California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



CHARLES HOMER BOUCHER.� Thrift and foresight, push and enter- 
prise were characteristics of the sturdy pioneers who came to California in the 
early years of its history. Among these was Charles H. Boucher, born October 
19, 1845, of English parents in Elbridge, Onondaga County, N. Y. His father, 
George Boucher, a surveyor, and his mother, Mary Anne Protherole, were mar- 
ried in England before coming to this country. George Boucher, the father of 
five children, three boys and two girls, died when Charles H. Boucher was but 
six years of age. Young Charles attended the public schools of Onondaga County 
until he was fifteen years of age, working for others to earn the wherewith to 
pay for his board and schooling. He was sixteen years old when the Civil War 
began, and responding to the call for volunteers, was mustered into service as a 
private, August 28, 1862, with Company E, One Hundred Twenty-second New 
York Volunteers, organized at Syracuse, serving under Captain H. H. Walpole 
until mustered out in May, 1865. During those three years he was in twenty-six 
general engagements, among other, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and Antietam. 
After leaving the army he heard the "call of the West" and came to California, 
working for a year on a dairy farm in Solano County, afterwards renting grain 
land and working for himself. After three years he purchased 320 acres of land 
and continued to raise grain for fifteen years. 

At Fairfield, Solano County, December 20, 1872, he was married to Martha 
M. Weaver, a native of Clark County, Mo., and a daughter of William M. and 
Sarah Ellen (Henton) Weaver, born in Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. 
Martha M. came to California with her father, a farmer, who located in San Joa- 
quin County in 1870. Four children blessed this union: Lottie May. Mrs. Wel- 
don of this county; Emily Florence, at home; George Thomas died at the age 
of sixteen, and Archie Homer was in United States Army and served overseas 
until mustered out and is back on the ranch. 

In 1884 Mr. Boucher removed to Fresno County, purchasing the east half 
of section 16, the home place, upon which there was not even a shrub at the time, 
neither was there water with which to irrigate the land. At that time the present 
site of the attractive little town of Clovis was a vast grain field. Mr. Boucher con- 
tinued the occupation of grain raising in his new home, and, three years later 
purchased the west half of section 16. Seven years later he set a small acreage to 
vineyard, the venture proving lucrative, he continued to set out land to vineyard 
at intervals until he had sixty acres under cultivation, including five or six varie- 
ties of grapes. 

Mr. Boucher passed away June 29, 1917. Since his death Mrs. Boucher 
makes her home in Fresno, looking after the interests left by her husband.