Contra Costa County Biography

LORENZO GRANT PLUMLEY

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
                 Among the citizens of Byron and eastern Contra Costa County 
none is more highly esteemed or remembered with greater affection than Alonzo 
Plumley, the father of the subject of this biography. Alonzo Plumley was an 
early pioneer of Contra Costa County. He was born in St. Lawrence County, New 
York, August 12, 1830, and died May 29, 1916. When but a small boy his father 
died and his mother married again, the family moving to Canada. At the age of 
seventeen Alonzo left home and went to Cook County, Illinois, where he remained 
until March 21, 1853. On that date, with his young wife, they started across the 
plains with horse-teams. They came direct to Contra Costa County, and settled in 
the Ygnacio Valley, and in the fall of 1864 he purchased the present farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres near Byron, where he successfully engaged in 
stock-raising and farming. Alonzo Plumley married Miss Julia E. Chilson, March 
1, 1853. Of this union twelve children were born - Levina Elizabeth, Sarah 
Eleanor, Charles Eugene, Olive A., Ida E. (wife of A. F. Byer, of Byron, died 
December 20, 1897), Alonzo Monroe, Lorenzo Grant, Willard Olney, Emma Lydia, 
Edith Orela, Lillie Julia, and Lulu Maud. Alonzo Pumley was active in laying out 
and grading roads in the Byron section, and did much towards beautifying the 
town. Lorenzo Grant was born January 7, 1866. He was educated in the public 
school in the Point of Timber district. He moved to Mendocino County, and took 
up one hundred and sixty acres of redwood timber, and after spending one year in 
that country he returned and ranched on the Marsh grant. Here he remained for 
five years. In 1899 he engaged in the mercantile business in Byron, which he has 
since continued. In politics he is a Republican, but has never aspired to 
office. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Byron. Lorenzo Plumley 
was united in marriage to Mary Jane Gann of Brentwood, born December 1, 1879. To 
this union there have been three children - Rodney S., born October 1, 1902; 
Blanche Marietta, born May 16, 1908; Lorenzo Grant, Jr., born July 30, 1911. His 
wife is a member of Donner Parlor, N. D. G. W., of Byron. Alonzo Monroe Plumley 
was born December 19, 1863. He was educated in the public school in Excelsior 
District, after which he returned to the home place and purchased twenty acres, 
later buying eighty acres more. In 1914, he sold the eighty acres, and is now 
identified with the fruit business and general farming. He was married to 
Elizabeth H. Livingstone on December 6, 1894. Their one son, Henry Alonzo, is in 
the automobile business in Berkeley. Charles Eugen Plumley was born January 9, 
1859. After his schooling, he remained on the home place, with the exception of 
a few years he spent in Mendocino and Santa Clara counties. In the latter place 
he followed contracting and building. Willard O. Plumley was born April 20, 
1868, and was educated in Santa Clara and Mendocino counties, where he followed 
millwork. Twenty years ago he returned to the home ranch, with which he has 
since been identified. He takes an active part in the prohibition movement, and 
is a member of the Methodist church.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 581 - 582.