David B Lyman

David B Lyman was an early American Missionary to Hawaii.  He was born 28 July 1803 in Hartford, CT, son of David Lyman and Rhoda Phelps Belden.  He married Sarah Joiner in 1831 and they sailed a few days later to Hawaii from Massachusetts in the Fifth Company of Missionaries.  They arrived in Honolulu in May 1832 and were assigned to the Mission at Hilo under Rev Joseph Goodrich.

They had eight children:  David Brainerd (1833-1836), Henry Munson (1835-1904), Frederick Swartz (1837-1918), David Brainerd (1840-1914), Rufus Anderson (1842-1910), Ellen Elizabeth (1845-1868), Francis Ogden (1847-1915), Emma Washburn (1849-1934).

Frederick Schwartz (1837–1918), Henry Munson (1835–1904),

and David Brainerd (1840–1914).

(Mission Houses Museum)

The Lymans founded the Hilo Boarding School in 1836.  The school was founded with a grant of $500.00.  They started with 60-70 students. In 1838, the students were put to work building a new wood framed building for the school and a house for the Lymans.  Mrs Lyman opened a school for girls in 1839.  Students had their own garden in which they grew their own food, and raised some cash crops to help with expenses.  By 1840 thousands of pounds of molasses and sugar were being produced. Rev Lyman retired from the school in 1873.

Hilo Boarding School ca 1836

Sarah Joiner Lyman kept a diary for many years including notations on earthquakes and volcano eruptions.

Lyman House is now a fascinating museum.