Yolo-Sacramento-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Stephens, George Dickson 1828 - 1901
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 1, 2005, 4:13 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

GEORGE DICKSON STEPHENS

    From the initial period of American occupancy of California until his demise
more than fifty years later George Dickson Stephens was intimately identified
with the upbuilding of the great west and contributed in especially large degree
to the development of Yolo county. The record of his life epitomizes the romance
of the frontier. Time itself, painting with glowing colors upon the canvas of
the past, reveals the sturdy figure of a youth crossing the plains in company
with an expedition of Argonauts eager to find the hidden gold of unknown mines,
but little dreaming that it was to be through the cultivation of the fertile and
undeveloped soil of the state they would find the gold of their hopes. The party
of gold-seekers began their journey from Cooper county, Mo., May 10, 1849, and
arrived in Sacramento August 6, having pushed their way across the plains with a
persistence that faltered not for weariness or perils. The new country with its
cosmopolitan population presented a remarkable contrast to the environment
familiar to the early years of the .young man. In a region remote from the
scenes of boyhood and the homes of kindred, with no relative near him excepting
his older brother, John Dickson (long the confidante of all business
undertakings and the comrade of many frontier expeditions), he struggled toward
independence and success and laid the foundation of the interests that now make
his name one of the most prominent in the annals of Yolo county.

    The life which this narrative depicts began in Cooper county, Mo., July 31,
1828, and closed in Yolo county, Cal., December 22, 1901. Many of the qualities
that individualized a forceful personality came as an inheritance from Scotch
and Welsh ancestors. The family genealogy indicates that Peter Stephens, who was
born in Pennsylvania during the latter part of the seventeenth century, founded
the village of Stephensburg in that state. The next generation was represented
by Peter, Jr., who married Johanna Chrisman and moved to Wythe county, Va. Out
of a family comprising seven sons and one daughter it is a noteworthy fact that
every son became a Revolutionary soldier and two died the death of patriots
while fighting on the battlefield for liberty and independence. One of these
young heroes was Joseph Stephens, who in 1801 settled in Wayne, county, Ky.,
thence moved to Tennessee in 1815 and during November of 1817 traveled by wagon
to Missouri, settling thirteen miles south of Boonville, Cooper county, where he
acquired slaves and a fine tract of land. For years he contributed to the
agricultural upbuilding of that community. His death occurred May 7, 1836, near
Bunceton. Twelve children had been born of his marriage to Rhoda Cole. By Ms
second wife, Catharine Dickson, he was the father of nine children, namely: John
D., who for years before his death was an influential banker of Woodland, Cal.;
George D., whose name introduces this article; Andrew J., Thomas H. B.,
Margaret, Alpha, Harriet, Isabella and Lee Ann.

    As an educative preparation for life's activities the environment of George
Dickson Stephens in youth was most efficacious. Self-reliance and persistence
were learned by actual experience. In addition, observation taught him lessons
which could not have been learned in school. Gold was discovered in California
just at the time when, standing at the threshold of manhood, he was pondering
the subject of a permanent occupation as a means of livelihood. He was therefore
in a mood to be fascinated by the unknown opportunities of the west and with
ardor he entered upon the expedition made up for the coast. As his primary
object in seeking this state had been to search for gold, he immediately began
to work as a miner and prospector and established temporary headquarters
successively at Mormon Island, Missouri bar on the American river and at
Hangtown. The winter of 1849-50 he spent with others in a cabin on the
Sacramento river. During the spring of 1850 he mined on the middle fork of the
American river. Returning to Sacramento on the 4th of July, he soon began to buy
cattle and mules from arriving emigrants. These he drove down to Cache creek,
where in 1850 he made a camp on what he supposed to be government land. Soon,
however, he found that it was a portion of the Berryessa grant. With his
brother, John D., he acquired the property in the same year and put up an adobe
house, the only building of the land now remaining in Yolo county. To this
original adobe has been added a comfortable home where the family gather to have
their good times.

    In addition to the purchase of the Rancho de Capay the brothers promoted the
Cottonwood Ditch Company, later known as the Capay Ditch Company (which
ultimately was merged into the Yolo County Consolidated Water Company) and now
known as the Yolo Power and Water Company. With the securing of irrigation it
was possible to raise grain profitably and from that the brothers drifted into
live stock operations, raising horses and mules, Durham cattle and Poland-China
hogs, also sheep of such fine quality that they won many premiums at local and
state fairs. While building up a remarkable business in stock and grain George
D. Stephens at the same time identified himself with the material upbuilding of
the community, promoted the maintenance of good schools, helped to secure
first-class teachers for the country schools, and also wielded a wide influence
as a Democrat, although he never consented to become a candidate for oifice, nor
was he willing to accept party favors of any kind. During 1872 he married Miss
Laura Wilcoxson, who was born in Fayette, Howard county, Mo., the daughter of
Joseph and Amanda (Stapleton) Wilcoxson, of Kentucky. She died in 1875, leaving
two daughters, Kate L. and Josephine. The latter is the wife of Russell Harriman
and lives in Los Angeles, Cal. The former was elected secretary of the Stephens
Agricultural & Livestock Company, the president having been George Dickson
Stephens from the organization of the concern until his death, December 22,
1901. Since then his eldest son, by a later marriage, was elected to the office
his father's death vacated. The second marriage of Mr. Stephens took place May
27, 1877, and united him with Miss Nannie Lucas, a native of Buchanan county,
Mo., and a daughter of G. J. Lucas, who in 1868 brought his family to
California. Of this union there are the following-named sons and daughters: John
L., president of the Stephens Agricultural & Livestock Company; Mrs. Louise M.
Plummer, of San Francisco; Sarah, wife of Capt. Charles Gordon, U. S. A.;
Margaret; Mrs. Elizabeth Needham, of Sacramento, Cal.; George D., now in
Arizona; Frank Warren, of Woodland; Ben Gray, of Winters; William Fulton, Thomas
Jackson, and Paul, who remain on the estate. The property comprises about eight
thousand acres of land in Yolo county and has been provided with every equipment
for the care of stock, in which a specialty is now made of Shorthorn Durham
cattle and of Shropshire sheep.

    Since the death of Mr. Stephens, to whose far-seeing ability must be
attributed the acquisition of the vast tracts in Yolo county, the estate has
remained intact and conducted as an incorporated business has brought gratifying
returns to the heirs. The marvelous harmony that pervades the family, an
admirable and most unusual feature in such instances, causes each member to
place implicit confidence in the others and to make sacrifices if necessary for
their good. A bond of affection and trust exists between all the members of the
family that is rarely shown so strongly or expressed so positively in even the
most minute details of daily activities. This spirit of devotion and confidence
is a heritage from the father, whose home was to him the fairest spot on earth
and whose great heart encompassed each child with a boundless affection. Deep as
was his interest in agriculture, progressive as he was in promoting the quality
of live stock raised in the county, engrossed as he was in schools and other
public institutions of worth, interested as he was in the directorate of the
Bank of Woodland and prominent in many movements of permanent value to the
county, it was in his home, surrounded by his family and extending a gracious
hospitality to friends, that he was at his best and there his generous nature,
unselfish spirit and honorable character shone forth with a dignified beauty
that lends a permanent value to the record of his life. To his children he
taught precious lessons by example and precept. From him they learned how to
bear disappointment with fortitude, how to secure victory with moderation, how
to suffer with patience, in short, how to live with courage and how to die with
honor.


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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