Pelhamville's First Pharmacist and Veterinarian

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There was a time, long ago, when the local pharmacist was the first line of first aid for residents of Pelham.  There were no ambulances, fly cars, or fire departments.  Physicians, if they resided in Pelham at all in some years, were few and far between and not always reliably available in the event of an emergency.  Indeed, reports are legion of injured Pelhamites who were carted to Seth Lyman's pharmacy in the building at One Fifth Avenue that still stands today to be treated for their wounds or to be stabilized until a physician could reach them.  Seth Lyman, however, was not Pelhamville's first pharmacist.  A man named Henry B. Boyd preceded Seth Lymano and appears to have been the first pharmacist and the first veterinarian to practice in the settlement known as Pelhamville that later became the Village of North Pelham.

Little is known of Henry B. Boyd, although what is known suggests a sad end for him.  He was born in 1847 in New Rochelle, a son of William Boyd.  As a young man, Boyd graduated from the School of Pharmacy in New York City.  Following graduation, he was employed in the New Rochelle Drugstore Welling & Coutant, established in 1847 as New Rochelle's first pharmacy.  Quite a number of the employees of the establishment went on to become pharmacists in a number of local communities during the nineteenth century.

Boyd served as a drug clerk with Welling & Coutant.  He was with the firm when, in 1870, the business dissolved and one of its two proprietors, J. L. Coutant, assumed sole proprietorship of the firm.  Henry B. Boyd remained with Coutant Pharmacy and continued there as a drug clerk.  

In about 1872, Henry B. Boyd married Mary (at least one account says "Mollie") Shute, the daughter of the proprietor of the Huguenot Hotel, William Shute.  According to one account, at that time Boyd was "probably the most popular man in New Rochelle."  The marriage, which took place in the First Presbyterian Church, and was described as "one of the largest ever held in the village" of New Rochelle at the time.  The couple had one daughter.

While working as a drug clerk with J. L. Coutant, Boyd took up "the studies of veterinarims and surgeon."  In 1880 Boyd received his Doctor of Veterinary Surgery (D.V.S.) from New York University in New York City with high honors.  See General Alumni Catalogue of New York University 1833-1906 - Law, Graduate, Pedagogy, Veterinary, Commerce and Collegiate Division Alumni, p. 208 (NY, NY:  General Alumni Society, 1906).

1884 Advertisement for James L. Coutant's

"New Rochelle Drug Store" Published Shortly

After Henry B. Boyd Left the Pharmacy.  Click

Here to See Newspaper Page With Advertisement.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

After his graduation from Veterinary School, Boyd "embarked in the drug business."  He first conducted a pharmacy in the Village of West Chester.  One account says that "[h]e shortly afterwards gave this up and gave his entire attention to the practice of a veterinarian."  It is clear from multiple other accounts, however, that Boyd opened pharmacies in Pelhamville and in New Rochelle before ultimately concentrating his professional activies on his veterinarian career.

It appears that for a time Boyd combined his pharmaceutical practice with a veterinary practice in both communities, although he lived in New Rochelle.  Research has not yet revealed the existence of any earlier pharmacy or veterinarian practice in Pelhamville.

1886 Advertisement for Veterinary Services of Henry B. Boyd

of Banks Street and Main Street, New Rochelle, New York.

Source:  Veterinary - H. B. BOYD, D.V.S. [Advertisement],

New Rochelle Pioneer, Mar. 20, 1886, p. 4, col. 6.  NOTE:

Click Image to Enlarge.

It appears that the last years of Henry B. Boyd's life were quite sad.  In about 1887, his wife divorced him and married another man named John Thompson.  Several accounts say that thereafter Henry B. Boyd led a "wretched" life.  Moreover, his death (according to one account) "was due to general breaking up of his health."  One of his numerous obituaries stated that "A few years ago deceased began to fail in health, due to exposure and incessant attendance to his vocation, and gradually grew worse."  

Boyd died on July 27, 1897 in the County Alms House in Tarrytown, Westchester County, New York.  One obituary stated "In the last ten years Boyd had lived a wretched life and had completely lost his once valuable practice, and all his friends deserted him.  More than a year ago he entered the almshouse."  Another obituary stated "In the last 10 years Boyd had lived a wretched life, and all his friends deserted him.  He entered the Almshouse more than a year ago."  A third obituary stated "About a year ago, being without home or friends, he sought the protection of the County Alms House, where he spent the rest of his days."  Another obituary, apparently prepared by or with the assistance of Boyd's sister, Mrs. David Fields of New Rochelle, told a slightly different story.  It stated that Boyd "died at the County Alms-House on Tuesday last, where he was employed in the medical department of that institution."

Boyd's funeral was held at his sister's residence on North Street, officiated by Rev. A. H. Goodenough.  He was buried in Beechwood cemetery.

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868. Source: Beers, F.W.,

Atlas of New York and Vicinity from Actual Surveys By

and Under the Direction of F.W. Beers, Assisted By A.B.

Prindle & Others, pg. 36 (NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868)

(Detail from Page 36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle,

Westchester Co., N.Y. (With) Pelhamville).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *         *

Below is the text of a number of articles that mention Henry B. Boyd, the man who may have been Pelhamville's first pharmacist and veterinarian.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"OBITUARY.
-----
DR. HENRY B. BOYD.

A life which in its younger days gave every promise of being a brilliant and successful one came to a close on Tuesday of this week in the County Alms House, Tarrytown, when Dr. Henry B. Boyd, a well known citizen of this town, passed away, having been an inmate of the institution about one year.  His death was due to general breaking up of his health.

Dr. Boyd was the son of our well-known townsman William Boyd.  He was born in this town in the year 1847.  After leaving the public school, he entered the College of Pharmacy in New York City from which he graduated some few years afterwards.  Then he entered the drug store of Welling & Coutant, kept on Main street, where P. H. Mullen's dry goods store now is.  In the year 1870 when the firm dissolved, and J. L. Coutant assumed the proprietorship of the business, Dr. Boyd continued as drug clerk with Mr. Coutant.  While in this store he took up the studies of veterinarism and surgery.  He entered the Veterinary College soon afterwards and graduated in due time with high honors.  He then embarked in the drug business, conducting a store in the village of West Chester.  He shortly aferwards gave this up and gave his entire attention to the practice of a veterinarian.  He was known and recognized throughout the county as one of the best and most careful doctors of the times.  He was thorough and honest in all his treatments and soon established an enviable practice.  

When quite a young man he married Miss Mollie Shute, daughter of the late William Shute, who bore him one daughter, who survives her father, her mother having died not quite a year ago.

A few years ago deceased began to fail in health, due to exposure and incessant attendance to his vocation, and gradually grew worse.  About a year ago, being without home or friends, he sought the protection of the County Alms House, where he spent the rest of his days.

His remains were brought to this village Tuesday and the funeral took place Thursday afternoon from the residence of his sister, Mrs. David Fields, North street.  The Rev. A. H. Goodenough officiated.  The remains were interred in Beechwood Cemetery."

Source:  OBITUARY -- DR. HENRY B. BOYD, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 31, 1897, Vol. XXXVII, No. 19, p. 5, col. 4.

"OBITUARY.
-----
DR. HENRY B. BOYD

died at the County Alms-House on Tuesday last, where he was employed in the medical department of that institution.  Dr. Boyd was a well-known citizen of this village, and a son of William Boyd, and was born in this town in 1847.  He graduated from the School of Pharmacy in New York city, and entered the drug store of Welling & Coutant, and was afterwards with Coutant when that firm dissolved.  Later he entered the Veterinary College, from which he graduated with honors.  In the years following he kept a drug-store here and practiced his profession.

His remains were brought to this village on the same day of his death, and the funeral was held from the residence of his sister, Mrs. David Fields, North street, Thursday afternoon, Rev. A. H. Goodenough officiated, and interment was made in Beechwood."

Source:  OBITUARY -- DR. HENRY B. BOYD, The New Rochelle Press, Jul. 31, 1897, p. 5, col. 3.  

"DR. HENRY B. BOYD DIES IN ALMSHOUSE.
-----
Once a Prominent Veterinary in New Rochelle
-----

EAST VIEW, July 29. -- The death of Dr. Henry B. Boyd, a resident of the town of New Rochelle, which occurred in the county almshouse here Tuesday morning, marks the end of a varied career.

Henry B. Boyd was the son of William Boyd, and old and respected citizen of New Rochelle, and was born in that village fifty years ago.  He received an excellent education, and entered Willing's [sic] pharmacy.  He afterward owned drug stores in Pelhamville and New Rochelle.

Twenty-five years ago he married Miss Mary Shute, the daughter of the proprietor of the Huguenot Hotel.  At that time he was probably the most popular man in New Rochelle, and was the leading veterinary surgeon of that place.  His marriage, which took place in the First Presbyterian church, was one of the largest ever held in the village.  About ten years ago his wife was divorced from him and afterward was married to John Thompson.  She died about a year ago.

In the last ten years Boyd had lived a wretched life and had completely lost his once valuable practice, and all his friends deserted him.  More than a year ago he entered the almshouse.  The funeral was held this morning, and the burial will be in Beechwood Cemetery, New Rochelle."

Source:  DR. HENRY B. BOYD DIES IN ALMSHOUSE -- Once a Prominent Veterinary in New Rochelle, Mount Vernon Daily Argus [NY], Jul. 29, 1897, Vol. XXII, No. 1625, p. 1, col. 5.  

"A VARIED CAREER. -- The death of Dr. Henry B. Boyd, which occurred in the County Almshouse at East View early on Tuesday morning, marks the end of a varied career.  He was the son of William Boyd, a citizen of New Rochelle, and was born in that village 50 years ago.  He received an excellent education, and entered Welling's pharmacy.  He afterward owned drug stores in Pelhamville and New Rochelle.  Twenty-five years ago he married; at that time he was probably the most popular man in the village, and was the leading veterinary surgeon of that place.  In the last 10 years Boyd had lived a wretched life, and all his friends deserted him.  He entered the Almshouse more than a year ago."

Source:  A VARIED CAREER, The Statesman [Yonkers, NY], Jul. 29, 1897, Vol. XIV, No. 4201, p. 4, col. 4.  

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