Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILILAM (sic) RICHARD ROWLAND
ROWLAND, WILILAM (sic) RICHARD, Capitalist, Los Angeles, Cal., was born on La Puente Rancho, Los Angeles County, November 10, 1846, the son of John Rowland and Dona Incarnacion Martinez Rowland. On July 12, 1871 he married Dona Manuela, daughter of Col. Isaac Williams, of El Rancho del Chino, and Dona Jesus Villanueva de Williams. To this union two children were born, Miss Nina Rowland and Mrs. Clarence Moore.
He received his education in the public schools and the private school of William Wolfskill, Los Angeles, and at Santa Clara College, where he studied during 1858, 1859 and 1860.
In 1871 he was elected Sheriff of Los Angeles County, which office he filled for about five years, under the trying conditions existing in those early days. He was for many years prominent in politics.
In 1884 Mr. Rowland and Burdette Chandler started to bore for oil in the hills of Puente Rancho. After several attempts to discover petroleum they met with success and the Puente Oil Company is today one of the most successful and oldest companies of California. Mr. Rowland is still active in this company, holding the office of president and giving practically all of his time to its welfare.
He is a member of the California Club.
Transcribed 7-24-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 321,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES