was known as 'Tymmerson's Mill.' It was operated by its founders until 1867, when Joseph Wood and Thomas Y. Boyd bought out the business and rebuilt the mill, with steam as a motive-power, shortly after. Mr. Wood died in 1877, and his partner succeeded to the business, which has largely increased under his judicious management. The present [1886] capacity of the mill is about twenty-five thousand feet per day, and a dozen men are employed at the works." Continuing on page 472, we read: "Stephen Wood, who came from the eastern part of Connecticut, located near Eldred [the prior name of Boyd's Mills] in 1837, and was an active pioneer. Joseph Wood, his son, is widely known as a leading lumberman, and was a member of the firm of Wood & Boyd." We also read on page 472, "In 1836 John Leonard built a saw and cider-mill on the north branch of Calkins' Creek, and operated it for ten years. It was then sold to Captain Eli Beach, and in 1850 passed into the hands of Wood & Boyd. In 1859 Isaac Lovelass purchased a half-interest, and acquired the entire ownership in 1880."
If we reorder this narrative and include some facts we know from genealogy research we get a clearer understanding of the chronology and a framework that also raises more questions. In 1836, John Leonard built a saw and cider-mill at Calkins Creek, in Damascus township. The next year, 1837, Stephen Wood, at the age of 43, arrived from Connecticut, near Ashford, with his 12 year old son Joseph. Stephen became one of the founders of the settlement. In 1843, about 6 years later, Truman Tymmerson and Hiram Willis built a saw-mill nearby. By 1850 when the firm of Wood & Boyd had acquired the saw and cider-mill built by John Leonard fourteen years earlier, Stephen had been dead for one year and his son Joseph was 25 years old. In 1859, after operating the mill for 9 years, Wood & Boyd sold a half interest in the mill to Isaac Lovelass. In 1867, eight years later, the firm Wood & Boyd bought the Tymmerson mill. By this time the partnership of Wood & Boyd had existed for at least 17 years. The business was apparently successful, operating 2 mills. Ten years later, in 1877, Joseph Wood died at the age of 52 and 3 years after that Isaac Lovelass acquired full ownership of the Tymmerson mill.
The map at right is of Damascus township in 1860, from Hopkins, Map of Wayne Co., Pennsylvania, Drawn from Entirely New & Original Surveys. An original is in the Library of Congress. This copy courtesy of Ancestor Tracks. The map on the Ancestor Tracks site is zoomable. The location of three Wood & Boyd properties is noted, as well as locations for D. Wilcox and the Mitchell family. See the detail maps below.
|
The two maps on the left are details of the 1860 map of Damascus. The map at top left shows a property marked Wood, Boyd & Mitchell on the north branch of Calkins creek, with S. M. just below. Maybe the S. M. marks a saw mill? At the bottom of the same map is another location marked Wood, Boyd & Young. The map at bottom left shows another location marked Wood, Boyd & Young on the south branch of Calkins creek at the end of the body of water towards the bottom of the map. Note also the locations of T. S. Tymeson, J. Woods (?) and of another saw mill (SaM).
|
Questions raised by this narrative: Why did Stephen Wood move to Boyd's Mills? When did the firm of Wood & Boyd begin and how? Did Stephen Wood start the business or did his son Joseph? Did it begin as a partnership or did Wood & Boyd become partners after the mills began? How did Wood meet Boyd? What other property, besides the 2 saw-mills, did the firm own (the contemporary maps show 3 locations marked Wood & Boyd)? Why Wood & Boyd and not Boyd & Wood? What happened after Joseph Wood died so that Isaac Lovelass took over the Tymmerson mill? Did he also take over other mills? How did this occur?
