Foy Brothers - Samuel Foy
| Birth place or City of origin: | Los Angeles |
| State of origin: | CA |
| Last known City: | Los Angeles |
| Last known State: | CA |
| Start/Birth date: | 1854 |
| Death/End date: | 1901 |
Foy Brothers, a Los Angeles harness and saddler firm was founded in 1854 by Samuel Calvert Foy and his brother, John Moran Foy. Their partnership continued until 1865 when John moved to San Bernardino to open his own firm; he died in 1892. Samuel continued to direct the Los Angeles firm until his death in 1901. Foy manufactured a full line of California saddles and carried bits and spurs from Southern California makers like Juan Flores (1851-1928) and father/son team of Jose & Jesus Tapia
Samuel Foy's parents both came from pioneering families with ties to Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Kentucky. He was born in Washington in 1830, grew up in Kentucky following his father's death, and apprenticed to the firm of Perkins-Campbell in Cincinnati to learn the harness maker's trade. He moved to Natchez, Mississippi, to work in his trade, but catching gold fever, went by way of Panama, to search for gold in California in 1852. Failing to strike it rich, he purchased supplies in San Francisco in 1854, moved south, and opened what he claimed to be "the oldest business house in Los Angeles." In partnership with his brother until 1865, the business prospered and the two also raised cattle from a headquarters at San Juan in San Benito county and in Stockton in San Joaquin county.
The Samuel C. Foy Leather Depot remained in business into the era of telephones, but was firmly based on serving the needs of the ranching and cattle trades of southern California. Foy boasted a full stock of harness, saddles, “horse blankets, whips, and lap robes." He also advertised and boasted that the firm made “silver inlaid Spanish Bits and Spurs a Specialty.” Foy was active in Los Angeles throughout his years in the community where he served as both a town night watchman and as the chief of police. Foy died in 1901.
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Below: John Wayne's Personal Bohlin Spurs.
Price realized: $25,300.
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