Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


SAMUEL C. FOY 
 
was born in the city of Washington, D. C., September 23, 1830.  His father was 
John Foy, and his mother's maiden name was Calvert, she being connected with the 
families of Virginia and Maryland of that name. His father, who was a native of 
Ireland, and who was a civil engineer, having made the acquaintance of Henry 
Clay in Kentucky, obtained, through the influence of that great statesman, 
employment in the city of Washington. He laid out the Botanical Gardens, and 
other public grounds, holding his position as an employe of the Government till 
his death in 1833, when the subject of this sketch was three years old, soon 
after which the family returned to Kentucky. Samuel remained here and in 
Cincinnati and Natchez till June, 1852, when he started for California by way of 
New Orleans and the Isthmus. After his arrival in San Francisco he went to the 
mines on Feather River, but did not remain there long. Returning to Sacramento, 
he went in the fall to the Calaveras mines. In January, 1854, he came to Los 
Angeles, which he found to be mostly a Spanish or Mexican town of 2,000 or 3,000 
inhabitants. He at once decided to locate here. As has happened with thousands 
of others, before and since, he liked the place as soon as he saw it. He 
immediately ordered goods from San Francisco, and commenced business in the 
one-story adobe,�nearly every house here then was of that character,�on the site 
of the present Savings Bank, adjoining the Farmers and Merchants' Bank, on Main 
street. The same year his brother John, now of San Bernardino, came here and 
went into business with him. In May, 1856, he went up the country with cattle; 
he remained alternately there and here till 1865, still retaining his connection 
with the business he had established here, which he has kept up till the present 
time. Thus it is that he has been continuously engaged in business in Los 
Angeles longer than any other business man or firm. In 1860 Mr. Foy married Miss 
Lucinda Macey, daughter of Dr. Obed Macey. Dr. Macey arrived here in January, 
1851, having crossed the plains with his family by ox-team, the, journey 
occupying nearly nine months. In 1853 Dr. Macey bought the Bella Union, then the 
principal hotel in Los Angeles, the site of which is now occupied by the St. 
Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Foy have seven children living, six daughters and one son. 
Mr. Foy has been an active Mason, having been Master of Los Angeles Lodge, No. 
42, and High Priest of Los Angeles Chapter, No. 33, Royal Arch Masons, several 
years. Mr. Foy's eldest brother, Colonel James C. Foy, came to California in 
1850, but returned to Covington, Kentucky, in 1854.  In 1861 he raised Company 
A, Twenty-third Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers, and served his country until July 
9, 1864. He was then in General Sherman's army, and was on the north bank of the 
Chattahoochee River, when a bursting shell, fired by the rebels, gave him a 
fatal wound. He was at the time in command as Colonel of his regiment. Mr. Foy's 
other brother, John M., for many years a citizen of Los Angeles, is now a 
resident of San Bernardino.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 465
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler