Butte County

Biographies


 

 

 

 

MRS. KATE HUTCHINS BOYNTON

 

 

      MRS. KATE HUTCHINS BOYNTON.—Like her late husband, S. S. Boynton, Mrs. Boynton has been very prominent in business and social affairs in Oroville, in the upbuilding of the city, and in its growth and development. She always kept pace with her husband’s interests, following the profession of teaching with him, and later when he entered the newspaper field, ably assisting him there, first as accountant and in time taking charge of the financial end of the business. Upon his death she assumed the responsibilities of president and financial manager of the corporation that was then formed, called the Oroville Register Publishing Company. Since that time she and the other officers of the company have successfully striven to uphold the high standard set by Mr. Boynton and to continue the wide influence of the paper for the betterment of that section of California.

            A Canadian by birth, Mrs. Boynton was born at La Chute, near Montreal, the fifth child of Phineas R. and Jessie (Walker) Hutchins, who were married in the year 1839. Her grandfather, John S. Hutchins, who was a direct descendant of Washington’s secretary, was a native of Charlestown, N. H. He moved to Canada, settling on a farm near Montreal, where her father was born. Her mother was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland, the daughter of Gavin and Jessie Walker. She came to Canada when a young girl in her teens. While a resident of Canada, Mrs. Boynton’s father served as an adjutant of his regiment during the Rebellion. After following farming at La Chute for a number of years, Mr. Hutchins started with his wife and seven children for California, in the year 1857, making the trip by way of Panama. They settled at Central House, Butte County, where Mr. Hutchins farmed six hundred forty acres until his death, in 1875, aged sixty-three; Mrs. Hutchins having died in 1865, at the age of forty-nine. The Hutchins Ranch was owned by Mrs. Boynton’s brother, John S., for many years, when it was sold to its present owner, Ed. Biggs. The names of Mrs. Boynton’s brothers and sisters are: Gavin Walker; John S.; Caroline Matilda, wife of Chief Justice McWhorter, of Charleston, W. Va.,; Thomas B., an extensive orchardist of Butte County, who died at the age of fifty-five; Maggie, wife of B. F. Bell, of Palo Alto, Cal.; and Minnie, wife of H. C. Bell, internal revenue collector of Sacramento.

            Mrs. Boynton received her early education at the local schools, and when fifteen successfully passed the examination for a teacher’s first grade certificate, and began teaching in Butte County. Later she attended Mrs. Poston’s Seminary, in Marysville, after which she resumed teaching in Butte County. She also taught a term in Yuba County, and one in Plumas County, but with these exceptions, Butte County schools benefitted by the twelve years of her excellent teaching. In time she received a state diploma, and later a teacher’s life diploma. After her marriage she taught six years in the Oroville public schools, while her husband was principal.

            Mr. and Mrs. Boynton were married at Central House, Butte County, December 31, 1874. Their son, Albert E., was for eight years state senator of the senatorial district comprising Yuba, southern Butte and Yolo Counties, and is now a prominent attorney of San Francisco. The daughter, Leila, graduated from the University of California and taught for four years in the Oroville High School. She was made a secretary and treasurer of the publishing company at the time of its incorporation, and since her marriage to R. G. Stapleton, or Oroville, she has retained her official connection with the company.

            Mrs. Boynton is a member of all the prominent clubs of Oroville, and vice president of the local Red Cross organization. She is a charter member and Past Matron of the Amapola Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and has served as District Deputy. 

 

 

 

Transcribed 11-30-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 534-535, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.


© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.

 

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