Butte County
Biographies
THOMAS M BOULWARE
How valuable in the course of years, it the work of the expert and conscientious contractor and builder, who both meets the immediate needs and anticipates the wants of a community, is shown in the story of Thomas M. Boulware and his successful operations in this county. Born on his father’s ranch near Biggs July 26, 1866, he is the son of William T. Boulware, who married Miss Martha Hulburt, who crossed the plains in 1854, traveling in different ox-trains; and meeting in California, they were married in Placer County. At first his father settled south of Oroville, at Pacific Heights, but soon after he bought one hundred sixty acres of government land south of Biggs, and continued to add to his holdings until he had three thousand five hundred acres on his ranch. At one time he owned five thousand aces in the valley, a part of which was in Lassen County. He was one of the large landowners of early days, and one of the most extensive growers of grain. This prosperity came to him despite the fact, or perhaps because of it, that he was a self-made man, and succeeded after he had failed; for what little he possessed was taken from him while he was crossing the plains, by Indians and Mormons. He arrived in California, therefore, with only one yoke of oxen, and was compelled to start with almost nothing.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boulware: Caleb N., who lives on the home ranch; Broderick De Kalb, deceased; Mrs. Rebecca B. Moore, who resides in Oakland; Mrs. Sarah A. Serviss and Thomas M., who reside in Gridley; Louisa Jane, deceased; Mrs. Mary Ada Tipton, who lives in Hammonton, Yuba County; and Mrs. Belle D. Amos, of Los Angeles County.
Thomas M. Boulware was educated in the public schools at Biggs, and later attended the United Brothers College of Woodbridge, San Joaquin County. Then he returned to the home ranch and farmed for a few years. In 1890 he was with the Sierra Lumber Company, and after that he ran a livery stale in Oroville. He became foreman for William L. Walker, a contractor of Biggs, and since 1905 has been contracting and building on his own account, while living in Gridley.
Some idea of the extensive undertakings of Mr. Boulware in Butte County may be gathered from a list of the principal edifices put up by him in various towns thereabout. In Biggs alone he erected the Rolley residence and those belonging to W. H. Walters and N. Stephenson, as well as that of Elmer Brink. He built the four-story rice mill and warehouse for the Pacific Rice Milling Company, and the ranch houses of D. J. Little, Sam S. Mattoon and William Rowse. In Gridley he built two houses for E. P. Fagen, one for Mrs. Virginia Evans, two for the Serviss familiy, and one for William Humble. The Gridley State Bank Block was also designed and erected by him, as was the H. C. Veach Block. He remodeled the Raymond Block, and built the Richvale Grammar School, as well as the River School at Hazelbush. Drawing many of his own plans, Mr. Boulware has easily become the leading builder of the district, and a very successful contractor.
In Biggs, Mr. Boulware married Cornelia E. Blanchard, a native of this state, whose father, George Blanchard, was an early settler and grain-farmer in the vicinity of Biggs. Two children blessed their marriage: Una B. is a graduate of the Chico State Normal and a teacher in the Gridley Grammar School; George W. is associated with his father in real estate and insurance under the firm name of Boulware and Boulware. From the first they have done their share in developing the district, and in 1917 they laid out, improved and put the East Hazel subdivision on the market.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1013-1014, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies