Alexander Boyter

Alexander Thomas "Scotty" Boyter (April 1848[1] – September 15, 1926) was an American stonemason and builder who was active in Beaver, Utah. He is known for his use of local "pink tuff" rock, and several of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His brother James Boyter also was a mason and they sometimes worked together.

Biography

Boyter was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1848 or 1849.[2] He served as a soldier at Fort Cameron, Utah, and returned to Scotland after being discharged from the Army in 1875. Along with his brother James and their mother, Boyter settled in Beaver, Utah in the late 1870s.[2][3]

In 1879, Boyter was married to Alice Bryant (Davey) Boyter, a native of Wales born in 1858. They had several children, including Rosella Sophia (born Oct. 1880), Mary Davey (born August 1883), Georgina (born 1885), William (born 1887), Arreta (born November 1889), Carlisle (born March 1893), Alexander, Jr. (born March 1897), and George Davey (born c. 1900).[4][5][6]

Work as a stonemason

Working as a stonemason, Boyter built a number of houses in Beaver using local bricks and "pink tuff" rock from nearby hills.[3] He sometimes worked on construction projects with his brother James, though James devoted most of his efforts to carving monuments, many of which are found in the Beaver cemetery.[2] Henry Boyter and Philo Boyter also worked as stonemasons in and around Beaver.[2] A number of Boyter's works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places ("NRHP").[7] In the NRHP nomination form for his Alexander Boyter House (built 1882), the nominator described Boyter's stonework as "fabulous."[8] In the NRHP nomination for his Henry C. Gale House, the nominator noted that Boyter's style was "characterized by a herringhone chisel pattern on the smoothed rock faces and raised, square mortar joints."[9]

List of works

Works attributed to Boyter and/or his brother James Boyter include (with attribution):

References
  1. Sources conflict as to his year of birth. The 1900 Census records shows his date of birth as April 1848. His burial record shows his date of birth as April 1, 1849.
  2. Beaver MRA
  3. Edward A. Geary (2002). The Proper Edge of the Sky: High Plateau Country of Utah. University of Utah Press. p. 44. ISBN 0874804094.
  4. Census entry for Alexander Boyter, born April 1848 in Scotland, and family. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Place: Beaver, Beaver, Utah; Roll: 1682; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 70; FHL microfilm: 1241682.
  5. Census entry for Alexander Boyter and family. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Census Place: Beaver West Ward, Beaver, Utah; Roll: T624_1602; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0002; Image: 56; FHL microfilm: 1375615.
  6. "Alexander Boyter". Find A Grave.
  7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  8. Linda L. Bonar (October 16, 1979). "Utah State Historical Society / Historic Preservation Research Office / Structure/Site Information Form: Alexander Boyter House". National Park Service. and accompanying photo from 1981
  9. Linda L. Bonar (September 19, 1979). "Utah State Historical Society Structure/Site Information Form: Henry C. Gale House". National Park Service. and accompanying photos
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