Tulare County Biographies

James Saxton Boyd

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, March, 2007

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	James Saxton Boyd, a respected citizen of Traver and an early 
pioneer of California, was born in Arkansas, January 3, 1827, son of James and 
Sarah (Laramore) Boyd, natives of that State. He is the only survivor of their 
seven children. After his mother's death, his father was married a second time 
and had three other children, two of whom are still living, whose names are 
Othias R. and Susan A. Boyd. The subject of our sketch learned the carpenter's 
trade and worked at it until the breaking out of the Mexican War. On June 19, 
1846, he enlisted in Company F, an Arkansas regiment, and was under Generals 
Wool and Taylor. He fought at the battle of Buena Vista, was a part of the 
Convoy of General Wool, and remained in Mexico four months after the fighting 
ceased. Being honorably discharged, he returned home, and on August 13, 1847, 
was united in wedlock to Miss Mary M. Little, a native of East Tennessee. Mr. 
Boyd continued work at his trade until 1852, when he went to Josephine County, 
Oregon, and worked at mining until June 5, 1863. From there he went to Crescent 
City and worked there for a time. On September 15, 1852, he arrived at Gold 
Hill, Placer County, California, where he engaged in mining one year. He then 
returned East, starting October 5, 1854, making the journey by water and 
reaching home December 13. Until 1859, his time was occupied in working at his 
trade. In that year he again undertook the long journey across the plains, 
driving a team of seven oxen and three cows, this time being accompanied  by his 
wife and little family, which then consisted of five children - James A., Mary 
Elizabeth, Brackin, Edward, and Cortis Jackson. When they arrived in California 
they settled in Napa County and remained there one year; 1861-'62 raised two 
crops in Placer County; from 1863 till the spring of 1867 lived in Calaveras 
County; arrived in Tulare County, September 27, 1867, and the following year 
moved to Stokes Valley. At the latter place Mr. Boyd purchased for $100 an 
unsurveyed claim, and lived and farmed there for seven years. When the land was 
surveyed it went to the railroad company, after which he moved to section 12 and 
purchased 160 acres of land, paying for it $2,000. He subsequently bought 160 
acres more from the railroad company, made his home there and was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits until 1886, when he sold out and moved to Traver. Here he 
purchased several lots and built a comfortable residence; also went into the 
grocery business, and in eighteen months sold out to his son, James. He also 
owns a twenty-acre fruit ranch, located one mile north of town. After coming to 
California, three other children were added to their family circle,  namely: 
George Warren, Catharine Isabella, and Litha Ann. All their children, except 
Brackin E., - who deceased in the year 1876, - are settled in this vicinity and 
occupy honorable positions in life. In politics Mr. Boyd is a Democrat, has 
served as deputy sheriff and deputy assessor of the county. He is a member of 
the Christian Church and aided materially in the building of their house of 
worship in Traver. Looking back over three decades, Mr. Boyd vividly recalls 
many experiences connected with his overland journeys and numerous incidents 
that occurred during his pioneer days here. Did not want of space forbid it 
would give us pleasure to publish a more extended account of his life. Still 
hale and hearty, kind and obliging, he is a fair specimen of the California 
pioneer. Not the frost of many winters, but, rather, the sunshine of many 
summers has whitened his locks and at the same time developed his generous 
nature.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, 
Tulare, and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp.402-403.