San Joaquin County
Biographies
SAMUEL W. BOICE
SAMUEL W. BOICE, a farmer of
Castoria Township, was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, June 2, 1834. When he
was twenty years of age he started across the plains to California, in company
with P. C. Crow, A. K. Ripperdan and Easton Brothers, bringing with them 600
head of cattle; on arriving in Stanislaus County, California, they had lost all
but 450 head. Mr. Boice soon engaged in dairy business in Sonora, Tuolumne
County, which he followed five years. In 1859 he disposed of this business and
took charge of the Golden Rule mines, near Poverty Hill, where he remained for
four years. He then came to San Joaquin County. In 1866, on the 16th
of August, he married Miss Emma Pence. They settled in French Camp, where for three
years he was engaged in the blacksmithing business. In 1870 he disposed of it
and purchased a ranch of 460 acres of fine improved land. A fine residence is
on the grounds, partly hidden by a cluster of trees. Surrounding the house is a
beautiful lawn, kept neatly mown. It and the fine shrubbery add much to the
beauty of the grounds; they are very rare in this part of the country, being
seldom seen on any of our farms. Mr. Boice is engaged in raising thoroughbred
horses, which business he pursues systematically and practically; he has all
the facilities for this and general farming.
Mrs. Emma (Pence) Boice, the wife of our
subject, was born in Piqua, Ohio, March 30, 1849. When she was but three years
of age her family moved to Iowa, where she remained until fifteen years of age.
In 1864 she started for California by water, landing in San Francisco on the
22d of May, that year. She took the steamer for Stockton and joined her father,
Dr. P. Pence, at Liberty, where he had been located for several months. Mr. and
Mrs. Boice have a family of three children, two of whom are married. Their
names are as follows: Hattie P., wife of Mr. O. Z. Bailey; Etta P., wife of Mr.
White, and Emma M. Boice. They are industrious and prosperous and are respected
by all who know them.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 509. Lewis Pub. Co.
Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases