Yolo-Placer-Nevada County CA Archives Biographies.....Stephens, Lawrence D. 1835 - 
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Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

LAWRENCE D. STEPHENS.—Prominent among that coterie of substantial men identified
with the great financial institution, the Bank of Woodland, stands the gentleman
with whose name this article commences. He is a native of Cooper County,
Missouri, born about ten miles from Booneville and only two miles from the site
of the present town of Bunceton (which has been built sinch [sic] his birth),in
the year 1835. He was reared there to farm life, and received the educational
advantages afforded. by the schools of the neighborhood of his birth. He was yet
a boy when his uncles crossed the plains to California, and the favorable
reports sent home by them early turned his thoughts in that direction. Thus it
was that in 1852, though only sixteen years of age, his own footsteps were
turned toward the Pacific. In company with his uncle, Andrew J. Stephens, now a
resident of Texas, he commenced the long journey in April, 1852. Besides himself
and uncle there were but two others in the party, and the trip was accomplished
with one emigrant wagon, most of the time alone, but occasionally joining large
trains when it was supposed protection might be required from the Indians. Four
months were consumed on the trip, and in the meantime our subject's seventeenth
birthday had come around. On the 10th of August he arrived on the spot where
Woodland now stands, though then there was no indication that there would ever
be built up the rich and prosperous community which occupies that site to-day.
Ten miles west of there, and in the vicinity of the present town of Madison, his
uncles, John D. and George D. Stephens, and John D. and D. Q. Adams were engaged
in stock-raising; and he joined them, making his home with them, and rendering
himself useful about their ranch during the winter. The following year he rented
from them a piece of land and on it commenced farming operations for himself.
The next year he engaged in stock-raising in connection with his brother J. J.,
and for the purposes of the business they purchased 520 acres of land near
Madison. They prospered to a very satisfactory degree, and met with no set-backs
worthy of particular mention until the dry year of 1864. In the spring of that
year he and his brother drove their stock into the foothills of Placer County,
just north of Newcastle, where they experienced a winter so terrible that when
they returned to Yolo County, in May, 1865, they counted up just thirty-five
head as the remnant of their fine band they had driven to the mountains the year
before. At this time the condition of affairs in California had much changed
from the early days when a man could safely leave his gold in the tent while he
went about his work at mining, and many of the roads were infested with thieves
who occasionally became wonderfully bold in their operations. They were men,
too, who did not allow human life to stand between them and the gratification of
their greed for plunder.

   While with his stock in Placer County Mr. Stephens started for his home ranch
during the month of December, 1864, and on the trip had an experience which he
will always remember. He had reached a lonely place on the road between Yankee
Jim's and Auburn, where he was suddenly startled by hearing a voice commanding
him to stop. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw the form of a man
half hidden in the bushes, his hat drawn over his eyes, below which was bound
about his face a handkerchief. In his hands he held a double-barreled shot-gun,
both triggers cocked, and leveled full at Mr. Stephens. The latter, seeing that
the highwayman had the "drop" on him, came to a halt as directed, and the
robber, coming up to within ten feet of him, with the gun still in position,
demanded his money. Mr. Stephens, being in the ruffian's power, handed over his
purse, which contained nearly $600, and was then allowed to proceed upon his
journey. Our subject never recovered a cent of his money, but derived some
consolation from the fact that his despoiler was subsequently caught, tried, and
sent to the penitentiary.

  This occurrence added to the loss and disappointment of this ill-fated year,
and in 1865 the brothers found themselves practically with nothing left but
their land, and another start in life to make. Our subject had up to this time
not been interested much in mining, though he was well acquainted in the camps,
where he had been driving cattle for years, and selling them to butchers. In
1866, however, leaving his brother in charge of the ranch, he went into the
mountain countries on a mining expedition, and at Grass Valley was elected
superintendent of the Omaha Qurtz [sic] Mining Company. He held the position for
a year, but as operations were not successful he relinquished the super in
tendency and the mine was abandoned, after he and six others had put from $7,000
to $10,000 into it, Subsequently the mine became a paying concern, but he was
then not financially interested in it. He next returned to the ranch, resuming
farming in 1867, and within a few years the whole surroundings became one great
grain field. To his ranching operations he gave almost his whole attention until
1873, when he came to Woodland and assumed charge of the Grangers' Warehouse,
his brother meantime remaining on the ranch and giving it his personal
attention. He had control of the warehouse mentioned for three years, and then
embarked in the grain business on his own account, handling vast quantities of
grain with gratifying success.

  May 10, 1876, Mr. Stephens was married to Miss Alice E. Hunt, a native of
Woodland, and daughter of W. G. Hunt, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
volume. After the marriage the couple made an extended tour through the Eastern
and Central States, taking the opportunity to visit the, centennial exhibition
at Philadelphia en route. Among the cities visited on the trip were New York,
Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati and Louisville, from which point they
went to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Returning to Louisville, they proceeded to St,
Louis, and later to Cooper County, Missouri, where they spent about two weeks in
the vicinity of Mr. Stephens' birthplace. On the return trip they stopped a few
days each at Salt Lake City and Lake Bigler or Tahoe.

  In 1881 he became a salaried officer of the Bank of Woodland, with which he
has been associated as a stockholder and director since its organization, in
1868, and he has ever since lent his most efficient efforts toward the
upbuilding of its present vast business. In 1881 also, in company with his
brother, J.J. Stephens and J. H. Harlan, he purchased some 3,000 acres of land
ten miles south of Fresno, in Fresno County, which they have converted into a
stock ranch, besides carrying on general farming upon the place.

  His interests-already mentioned and others monopolize all the time he has to
devote to business affairs, and are more than many men would care to handle.
Being, however, entirely devoid of grasping, sordid instincts, Mr. Stephens
finds sufficient opportunity to devote to social duties, and is no where happier
than in his home life. He has many traits of character which render him welcome
to a large circle of friends, and is considered one of the most genial of men.
His success in life has not been due to scheming in any sense, but to the
exercise of sound business principles and the improvement of opportunities which
have presented themselves since he came to California with his fortune to make.

  Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have three children, viz.: Rowena Alice, born May 27,
1878; Lawrence Hunt, born June 17, 1881; and William G. Hunt, born September 3,
1885.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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