Butte County
Biographies
NICK STEPHENS
NICK STEPHENS.—Among the industrious and successful ranchers of Butte County, the name of Nick Stephens is well and favorably known. He was born in the county that he resides in on May 28, 1867, the seventh child in a family of eleven children, of whom seven are now living. His father, James Stephens, was born in Tennessee and became one of the pioneers of Butte County. He crossed the plains in 1849, and upon arriving in this state followed mining, teaming, ranching and stock-raising for many years. He married Malinda Foster, a native of Missouri. They both came across the plains when they were young, and their respective families settled for a short time in Nevada City. It was in that city that the young people were united in marriage some time later. In 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens took up their home in Butte County. The original home place is known as the Stone ranch, and is now owned by the United States Plant Introduction Station. Mr. Stephens became very prosperous, and owned fourteen hundred sixty-five acres at the time of his death, in 1899. His wife died in 1911. They were the parents of eleven children. James died at the age of seventeen. Samuel is a stockman in Tehama County. Catherine became the wife of William Worley; they both died, leaving five children, two of whom are now living. Charles died at the age of forty years; he was married and left three children. Warren is now superintendent for Frank Colm, on his sheep ranch near Chico. Lyman was a partner with his brother Nick in the sheep industry, but is now in business independently. Nathan died at the age of seven. Alvin, better known as Nick, is the subject of this review. Ellen is the wife of N. H. Bruce, of Chico Vecino. Frances is now Mrs. Alvin Cooper, of Chico Vecino. Annie May married A. G. Spelley, of Butte County, a man who is well known in the almond industry.
Nick Stephens received his education in the common schools and in Woodman’s Academy. In his youth he became familiar with the stock business under the able guidance of his father. He has bought and sold several ranches with much profit to himself on the transactions. In 1917, also, he sold to his brother, Lyman Stephens, what was known as the Nick Stephens ranch of fourteen hundred sixty-five acres. Nick Stephens is owner and proprietor of the popular summer resort known as Jonesville, situated in the northern part of Butte County about forty-one miles north of Chico and sixty-five miles north of Oroville. He has owned this property about ten years, and with the aid of Mrs. Stephens has built up a good patronage. During the summer season they spend about six months caring for their place and aiding in entertaining their many guests. Mr. Stephens recently purchased a fifteen-acre prune orchard and ninety-three acres of farming land near Durham, where he expects to make his home.
During the great gold mining excitement in Alaska, in the Klondike region, in 1899, Mr. Stephens made a trip to that district via Seattle and Skagway to Lake Bennett, and down the river in a scow to Dawson. During the fourteen months he was absent, he was engaged in mining on Dominion Creek. His trip was a financial success, as well as being full of rich and valuable experiences; however, he was glad to get back to California.
Nick Stephens was united in marriage in 1904 to Miss Catherine Messinger, a native of Michigan, born at Plymouth, Wayne County. She came to California at the age of seven, with her parents, John H. and Barbara (Bowman) Messinger. Her parents were born in Waterloo, N. Y.; and they became the parents of ten children, viz: Sarah, Samuel and Frederick, all three of whom died in infancy; Eliza Blanch, who married Andrew Anderson, who died leaving a son, John Hughes, by a former marriage; John G., of Chico; Edward, who is living in Oakland; Catherine A., Mrs. Stephens; Rueben H., of Butte County; Martha, Mrs. George Palmer, a widow, who is teaching at the Rosedale school near Chico; Anna Barbara, Mrs. J. W. M. Kennedy, who is a trained nurse and lives in Chico Vecino. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have one child, Fern, now ten years old. Mr. Stephens is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 113, I. O. O. F. He takes an active interest in every project that tens to help build up the county; and he has a happy faculty of making and retaining friends.
Transcribed
by Sharon Walford Yost.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1149-1150, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Sharon
Walford Yost.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies