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Boyd H Putney
BOYD H. PUTNEY, leading merchant of Putneyville, is a member of a
representative family of that section, members of which have been conspicuous
citizens of the locality, having been the means of building up that town and
aiding in bringing it to its present flourishing condition.David Putney, grandfather of Boyd H. Putney, was the first of the name to
settle here. He was born in Connecticut Oct. 18, 1794, and before he reached
his majority located at Pittsburgh, Pa. Here on Sept. 29, 1818, he married
Lavina Stevenson, who was born Jan. 7, 1796. Shortly after his marriage he
removed with his wife to Freeport, Armstrong county, and in 1833 purchased a
thousand acres of land from the Holland Land Company at a dollar and a half an
acre. This land surrounded and included the present village of Putneyville,
which was named in Mr. Putney�s honor. Soon after this his sons James T. and
George S. settled on this spot, where the village of Putneyville now stands.
Mr. Putney worked here a year on a headrace and dam, and taking out timber for
a grist and saw mill, employing from ten to twelve men. In the meantime he had
established a store stocked with a limited assortment of staple merchandise
brought from Freeport and Pittsburgh, and later he erected a frame dwelling of
a story and a half, the first of the kind in the neighborhood. In 1836 he had
completed his gristmill which he successfully conducted until 1840, during
which period he had also cleared considerable land and built several tenement
houses. About this time he contracted to furnish a large amount of timber for
the completion of dam No. 1 on the Monongahela river at Pittsburgh, which he
expected to fill with the aid of his son George S. Through unforeseen
circumstances there was a loss of timber which hindered them from carrying his
contract to completion, and Mr. Putney became involved financially. In 1842,
he was obliged to effect a sale of the greater part of his property to meet
his indebtedness, and he then turned his grist and saw mill over with about
190 acres of land surrounding it to his sons James T. and George S. by the
request of his creditors for the sum of $4,000. However, David Putney lived to
see the county in which he settled developed and become well settled, and to
enjoy the sight of a well ordered village, which he and his family had done
much to accomplish, this village being on land he took up in 1833 in its
virgin state.David Putney was honored by election to the Legislature in 1854, and was
prominently identified with every movement tending toward the welfare of the
community in which he lived. He and his wife were the parents of these
children: James T.; George S.; David T.; Eleanor, who married Absalom Smullin;
William N.; Samuel B.; Nelson W., and Ezra J. He died Aug. 31, 1879, and Mrs.
Putney passed away April 20, 1872.Samuel B. Putney, born in Freeport in 1828, came to Mahoning township with
his parents in 1833. Here he grew to manhood assisting his father in
conducting the business, and he was identified with Putney business interests
until his death, principally in the boating department. His death occurred in
1862, at the early age of thirty-four, from illness contracted while running
boats to Pittsburgh. His wife, who was Harriet A. Williamson, was a daughter
of Robert C. Williamson, who was a pioneer foundryman of Freeport, where he
operated a foundry for several years. He was an early settler of Mahoning
township, settling near Oakland and engaging in farming. He finally moved to
New Bethlehem, where he died in 1878 at the age of seventy-eight. Mr. and Mrs.
Putney were the parents of three children: David W., who died in 1881; Boyd
H.; and Harry E. J., of Kittanning.Boyd H. Putney was born in Putneyville Oct. 7, 1858, and was there reared
to manhood, and educated in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he
began life for himself as a bark peeler in the lumber woods of Elk county,
remaining there one winter, and in 1877 went to Perrysville, in what is known
as the Park Oil Fields, where he embarked in the coal business and general
teaming. This he continued for four years, in 1881 returning to Putneyville
where he was engaged in various lines of business as contracting painter, and
leasing oil and gas property, until the year 1902. At this time he purchased
the Putney Store property and has since conducted it with marked success,
having the largest stock of general merchandise to be found in this section of
his county. He is up-to-date and progressive and his courtesy and enterprise
have won him most complimentary results in his business.Mr. Putney married Sept. 24, 1884, Cornelia M., daughter of John F. and
Eliza (Burd) Gearhart, of Mahoning township, and their children are: Lena G.,
wife of T. J. Orr; Verda V.; Edna B; Nellie H.; Dee A.; Paul Edwin; Walter
Samuel and Owen Eugene. Mr. Putney and his family are members of the M. E.
Church. In fraternal connection he is a member of the K. of P. and A. O. U. M.
He has followed the attitude of his fathers before him in his duty toward his
locality and has served as school director, treasurer of the school board, and
treasurer of the township. He has given his best efforts to aid in the
betterment of conditions in his township, and is much esteemed by all his
fellow citizens. In politics he is a Republican.Source: Pages 423-424, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed July 1998 by Caral Mechling Bennett for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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