My Genealogy Hound

C. W. BOYD, of the Boyd Manufacturing Company, Levanna. Mr. Boyd is a native of Lewis County, Ky., and born in 1834. He is a son of James and Mary (Gibson) Boyd, natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively; his father was a farmer, and moved to Kentucky, where he died in 1837. C. W. Boyd lived on the homestead in Kentucky until fifteen years of age, when he came to Ripley, Ohio, where he secured employment at the Ripley Sash Mill, operated by D. G. Stillman; he rapidly learned and became proficient in the business, and, at the expiration of three years, became a partner in the concern, and became sole owner at the age of twenty-one years, and soon afterward admitted his brother, S. G., to a partnership. He was married, in 1857, at Winchester, Adams Co., Ohio, to Margaret, daughter of Moses McMeckin, an early settler of Adams County; he continued in business, and, in 1861, received a commission of First Lieutenant Company B, of the Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After a service of eighteen months, he was promoted to the Captaincy of his company; he followed the fortunes of his company and regiment until 1864, when he was honor ably discharged and returned home, and again engaged in attending to his rapidly increasing interests. Capt. Boyd is a member of the Christian Church, and of the Masonic order; he is the senior member of the Boyd Manufacturing Company, with headquarters at Levanna, and large and extensive branches at Ripley, Higginsport and Cincinnati, which are more fully described elsewhere. He is the founder of the village of Levanna, where he resides with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have had a family of seven children, six of whom are living as follows: James (is a stockholder, and associated in the business), Martha (wife of W. O. Daum, also a stockholder, and fills the position at the Levanna Mills, of Book-keeper and Cashier), Alice K., Alvirda L., William and Frank. In 1856, Messrs. C. W. & S. G. Boyd, then young men, purchased a small mill at Levanna, paying for the same $1,500. At the time of this purchase the facilities of the mill were limited, there being but little machinery in it. The brothers, however, with an energy and pluck that has since been their great staple in trade, expended their last dollar in improving their property, and pulling off their coats went heroically to work, doing the labor themselves, superintending sales, and in fact, being the only men employed in the establishment. They were essentially the architects of their own fortunes, and, by pluck and perseverance, built up eventually the business to what it now is. After several successful years the brothers stopped work at the bench, and devoted their time to the management of their rapidly increasing business. An office was opened at Cincinnati for the sale of lumber and building material, and Mr. S. G. Boyd removed to that city and took charge of the office, where he resides. In 1881, the firm purchased the Higginsport Saw Mill, which they improved, and is now one of the finest mills in the county. In 1881, the business had attained such proportions it was formed into a joint stock company. In December of 1881, the Boyd Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $300,000, two-thirds of which has been paid in. Very few persons not directly connected with the mill have stock in it, and thus it is owned virtually by the workmen themselves. C. W. Boyd was elected President of the new company, and has the control. Subsequently, the Ripley Planing Mill was purchased and placed under control of the company. The Boyd Manufacturing Company give employment to 185 hands distributed through the branches of their operations. The mills find principle sales for products in Adams, Brown, Highland and Clermont Counties, Ohio, Lewis, Bracken, Mason, Robertson and Pendleton Counties, Ky., and, in fact, throughout the neighboring States. Brown County may well feel proud of such industry within her borders. It also shows what will power and pluck can do, and obstacles overcome by men who have common sense, business tact and energy. Since writing the above, the lumber yard adjoining the saw and planing mill of the Boyd Manufacturing Company, at Higginsport was destroyed by the fire fiend on the evening of August 14, 1882. The loss is estimated from $60,000 to $125,000. The amount of insurance could not at this time be learned.