Sutter County
Biographies
ED. A. BOYNTON
One of Sutter County’s well-known orchardists and ranchers is Ed. A. Boynton, who was born in December, 1861, on the old Antelope Ranch, twelve miles north of Yuba City. He is the only living child of William Boynton and Eliza J. (Donaldson) Boynton Metteer. His father, a man of sterling worth and a fearless hunter, crossed the plains in 1849 and mined in Yuba County. He went back East and was married, and with his bride returned to the Golden State. On the Sink of the Humboldt, August 3, 1859, their first son, Thomas Humboldt, was born. In 1863, William Boynton passed away. He left his large tract of land, which was formerly known as the Antelope Ranch, and which is still the family estate. Mrs. Boynton afterwards married Charles H. Metteer, whose review is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Metteer was a model and loyal father to his stepsons, always keeping their interests foremost in his heart and mind.
Ed. A. Boynton attended the Clay School. When he was twenty-three years old, he started out for himself and purchased fifty-four acres of his father’s old home ranch, which he developed. In the meantime, for fifteen years he was superintendent of the Cutts-Hudson orchard. On September 23, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Knapp, who was born near Benton Harbor, Mich., in 1865, one of the ten children who blessed the home of Silas S. and Adelia (Wright) Knapp. Mr. Knapp brought his family to California in 1875, coming to Marysville; and soon after he located at Live Oak. Twenty years later he passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton were blessed with three children: Lela M., deceased; Leona, Mrs. Clinton G. Berry, of Live Oak; who has five children; and Neva A., the assistant teller of the Bank of Italy at Live Oak. Since 1922, Mr. and Mrs. Boynton have resided in Live Oak in their comfortable home, which is the center of many happy social gatherings. Mrs. Boynton is a past president of the Live Oak Women’s Improvement Club, and is now an active member of its committees. Mr. Boynton is conducting his orchard and fruit business with gratifying success, and in the meantime gives his hearty support to every movement for the development of the community.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 578-581
ISAAC DRAKE
During the long period of his connection with the agricultural interests of Sutter County, Isaac Drake has proved himself a man of exceptional business ability and keen judgment. The exercise of these qualities has brought to him financial success and a standing among the prosperous residents of the county. He continued his agricultural pursuits until 1920, when he disposed of his property and bought a residence at 109 Chestnut Street, Yuba City, where he is now living retired from active business cares. His birth occurred in Jackson Township, Vinton County, Ohio, December 17, 1837. He is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Scheelein) Drake. The father, Jacob Drake, was born in England and was nine years old when he came to the United States with his parents, who settled in Massachusetts. When Jacob Drake was a young man he removed to Ohio, where he farmed and worked at his trade of carpenter; later he removed to Springfield, Mo. Eleven children were born in the family: Phoebe, David, Rachel, Katherine, Rebecca, Jacob, Isaac, William, Sarah, Daniel, and Marion. Jacob Drake passed away at the age of eighty years, his wife surviving him until she was eighty-five years old.
Isaac Drake received his education in the grammar schools of Ohio and Missouri. On June 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He was with General Grant at Shiloh and Pittsburgh Landing, and was in Grant’s campaign down the Mississippi River to and including the siege of Vicksburg. He was in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Snake Creek Gap, Peach Tree Creek, and the Siege of Atlanta. In the fall of 1864, in front of Atlanta, Mr. Drake reenlisted for three years or during the war. “I was in to finish the job,” he says, “and wanted to see it out.” He was in the 15th Army Corps, under General McPherson, until the latter was killed at Atlanta, and was there at the time when “Black Jack,” Gen. John A. Logan, with some of his men, made their dash with the cry, “McPherson’s body or die!” After this the 15th Army Corps was under the command of Gen. John A. Logan. Mr. Drake was in Sherman’s March to the Sea, and was present at the taking of Savannah and in the battles of Bentonville and Goldsborough. Then, with the victorious army, he marched North and took part in the Grand Review in Washington, as one of Sherman’s Bummers. He received his honorable discharge at St. Louis, Mo., September 17, 1865. Returning to his home, he was thereafter occupied in farming, in St. Francois County, Mo.
On February 7, 1867, at Stono, Mo., Mr. Drake was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Yeates, a native of Missouri, daughter of Richard and Susanna (Wallon) Yeates, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. Richard Yeates was a farmer by occupation, and a veteran of the Indian wars. Mrs. Drake is next to the eldest in a family of six children: Lewis, Mary Elizabeth, John, Adaline, Nicholas, and Elisha. In 1883 Mr. Drake removed with his family to Custer County, South Dakota, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land, farming it until 1890, when they decided to move to California. They first settled in Tuolumne County, where they farmed for two years, and then removed to Oakdale, Stanislaus County, and spent two years in farming. Coming then to Sutter County, Mr. Drake purchased a twenty-acre peach orchard at Oswald, which he operated until 1920. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Drake: Emma, deceased: John, a resident of Alaska; Rosetta, now Mrs. Lehner, of Oswald; W. Ellis, deceased, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, serving in the 8th California Infantry, stationed at Vancouver Barracks, Wash.; Laura, now Mrs. Davis, of Franklin Corners, Sutter County; Fines and Firman, deceased; Birdie, now Mrs. H. C. Epperson, of Sutter City; and Fred. who enlisted in the World War in July, 1917, and was sent to San Pedro, Cal. and placed on the ship Covington. This boat was sunk on the French coast, and Fred Drake floated for hours on a life raft and was picked up by a destroyer and returned to Brest, France, to be reassigned. He is now farming near Tudor. There are eight grandchildren in the family. Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Corinth Post, G. A. R., at Marysville, in which he is a Past Commander.
Mr. Drake was for four years and four months in the United States service during the Civil War, and during that time was never on the sick list nor in the hospital, and so did not miss a day with his company or regiment. He is a very large man, of splendid physique and of athletic build, and while in his prime was unusually powerful. While in the service, wrestling was one of his sports, and Isaac Drake wrestled with the best men in his brigade (3000 men) and never found a man who could lay him on his back.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 581-582