Yolo-San Joaquin County CA Archives Biographies.....Bourland, Francis Lafayette 1833 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 13, 2005, 6:51 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

FRANCIS LAFAYETTE BOURLAND

   Driving an ox-team across the plains for his board, or herding cattle along
that same route, has been the method by which many a young man has come to
California, especially in the early days, and this was the way Francis L.
Bourland got here. He was born during the year 1833 in the "Old Chickasaw
Purchase," Mississippi, and lived there with his parents until 1853, when they
moved to Fort Smith, Ark. His father had a mail-carrying contract between Fort
Smith and other points in the state, and young Bourland on his mule, conveying
the letter bags through the wilds, often had exciting adventures. When his mail
route was discontinued the young man worked at carpentering and wagonmaking
until he had a chance to start for the golden west. He provided his own pony and
played the part of cowboy all the way across in Capt. Boliver Bennett's train,
getting his board for the service; his lodging he got in his saddle generally.
There were tweaty wagons in the train, and a portion of the herder's work was to
hunt for the travelers. One day he shot a buffalo cow, and her calf followed him
to camp. The youngster thrived in its orphanage, grew quite tame, and Bourland
sold it for $20.

   At Carson City Mr. Bourland left the train, and when he had earned enough
money he sent it back to the "old folks at home." By his direction his mother
sold out her small belongings and started for California. When their train was
approaching the state line he hired a mule and rode to meet it—several days'
journey away. There he was met with the sad intelligence that his mother was
dead. She had died just before the beginning of the trip, but the children had
been sent on, and he found them safe in the train. He settled down with his
brothers and sisters in Stockton, teaming at good wages and providing a good and
comfortable home for his young charges. He afterwards located on a ranch about
eight miles east from the Slough City.

   Mr. Bourland married Miss Mary Jane Squires, and their five children are
Rolla, George, Arthur, Lemuel and Abbie. Lemuel married Etta Mercer and they
live on their farm in Yolo county; Abbie became the wife of E. A. Brown of
Merced county. Mr. Bourland's second marriage occurred in Collegeville, Cal.,
uniting him with Miss Emily Block, who was born in Gordon county, Ga., and the
two children born of this marriage are Mary, who married F. G. Perrott and lives
at Woodbridge, Cal., and William, who married Eva Tadlock and makes his home in
Yolo county.

   F. L. Bourland formerly owned about four hundred and eighty acres of land,
but he has sold off all but one hundred and sixty acres, and this he has deeded
to Mrs. Bourland. Besides the fine ranch near Madison, which has been their home
for years, they also have a residence at Cottonwood, also near Madison. They
take great comfort and pleasure in their children, to whom they have given good
educations and have so reared them that they are now industrious and honorable
citizens of the county.

    After a long life of hard work, coupled with thrift and other economical
features, the subject of this sketch has settled down to a well-earned rest. In
religion he and his wife are Presbyterian, in politics he is Democratic, and all
in all he is a good citizen and an honor to his home town and county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]




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