Obituaries published for Joseph Wood provide more facts. The Honesdale Citizen of May 3, 1877 printed this obituary: "Wood - at Darbytown,April 17, 1877, Joseph Wood, aged 53 years. Deceased came to Eldred [now Boyd's Mills] with his parents from Connecticut, when about ten years of age and for forty-two years resided in the old homestead, which his death leaves with out its master. At an early age, with his brother-in-law and another partner, the firm of Wood, Boyd and Sutliff was organized. Afterward it was changed to wood, Boyd & Willis. The latter subsequently removing, the firm for years has been Wood & Boyd. Though its whole history no firm has ranked higher in the community for strict business diligence and integrity; its occupations having been lumbering, merchandizing and farming. For twenty-seven years of married life the deceased seemed blessed with almost perfect health: a family grew up to honor him and his final illness was the first serious one in all that period. On Wednesday, April 11th, he seemed in almost unusual health and spirits; the foremost of some nineteen men rafting at Narrowsburg who were under his direction. Suddenly, about 4 o'clock, P. M. he dropped his bar and threw himself down in agony. Water was poured upon the point of junction between the spinal marrow and the brain. Dr. Crocker was brought as quickly as horse and man could reach him. An interval of about fifteen minutes only elapsed between the attack and medical assistance. Mrs. Wood [Elmira Mitchell] was sent forand Dr. Dusinberre called in to assist. Nothing that skill, money or consideration could effect. was left undone; but nothing could avail. The disease known as cerebro-spinal-meningitis, (an inflammation of the three membranes that envelope the spinal chord), defied all medical skill, and death supervened on the following Tuesday, at 2 P. M. During his illness of six days, he expressed penitence, and a pleading for forgiveness through a Savior's blood, with a firm trust in Christ as his personal Redeemer. A widow and nine children mourn their loss, in which the entire community sympathize. The funeral cortege was very large, and the church densely crowded. The discourse was by Rev. G. E. Northrup, assisted by Rev. G. W. Headley. The text was taken from Luke 12:40. And now the Eldred cemetery will bear an added monument, and our community a loss which we feel irreparable. But we mourn not as those without hope, trusting that our loss is his eternal gain."
Another obituary from the Port Jervis Gazette, April 26, 1877, reads: "Mr. Joseph Wood, of the firm of Wood & Boyd, died yesterday about 2 P. M., after an illness of seven day.s The disease was cerebro-spinal-meningitis, instead of brain fever as before reported. Mr. Wood when taken was working with his men on a raft, and appeared in his usual health, which was better than that of the average of men. He has never been sick a day since early manhood. On Tuesday, while at work, he suddenly placed his hand to his head and uttering a groan, sand upon the raft. A horse and wagon were speedily procured and he was conveyed to his boarding place. Dr. Crocker, meantime being summoned, advised that he should not be removed. Consequently, although but five miles distant, he did not see his home again. Mr. Wood was fifty -two years of age, energetic in business, truly kind to his neighbors and highly respected by all who knew him. About fifteen years since he and Thomas Y. Boyd, (who has since represented his district in the State Legislature), became partners in the lumber business, locating their mill in what is known as Eldred, Wayne county, Pa., and have annually sent down the Delaware from one to five million feet of lumber, besides shipping at various times by railroad. The firm had nearly three million feet of lumber on the banks of the river this season. A million and a half at least still remains on the bank. The most amiable relation has always existed between the partners, they never having thought it even necessary to have a settlement during their long co-partnership. Mr. Boyd feels keenly his great loss, the two being as breathern from their early family."
Joseph Wood and Thomas Boyd were brothers-in-law, each married to Mitchell sisters, Joseph Wood to Almira Mitchell and Thomas Boyd to Elizabeth Jane Mitchell.
Our grandmother Harriett also said that the Wood family were cheated out of property by their partner. What did she mean? Could this be either Thomas Boyd or Isaac Lovelass, or both? Joseph died in 1877, at the peak of the lumber business in the area (see: History of Calicoon, retrieved 8 March 2015). He left behind 3 adult sons, a wife and 6 other children. With the lumber business at its peak and the firm of Wood & Boyd owning at least 2 mills, what happened that Lovelass took over at least one of them and with Boyd owning several other businesses? What happened to the firm of Wood & Boyd? Three years after Joseph died the 1880 Federal census lists Almira Wood as housekeeper and several of her sons - including our great grandfather Nathaniel - as farm workers. On who's farm? Isaac Lovelass took over one of the mills owned by Wood & Boyd in 1880. Did Almira receive payment in this transaction? Did she buy a farm with the money? By the 1890 census Nathaniel was a farmer who owned his own farm. Why wasn't Nathaniel involved in the family lumber business? When did this reputed 'theft' happen?
We also read that "In 1881 [a year after Lovelass takes over the lumber mill from Wood & Boyd and 4 years after his partner Joseph dies] a grist-mill with one run of stone was built by Mr. Boyd, who also conducts a store and several other branches of business." Thomas Boyd had been appointed the local postmaster, serving from 1852-1865 and again from 1869-1874 and again from 1882-1885. The name of the post office was changed from Eldred to Boyd's Mills sometime between 1874 and 1882. Maybe this story of cheating was sour grapes, somehow, that the family regretted the loss of the mills; maybe there were debts to be paid; maybe Joseph was negligent in writing a will, or - maybe - there is some truth to the story. The obituary from the Port Jervis Gazette notes that Joseph Wood and Thomas Boyd "never having thought it even necessary to have a settlement during their long co-partnership", suggesting that there was no legal documentation for the transfer of ownership of the business properties. Maybe Joseph's partner Boyd arranged to profit from Joseph's death. Boyd certainly was a person with some authority in the community and some financial power. But what, then, is the reality behind Nathaniel being listed as a lumberman in a Federal Census? Did he work for Boyd? Did he work for himself or for another business?
