California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 JAMES ANDREW BOYD. A resident of California since eleven years of age, James Andrew Boyd, a prosperous and thrift}- farmer living seven miles southwest of Dinuba, may well lay claim to the title of a pioneer. His life in those early days was full of incident, and to the young people of this generation a record of his hard experiences, privations and tribulations might read like a tale of romance. As a teamster he hauled freight from Sycamore Point, on the San Joaquin river, to Visalia, a distance of seventy miles, that city being then the trading center for all this country, and the land office for the entire region roundabout. This whole section of the state was then an immense sandy plain, with but two sheep camps to be seen, and not a tree to be found excepting the lone willow on the old stage road leading from Kings River to Visalia. In the subsequent development of the rich agricultural and horticultural resources of the country he has played an important part, and by industry, keen foresight and sound busi- ness judgment has acquired a competency. A son of James S. Boyd, he was born June 24, 1848, near Van Buren, Crawford county, Ark., on the Middle Fork of the White river. A native of Tennessee, James S. Boyd removed when young to Arkansas, settling as a farmer on the White river. He served throughout the Mexican war under General Taylor, tak- ing an active part in many engagements, including the battle of Buena Vista. In 1852 he crossed the plains with ox teams, bringing with him a herd of cattle to California, and being seven months on the way. In 1853 he went home by way of Cape Horn, in a sailing vessel, and for six years remained in Arkansas, getting his living by tilling the soil. In 1859, accom- panied by his wife and children, he again crossed the plains with ox teams, having three wagons in the train. One yoke of oxen gave out while en route, and a pair of milk cows was substituted. In order to leave Thousand Spring valley, which had but a short time before been the scene of a horrible massacre, on the right, the party made quite a detour, and came by way of the Humboldt river and desert and Carson river to Hangtown, Cal. Locating in the Napa valley in 1859. he was there employed in farming for one year, the following year, i860, having a large ranch near Lincoln, Placer county, and from 1862 until 1868 being similarly engaged at Murphy's Camp. Becoming the first actual settler of Stokes valley in 1868, he homesteaded and improved one hundred and sixty acres of land. Subsequently selling that, he bought land on the other side of the valley, improved a good ranch and continued in agricultural pursuits for a number of seasons. Selling at an advantage, he moved to Traver, where he purchased town lots, erected a large building and embarked in the grocery business. Disposing of his store and stock, he bought land near Orosi, Tulare county, and for a while carried on general farming, living there until after the death of his wife. Selling out then, he removed to Oregon, and is now living near Salem, a hale and hearty gentleman of seventy-eight years. He married Mary M. Little, who was born in Tennessee and died, in February, 1903, in Orosi, Cal. Five children were born of their union, namely : James A., the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Mary E. Movie, who died in Traver, Cal. ; George W., of Seattle, Wash. ; Cordis J., engaged in farming at Orosi ; and Mrs. Isabelle Robinson, living near Orosi. Living in Arkansas during the first ten years of his life, James A. Boyd attended the public schools a short time. While coming with the family across the plains in 1859 ne so injured his leg that he was unable to use it much for several years, and was consequently deprived of school advantages until 18G4, when he attended one term, his education having been largely ob- tained by reading and observation. In 1868 he went with his parents to Stokes valley, where, in 1869, he took up a homestead claim. Relinquishing the claim in 1872, Mr. Boyd pur- chased a large ranch near by, becoming owner of eight hundred acres of land, and embarked in grain and stock raising on a large scale, in the meantime building the grade in the public road known as the Boyd grade. Selling out in 1887, he located in Tulare county, about seven miles southwest of Dinuba, where he has two farms, containing one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land. His home estate contains forty acres and is highly improved, twelve acres being devoted to a finely-bearing orchard, six acres to the culture of grapes, and the remainder to the raising of alfalfa. Here he also has a commodious and conveniently ar- ranged residence and a substantial set of farm buildings, his place being one of the best in its appointments of any in the locality, bespeaking the industry, thrift and wise management of the proprietor. His other ranch, and four hundred acres of land which he rents, is used for grain raising and grazing, and as a horticulturist, agriculturist and stock-raiser, Mr. Boyd is meeting with most satisfactory success. At Todd's Flat, Tulare county, Mr. Boyd married Miss Litha Work, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of Fleming Work, an early settler and farmer of Todd's Flat. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are the parents of three children, namely: James F. and Zachariah E., at borne; and Mrs. Annie Martin of Coalinga. Cal. Politically Mr. Boyd is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and an exmember of the county central committee. Al- though not an office seeker, he served for a number of years as clerk and trustee of the Kennedey school district. He is an active and valued member of the Christian Church, in which he is a deacon and in whose Sunday-school he was superintendent for many years.