Contra Costa County Biographies

No one perhaps has done more to advance the agricultural and banking interests in Contra Costa County than the subject of this review. Mr. Boone is a man of marked ability, of enterprise and progression, and he is numbered among the Native Sons of Contra Costa County. His birth occurred in Danville, May 14, 1867, a son of James O. Boone, a native of Kentucky, who crossed the plains in 1852, in company with his wife, two children, and his brother, Wellington. It took the party six months to make the trip with ox-teams. James O. Boone was a representative pioneer of California, and a true type of the brave, hardy, and energetic men who contributed largely toward California's advancement. Instead of going to the mines, like the majority of men who came to California at that period, Mr. Boone saw the advantages and necessity of engaging in the freighting business. He hauled supplies from Sacramento to Dutch Flat with a pair of oxen, receiving twenty dollars a day for his services. It required a week to make this trip. His brother, Wellington, was associated with him in his business venture. They freighted the first lumber into Dutch Flat, assisted in erecting the first shanty at that place, and took an active part in the development of that mining camp. Numa S. Boone acquired his education in the public schools of Danville, after which he attended high school in Oakland. His father, after residing at Winters, California, removed to Contra Costa County, and was one of the first settlers to locate near Danville. Here Mr. Boone purchased a ranch, and with characteristic energy began to improve his place. After finishing his education, Numa S. Boone returned to the home place, and assisted his father. At the age of twenty-one he rented the Love estate, where Danville is now situated. The first year Mr. Boone planted wheat, and his first business venture was a success. He cleared about nine hundred dollars that season. He was happily married to Miss Minnie T. Thorne, a native of Santa Clara County, on August 31, 1899. Their two children are Travis M., born August 10, 1901, and Eleanor Sims, born August 17, 1905. Mrs. Boone's father was Captain Charles Thorne, a native of New York State, and her mother was Mary J. (Travis) Thorne. Her parents were married in New York State in 1841. Her father followed the seas from the age of eighteen until a few years previous to his death, which occurred January 16, 1897. He served as port warden at San Francisco for two terms. Captain Thorne came to California via the Panama route in the spring of 1850. Previous to this he operated on the Atlantic Coast. He opened the steamboat route between San Francisco and Alviso, and the fare at that time was eighteen dollars. Captain Thorne's wife came to California in 1852 with their three children via the Panama route. They were the parents of eight children - seven sons and one daughter. Those living are Mrs. Numa S. Boone, John P., of Alameda, and Frank B., of Portland. Mrs. Boone's mother passed away October 27, 1909, at Forest Home, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Boone. Fraternally, Numa S. Boone is a member of San Ramon Parlor, N. S. G. W., and takes an active part and is a member of the Danville Grange. Politically, he casts his ballot with the Democratic party. While he is active locally he has never aspired to office. With the exception of one year, Mr. Boone has served on the Democratic Central Committee since he cast his first vote. For many years he has served on the San Ramon school board. Besides being an extensive landowner, to the extent of owning two hundred and fifty acres, he works about seven hundred acres. He is a president of the San Ramon Valley Bank, which also operates a branch bank at Danville. He is a man of unusual business ability, has a large circle of friends, and is respected and esteemed wherever known. He is a stockholder in the California Investment Company, and the R. N. Burgess Company, who have large realty holdings in Contra Costa County, and have recently promoted Mount Diablo Park, one of the most beautiful residence property sections in the Bay region.