The only extant lumber mill in Northeastern Pennsylvania is being preserved as a National Historic Site. It was constructed in 1873 and is likely to be similar to mills owned by Wood & Boyd. The website for the mill is here. Joel Hill mill at Duck Harbor, near Equinunk Pennsylvania in Wayne County, near the Delaware River.
In addition to the verification of the Wood family coming to the Boyd's Mill area from Connecticut we also read on page 472, "On the farm of D. W. Wilcox, another of the pioneers of this section of the township, is the largest elm-tree in the county." This is probably Darius Whitman Wilcox, grandfather or uncle of Julia Etta Wilcox. Julia Etta married Nathaniel Lyon Wood. Nathaniel and Julia Etta are my great-grandparents and Harriett's father and mother-in-law. Darius Wilcox and Sophronia Simmons had a son (also named Darius) born in 1832, in Ashford Connecticut, where Sophronia had been born. Stephen Wood and his wife Delia Chapman bore their son Joseph in Ashford, CT. in 1825. By 1835 the Wilcox family had moved to Damascus township, as documented by the birth of their daughter Freida, born in 1835 in Wayne County, PA. Stephen Wood, as documented above, was in Damascus township by 1837. Both arrived in Damascus township within 2 years of each other and both came there from Ashford, Connecticut. So, there is truth to my grandmother's story about the Wood family and the Wilcox family settling in Pennsylvania from Connecticut. Did these families know each other before coming to Pennsylvania? How did they come to move to Pennsylvania? Was some of the trip made easier by river travel? Did the move happen in stages?
Our grandmother, Harriett, met her husband, Forrest Wood, at Boyd's Mills after she emigrated to America from England in 1902. They were married about 1910. The documentation shows that the Wood family had lived and thrived in the vicinity of Boyd's Mills since 1837. But why did an emigrant Cornish mining family come to Boyd's Mills and settle? What was the attraction?
In "History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania," by Alfred Mathews, 1886. we can read on page 600 "Thus was the road opened for the emigration of other Cornwall English- men, until Wayne County hills are dotted with the best English farms in the State. " [See online here] and, again, on page 669 : "The "English settlement," as the territory along the southeastern part of the township is called, was made during the year 1832, when James Piper arrived from Devonshire, England, bringing a wife and three children. Piper located near the Berlin line, in the eastern corner of the township, and the next year a number of his countrymen followed his example." A Cornish settlement had been established at Beach Lake in the mid 19th century. The passenger manifest for Majestic in May 1902 lists Emma Rosevear, her daughter Harriett, and sons John and William with a destination of Beach Lake, Pennsylvania. Emma's brother Richard Edwin had emigrated to America in 1885 and had settled in Beach Lake, establishing a farm there. Emma and the children stayed with her brother Edwin when they first arrived. They stayed in Boyd's Mills for over 10 years.
Another question: How did Harriett meet Forrest?
About the Wilcox family.
Resources:
Maps:
1860 Maps
http://ancestortracks.com/Wayne&PikeCD_blurb.html
History of Wayne County, by Phineas G. Goodrich, Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc., (1992) [1880]. Online
https://archive.org/details/historyofwayneco00good. On page 135 will be found mention of John Boyd, and at the bottom of page 136 is mentioned the mill John Leonard built and the firm of Wood, Boyd and Lovelass
A History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania By Alfred Mathews, published R.T. Peck & Company, 1886, Monroe County, PA can be found here and at libraries here
Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe,
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1900
History of Calicoon (another village near Boyd's Mills) can be found here visited by me on 8 March 2015.
