William P. Boyce - The subject of this sketch was born in Baltimore, February 8, 1807, and is consequently now in his seventy-fifth year. At the age of fifteen he moved with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in that city learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked about eight years.

He then, with his parents, moved and settled in Saint Clair County, Illinois, where he continued at his trade until April 4, 1832. He then enlisted in the Third Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and took part in the Black Hawk War, serving for two years.*

After leaving the army he traveled through several States, and finally settled in Shellsburg, Wisconsin, and from that place, April 19, 1850, he started across the plains for California, first locating in this State at Hangtown, now Placerville, where he remained a short time. He then followed mining at different places until 1866, when he moved to Napa County, locating in Knights Valley, then in Napa County, now in Sonoma, where he remained for two years.

He then moved to Calistoga, and purchased his present homestead in 1876. He was elected to the office of Constable and has held the office of Deputy Sheriff for three successive terms.

Mr. Boyce was married in Petersburgh, Illinois, March 14, 1839, to Susan A. Reed, who was born in Kentucky. By this union they have three living children: William E., Mary L. and Jane F.

(Bio published in "Biographies of Napa Co." in 1881.)


William married Susan Reid 14 March 1839 in St Clair Co., Illinois. Another source stated they were married March 15, 1837 in Sagamon Co. Ill. And even another which lists them being married in Petersburgh, Ill. She was born in Maysville, Mason Co., KY but later moved to Pulaski Co. Ky. In 1836, she was a friend of Abraham Lincoln in New Salem, Illinois.


1850 U.S. Census for Shullsburg, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin:
Susan A Boyce F 35 yrs, b. 1815 Kentucky
William E Boyce M 8 yrs, b. 1842 Illinois
Mary E Boyce F 3 yrs, b. 1847 Wisconsin
Francis J Boyce [Frances] M 1 yr, b. 1849 Wisconsin

William P. isn't listed; he could be in Calif. re the gold rush. It is noted that several heads of household near Susan are miners. This was a lead mining community. The oldest son is William Edwin, b. 4 Aug. 1841. In an interview published in the May 23, 1897 edition of the "San Francisco Call", Susan states that in 1849 the family moved to Texas and that in 1852, they moved to Calif. However, the 1850 census record shows she was in Wisconsin. She also mentions that William was a gambler.

Also note that Francis is actually Frances Virginia (Jenny) Boyce.


1860 U.S. Census for Hot Springs Township (Calistoga), Napa Co., CA:
W P Boyce M 30 Del
Susan Boyce F 45 Ky
William E Boyce M 18 Ill
Mary L Boyce F 13 Wis
Nancy J Boyce F 11 Wis


Apparently the family surname was originally "DeBoyce". See below for 1870 census; however this census is the only record where that name is used.

William Putnam Boyce registered to vote in Cloverdale, Sonoma Co., CA on 12 Dec. 1866. He was b. 1806 in Maryland.


1870 U.S. Census for Calistoga, Napa Co., CA:
Wm P De Boyce M 62y Maryland; farmer
Susan A H De Boyce F 54y Kentucky
Francis V De Boyce [Frances] F 21y b. 1849 Wisconsin

Living right nx to William is Edwin Boyce, age 29, b. Aug. 4, 1841 Illinois. This is W.P.'s son, William Edwin Boyce. Listed with him is his wife, Maria (17 yrs, b. CA), and their son Sean, 1 yr, b. CA. In May of 1868 he married Maria L. Weddle in Napa Calif. There is no record of Maria after 1872.

Note: William Edwin & Maria L. Weddle Boyce's son, Leon Louis Boyce, sometimes shown in the census records as "Sean" was b. 25 April 1869, Calistoga, Napa Co., CA; d. 12 Mar. 1906, Venice Island, San Joaquin Co., CA. He was an engineer. He died from a skull fracture, cause unknown. He is buried in Burwood Cemetery, Escalon, San Joaquin Co., CA; Memorial 40760861.


