San Diego County
Biographies
DANVILLE F. JONES
was born in Solon, Somerset County, Maine, June 10, 1846.
His parents died when be was six years old and he lived with his uncle, Samuel
Jones, for two years. From there he went to reside with John Weston, of
Bloomfield, with whom he remained until fourteen years of age. He then went to
Augusta, to his brother James
Jones; they removed to Wakefield, Massachusetts, in 1861, where he attended
school and helped on the farm. In the fall, his brother having enlisted in the
navy, he returned to Maine, and after being there a month enlisted in Company I,
Fourteenth Maine; he reported at camp and was rejected because too young. He
went back and carried with him the measles, which he distributed gratuitously
throughout his native town. After his recovery he worked at Cornville until July
29, 1862, when he again enlisted in the Twentieth Maine, by stretching the truth
a little as to his age. He succeeded in getting mustered in at Portland, Maine,
August 29, 1862; he left Portland September 2, 1862. They went to Washington,
where they received their rifles, then marched to Arlington Heights, joining the
Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corps. They were ordered to Antietam,
passed through Fredericksburg, Maryland, and over South Mountain, and
participated in the battle of Antietam, also in other engagements. After this
battle they encamped on Antietam creek, and were there until November, when they
went with the rest of the army to the battle of Fredericksburg. They were in
Hooker's division. After the battle they encamped at Stone Mason's Station, from
which place they were ordered to head off Stewart's cavalry, also taking part in
Burnside's famous stick-in-the mud march. At the time of the battle of
Chancellorsville, the small-pox prevailed in his regiment, and they were
detached to guard the telegraph; after the battle they were removed to a camp a
few miles from Falmouth. At this time Mr. Jones was on the brigade guard. From
this camp they went to Germania Ford and guarded it for two weeks. They
participated in the cavalry fight at Upperville; from there they crossed the
Potomac at Goose Creek and marched through Maryland and Pennsylvania. At
Gettysburg their brigade was stationed at Little Round Top, at the extreme left
of the army. After that battle he and half of his regiment were detailed to
build corduroy roads and bridges. He was hurt by a stick of timber crushing him
to the ground, from which he has never fully recovered. He joined his regiment
at Beverly Ford, and was sent from there to Emery Hospital, transferred to the
Veteran Reserve corps and served in Washington until the fall of 1864, when he
was sent to Johnson Island, Ohio, and had charge of the rebel prisoners at that
camp. From there they were sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, doing duty in that city
until the 6th of July, 1865, when he was mustered out. He returned to Bath,
Maine, where he and his brother owned a farm, and where he remained until
November, when he went to Boston and followed the express business for about two
years, then went to Brooklyn, New York, and became a painter. In 1868 he
returned to Boston and engaged in making picture frames. In 1872 he became a
photographer, and traveled through .New York, New Jersey and Illinois, until
1874, when he came to San Diego. He afterward went into the mines in 1878 at
Forest City, Sierra County, where he remained for three years, meeting with
moderate success. Meeting with an accident he returned to San Diego and engaged
in house painting, in which he has continued until the present time. He joined
the G. A. R. on the 8th of October, 1881, being one of the charter members of
Heintzelman Post, No. 33. He was Commander of the post during the year 1886. He
joined the A. O. U. W., by transfer, in 1862, and is now the Master Workman. He
was married December 13, 1871, to Miss Sadie M. Hovey, in Hallowell, Maine. They
have two children: Daniel Paul, born November 21, 1875, and Newell James, born
August 27, 1882. All honor should be given to the men who had the bravery to
stand up and light in such a deadly struggle to maintain the Union.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 345-346
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN B. BOYD
was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1846, son of William and Catherine S. (Slater) Boyd. When seven years of age he came with his father to Illinois, living with his aunt, Sarah B. Smith, attended the public schools there and graduated at the high school in 1864. He had his regimentals, and there were two other boys also clad in "blue." They had just enlisted. His regiment was the One Hundred and Thirty‑ninth Illinois, Colonel Davidson. They were three months at Cairo, on guard duty. His time expiring, he enlisted in the Fourteenth Illinois. It had been greatly depleted, and he with others went to fill up the ranks that had been vacated by the men who had fallen in battle. They were ordered to North Carolina, and were Sherman's rear guard. The nearest Mr. Boyd came to a fight was the night General Johnston surrendered. After the grand review they were ordered West, and went as far as Flat river, and there received orders to return and be mustered out. The war being over, he returned home and engaged as assistant bookkeeper with the Second National Bank, Peoria, where he remained four years, then came to San Diego, September 17, 1869. He engaged in publishing the San Diego Union, and also in law business, and is now a member of the firm of H. T. Christian & Co., in the abstract and title business. He is a member of the G. A. R, and belongs to Heintzelman Post, No. 33, San Diego. He has served seven years in the National Guards of California, Company B, San Diego city, that being the length of a term of service.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 346-347
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler