JOHN H. BOYCE, – The vicissitudes and characteristic frontier life of this redoubtable miner and freighter are not easily expressed in a few sentences. He was born in Vermont in 1832, and in 1850 came around Cape Horn to California. The succession of his labors thereafter is thus stated; In 1851, he mined on the Stanislaus; in 1852 was freighting with a sixteen-mule team from Stockton to various points; in 1860 was hauling quartz in Nevada; in 1862 came to Elk Creek mines, Eastern Oregon; in 1863 was at Bannack, mining and packing; from 1864 to 1869 was engaged as teamster of a twelve-mule prairie-schooner, which he afterwards bought and continued driving until 180. By this time he had acquired a competency; and finding his health somewhat impaired by exposure went to the Umatilla meadows, and purchased two hundred acres for a farm. His operations have been directed here to stock and grain raising; and he is one of the most active men in this war. Taking a band of cattle to the Wallowa in the winter, he found the valley deserted, the settlers gone, or at the fort. The severe season killed off two hundred and fifty of his animals. The next summer he was one of the four to come through Grande Ronde to Pendleton, while the savages were plundering and murdering on all sides.