Obituaries published for Joseph Wood provide more facts. The Honesdale Citizen of May 3, 1877 printed this obituary: "Wood - at Darbytown,April 17, 1877, Joseph Wood, aged 53 years. Deceased came to Eldred [now Boyd's Mills] with his parents from Connecticut, when about ten years of age and for forty-two years resided in the old homestead, which his death leaves with out its master. At an early age, with his brother-in-law and another partner, the firm of Wood, Boyd and Sutliff was organized. Afterward it was changed to wood, Boyd & Willis. The latter subsequently removing, the firm for years has been Wood & Boyd. Though its whole history no firm has ranked higher in the community for strict business diligence and integrity; its occupations having been lumbering, merchandizing and farming. For twenty-seven years of married life the deceased seemed blessed with almost perfect health: a family grew up to honor him and his final illness was the first serious one in all that period. On Wednesday, April 11th, he seemed in almost unusual health and spirits; the foremost of some nineteen men rafting at Narrowsburg who were under his direction. Suddenly, about 4 o'clock, P. M. he dropped his bar and threw himself down in agony. Water was poured upon the point of junction between the spinal marrow and the brain. Dr. Crocker was brought as quickly as horse and man could reach him. An interval of about fifteen minutes only elapsed between the attack and medical assistance. Mrs. Wood [Elmira Mitchell] was sent forand Dr. Dusinberre called in to assist. Nothing that skill, money or consideration could effect. was left undone; but nothing could avail. The disease known as cerebro-spinal-meningitis, (an inflammation of the three membranes that envelope the spinal chord), defied all medical skill, and death supervened on the following Tuesday, at 2 P. M. During his illness of six days, he expressed penitence, and a pleading for forgiveness through a Savior's blood, with a firm trust in Christ as his personal Redeemer. A widow and nine children mourn their loss, in which the entire community sympathize. The funeral cortege was very large, and the church densely crowded. The discourse was by Rev. G. E. Northrup, assisted by Rev. G. W. Headley. The text was taken from Luke 12:40. And now the Eldred cemetery will bear an added monument, and our community a loss which we feel irreparable. But we mourn not as those without hope, trusting that our loss is his eternal gain."
Another obituary from the Port Jervis Gazette, April 26, 1877, reads: "Mr. Joseph Wood, of the firm of Wood & Boyd, died yesterday about 2 P. M., after an illness of seven day.s The disease was cerebro-spinal-meningitis, instead of brain fever as before reported. Mr. Wood when taken was working with his men on a raft, and appeared in his usual health, which was better than that of the average of men. He has never been sick a day since early manhood. On Tuesday, while at work, he suddenly placed his hand to his head and uttering a groan, sand upon the raft. A horse and wagon were speedily procured and he was conveyed to his boarding place. Dr. Crocker, meantime being summoned, advised that he should not be removed. Consequently, although but five miles distant, he did not see his home again. Mr. Wood was fifty -two years of age, energetic in business, truly kind to his neighbors and highly respected by all who knew him. About fifteen years since he and Thomas Y. Boyd, (who has since represented his district in the State Legislature), became partners in the lumber business, locating their mill in what is known as Eldred, Wayne county, Pa., and have annually sent down the Delaware from one to five million feet of lumber, besides shipping at various times by railroad. The firm had nearly three million feet of lumber on the banks of the river this season. A million and a half at least still remains on the bank. The most amiable relation has always existed between the partners, they never having thought it even necessary to have a settlement during their long co-partnership. Mr. Boyd feels keenly his great loss, the two being as breathern from their early family."
Joseph Wood and Thomas Boyd were brothers-in-law, each married to Mitchell sisters, Joseph Wood to Almira Mitchell and Thomas Boyd to Elizabeth Jane Mitchell.
Our grandmother Harriett also said that the Wood family were cheated out of property by their partner. What did she mean? Could this be either Thomas Boyd or Isaac Lovelass, or both? Joseph died in 1877, at the peak of the lumber business in the area (see: History of Calicoon, retrieved 8 March 2015). He left behind 3 adult sons, a wife and 6 other children. With the lumber business at its peak and the firm of Wood & Boyd owning at least 2 mills, what happened that Lovelass took over at least one of them and with Boyd owning several other businesses? What happened to the firm of Wood & Boyd? Three years after Joseph died the 1880 Federal census lists Almira Wood as housekeeper and several of her sons - including our great grandfather Nathaniel - as farm workers. On who's farm? Isaac Lovelass took over one of the mills owned by Wood & Boyd in 1880. Did Almira receive payment in this transaction? Did she buy a farm with the money? By the 1890 census Nathaniel was a farmer who owned his own farm. Why wasn't Nathaniel involved in the family lumber business? When did this reputed 'theft' happen?
We also read that "In 1881 [a year after Lovelass takes over the lumber mill from Wood & Boyd and 4 years after his partner Joseph dies] a grist-mill with one run of stone was built by Mr. Boyd, who also conducts a store and several other branches of business." Thomas Boyd had been appointed the local postmaster, serving from 1852-1865 and again from 1869-1874 and again from 1882-1885. The name of the post office was changed from Eldred to Boyd's Mills sometime between 1874 and 1882. Maybe this story of cheating was sour grapes, somehow, that the family regretted the loss of the mills; maybe there were debts to be paid; maybe Joseph was negligent in writing a will, or - maybe - there is some truth to the story. The obituary from the Port Jervis Gazette notes that Joseph Wood and Thomas Boyd "never having thought it even necessary to have a settlement during their long co-partnership", suggesting that there was no legal documentation for the transfer of ownership of the business properties. Maybe Joseph's partner Boyd arranged to profit from Joseph's death. Boyd certainly was a person with some authority in the community and some financial power. But what, then, is the reality behind Nathaniel being listed as a lumberman in a Federal Census? Did he work for Boyd? Did he work for himself or for another business?
The only extant lumber mill in Northeastern Pennsylvania is being preserved as a National Historic Site. It was constructed in 1873 and is likely to be similar to mills owned by Wood & Boyd. The website for the mill is here. Joel Hill mill at Duck Harbor, near Equinunk Pennsylvania in Wayne County, near the Delaware River.
In addition to the verification of the Wood family coming to the Boyd's Mill area from Connecticut we also read on page 472, "On the farm of D. W. Wilcox, another of the pioneers of this section of the township, is the largest elm-tree in the county." This is probably Darius Whitman Wilcox, grandfather or uncle of Julia Etta Wilcox. Julia Etta married Nathaniel Lyon Wood. Nathaniel and Julia Etta are my great-grandparents and Harriett's father and mother-in-law. Darius Wilcox and Sophronia Simmons had a son (also named Darius) born in 1832, in Ashford Connecticut, where Sophronia had been born. Stephen Wood and his wife Delia Chapman bore their son Joseph in Ashford, CT. in 1825. By 1835 the Wilcox family had moved to Damascus township, as documented by the birth of their daughter Freida, born in 1835 in Wayne County, PA. Stephen Wood, as documented above, was in Damascus township by 1837. Both arrived in Damascus township within 2 years of each other and both came there from Ashford, Connecticut. So, there is truth to my grandmother's story about the Wood family and the Wilcox family settling in Pennsylvania from Connecticut. Did these families know each other before coming to Pennsylvania? How did they come to move to Pennsylvania? Was some of the trip made easier by river travel? Did the move happen in stages?
Our grandmother, Harriett, met her husband, Forrest Wood, at Boyd's Mills after she emigrated to America from England in 1902. They were married about 1910. The documentation shows that the Wood family had lived and thrived in the vicinity of Boyd's Mills since 1837. But why did an emigrant Cornish mining family come to Boyd's Mills and settle? What was the attraction?
In "History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania," by Alfred Mathews, 1886. we can read on page 600 "Thus was the road opened for the emigration of other Cornwall English- men, until Wayne County hills are dotted with the best English farms in the State. " [See online here] and, again, on page 669 : "The "English settlement," as the territory along the southeastern part of the township is called, was made during the year 1832, when James Piper arrived from Devonshire, England, bringing a wife and three children. Piper located near the Berlin line, in the eastern corner of the township, and the next year a number of his countrymen followed his example." A Cornish settlement had been established at Beach Lake in the mid 19th century. The passenger manifest for Majestic in May 1902 lists Emma Rosevear, her daughter Harriett, and sons John and William with a destination of Beach Lake, Pennsylvania. Emma's brother Richard Edwin had emigrated to America in 1885 and had settled in Beach Lake, establishing a farm there. Emma and the children stayed with her brother Edwin when they first arrived. They stayed in Boyd's Mills for over 10 years.
Another question: How did Harriett meet Forrest?
About the Wilcox family.
Resources:
Maps:
1860 Maps
http://ancestortracks.com/Wayne&PikeCD_blurb.html
History of Wayne County, by Phineas G. Goodrich, Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc., (1992) [1880]. Online
https://archive.org/details/historyofwayneco00good. On page 135 will be found mention of John Boyd, and at the bottom of page 136 is mentioned the mill John Leonard built and the firm of Wood, Boyd and Lovelass
A History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania By Alfred Mathews, published R.T. Peck & Company, 1886, Monroe County, PA can be found here and at libraries here
Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe,
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1900
History of Calicoon (another village near Boyd's Mills) can be found here visited by me on 8 March 2015.