1880 U.S. Census for Calistoga, Napa Co., CA:
W. P. Boyce M 75 Maryland
WIFE Susan Boyce F 65 Kentucky

William is a house carpenter. His parents were born in Delaware and Susan's were born in Virginia.

By 1897, William has passed away. In the above-referenced interview, Susan mentioned that her husband had been deceased for years.


1900 U.S. Census for Calistoga, Napa Co., CA:
Susan Boyce F 85 yrs, b. 1815 Kentucky; widow
Dau Jennie Cameron F 59 yrs, b. June 1841 Wisc.
Grandson Walter Cameron M 14 yrs, b. Sept. 1886 CA
Granddau Nettie Cameron F 11 yrs, b. Nov. 1889 CA
Granddau Nira [Neva] Cameron F 8 yrs, b. May 1892 CA

William and Susan had 6 children, 3 living by 1900. Daughter Jennie is a widow as is her mother. Jennie's husband was b. in NJ and his mother in Wisc. At the time of this census, Susan and her family were living in Calistoga proper, just a couple of doors away from Cornelius Nash, the Town Marshall and whose family were early Calistoga pioneers.


Note: Daughter Mary L. Boyce married Thomas Henry McCready in 1864 in Calistoga, CA. They were still living in Calistoga in 1880 at which time he was a blacksmith. They are buried in the Ukiah Cemetery, Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA.
The following is their data:

In 1880, the family lived in Calistoga, Napa Co., CA and consisted of:
H. Mccrady M 41 Iowa
WIFE Mary Mccrady F 33 Wisconsin
SON Frederick Mccrady M 14 California
SON William Mccrady M 11 California
DAU Lorena Mccrady F 10 California
SON Henry Mccrady M 7 California
DAU Lizzy Mccrady F 4 California

At this time, he was a blacksmith.

In 1900, the family was living in Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA and the family household included:
Thomas H Mccready M 60 Iowa
Wife Mary Mccready F 53 Wisconsin
Daughter Laurence Mccready F 8 California
Daughter Juanita Horke F 24 California
Son-in-law Arthur Horke M 32 N York

At this time, Thomas Henry was a day laborer. Son-in-law Arthur Horke clerked at a local hotel.

*William served with Abraham Lincoln whom he knew quite well. See his wife's memorial for more data re Abraham Lincoln.
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Death of an Aged Citizen

William P. De Boyce, who, on account of old age has long been in feeble health and confined to the house several weeks past, died at his home on Main street Sunday, afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

Mr. De Boyce was a native of Delaware, though he left that state with his parents and located in one of the Western States when very young.

At the opening of the Black Hawk war he enlisted and at its close was First Lieutenant.

Thereafter he resided in Illinois. He came to California in 1850, and was for a time a resident of Hangtown (now Placerville). In 1858 he moved from Nevada county into Sonoma county, and was a few years a resident of Knight's valley.

He located in the vicinity of Calistoga in 1868, and resided here till his death. He had many years been a Mason, having joined the order over fifty years ago. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodges of Nevada City and Calistoga, and was Tyler of the Lodge here during his declining years, the duties of which office he appeared to take great pleasure in performing.

He was Tax Collector in Nevada county years ago, and for a long time was Deputy Sheriff and Constable in Calistoga.

In Illinois, in 1837, he married the wife (Miss Susan Reid) who survives him; and of the children born to them, three are living—Mrs. McCready, Mrs. Edwin and Mrs. Cameron, the former two residing in this vicinity and the latter in Middletown, Lake county.

The decedent was born Feb. 8th, 1804, and his age was therefore 81 years and 7 months.

The funeral took place from the family residence Monday afternoon last at 4 o'clock, under the auspices of Calistoga Lodge, F. and A. M. The remains were buried in Calistoga Cemetery, and a score of carriages conveyed the friends who gathered about his grave.

(Obit published in the Calistoga, CA "The Weekly Calistogan" on Sept 16, 1885.)

Thanks to Connie for providing William's obit.