Nice, David, 1962-

John C. Boyd was a pioneer of the anthracite coal industry and founder of Shamokin, Pa.

Boyd was born in Chester County in 1793. In 1820 he married Hannah Montgomery, the daughter of Daniel Montgomery, the leading citizen of Danville, Pa. In 1826 he purchased land on nearby Shamokin Creek and opened a coal mine, being the first to mine and ship coal regularly in this region. He platted the town of Shamokin in 1835. The Danville & Pottsville Railroad was completed to Boyd's mines in 1839, and in the fall of that year Boyd organized the Shamokin Coal Company with the backing of Philadelphia capitalists. The Shamokin Iron Company was incorporated on March 18, 1840, and the two firms were merged to form the Shamokin Coal and Iron Company on March 23, 1841. The company's anthracite blast furnace opened that year but was destroyed by fire on May 24, 1842. The loss, coming at a time of business depression, cost Boyd most of his fortune, and both the mines and furnace closed. They were opened by new owners in the 1850s. Boyd died on August 18, 1856.

From the description of ALS : Coal P.O., Pa., to John C. Boyd, Philadelphia, Pa., 1839 Oct 18. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122503431