Boucher, Charles Homer

Charles H. Boucher, born on October 19, 1845, in Elbridge, New York, was a sturdy pioneer whose life reflected the grit of early California settlers. After losing his surveyor father at age six, he worked for others to pay for his board and public schooling until the outbreak of the Civil War. At sixteen, he enlisted as a private in Company E, One Hundred Twenty-second New York Volunteers, bravely fighting in twenty-six general engagements, including Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and Antietam. Following his military service, he answered the call of the West and relocated to Solano County, California, where he spent years working on a dairy farm and cultivating grain land. He married Missouri native Martha M. Weaver on December 20, 1872, and together they raised four children named Lottie May, Emily Florence, George Thomas, and Archie Homer.

In 1884, Mr. Boucher moved his family to Fresno County, where he purchased a completely undeveloped half-section of land that lacked even a single shrub or irrigation water. Through persistent effort, he expanded his agricultural operations into grain raising and eventually transformed sixty acres into a lucrative vineyard featuring several varieties of grapes. His foresight allowed him to witness the evolution of the surrounding region, watching the modern site of Clovis transform from a vast grain field into an attractive town. Following his passing on June 29, 1917, his wife Martha moved to Fresno to manage the extensive property interests he left behind. His journey stands as a classic testament to the patriotic dedication and entrepreneurial enterprise that built early California communities.