Sacramento Valley Biographies

George Dickson Stephens

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, March 2009.

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

          In the annals of the Sacramento valley
and of Yolo county, where over a half century of his life had been passed,
mention should be made of George Dickson Stephens, one of the pioneer
ranchers of this section and one who made his influence felt in various
departments of activity. He was born July 31, 1828, in Cooper county, Mo.,
and in common with the children of the pioneers of the middle west a limited
education was received in the subscription school. Reared on his father's
farm, he developed a rugged constitution. In 1849, he left home with his
brother, the late John D. Stephens, and started across the plains for
California, well equipped to undergo the hardships of that long journey.
Believing that a fortune was to be made in mining he followed that
occupation a short time, but did not realize his expectations. Coming to
Yolo county, both brothers located on the Rancho de Capay in 1850 and
erected an adobe house, the only one now standing in Yolo county. They
continued in partnership and were widely known as the Capay Ditch Company,
and after the death of George D. was consolidated into the Yolo County
Consolidated Water Company. After the death of John D. Stephens, George
Stephens and family became incorporated as the Stephens Agricultural &
Livestock Company, of which Mr. Stephens was made president and Kate L.
Stephens secretary. Since his death, December 22, 1901, the office of
president has been filled by John L. Stephens. The property consists of
about eight thousand acres of land in Yolo county and upon this a general
stock business is carried on, a specialty being made of Shorthorn and Durham
cattle and Shropshire sheep. Mr. Stephens availed himself of all modern
methods used in farming and made many valuable improvements upon their
property. He was one of the organizers and a stockholder, and later a
director, in the Bank of Woodland.
          In 1872 Mr. Stephens was united in marriage with Laura Wilcoxson,
who died three years after her marriage, leaving two daughters - Kate L. and
Josephine - the latter becoming the wife of Mr. Russell Harriman of Cooper
county, Mo. May 27, 1877, Mr. Stephens married Nannie Lucas, a native of
Buchanan county, Mo., and a daughter of G. J. Lucas, who brought his family
to California in 1868. Of this union were born the following children: John
L., at home; Mrs. Louise M. Plummer, of San Francisco; Sarah, the wife of
Lieut. George Gordon, U. S. A.; Margaret; Mrs. Elizabeth Needham, of
Alameda, Cal.; George D. Jr., of Woodland; William Fulton; Frank Warren;
Benjamin G.; Thomas Jackson; and Paul, at home. Mr. Stephens was a stanch
Democrat in his political opinions, although he never sought official
honors. He always favored and assisted in the maintenance of good schools
and teachers in his county. His happiest moments were spent at home
surrounded by his family, his hospitality always being generously given to
his acquaintances and friends, to whom he had endeared himself by his public
spirit and fair dealings.
          It would be unjust to the memory of George D. Stephens to close
this brief review of his life without making a permanent record of the
testimony of those who knew him best as to his character and standing as a
citizen and friend. It has been said of him that no man who ever made his
home in Yolo county possessed principles of greater integrity. Throughout
his career he appeared to be prompted in his dealings with his fellowmen
with a spirit of unselfishness, of sincerity, of candor and of fairness,
these splendid charac-teristics extending into the most trivial details of
his associations with others. He was never known to take an undue advantage
of another in any business transaction; but, on the other hand, frequently
permitted himself to be the loser by reason of his unwillingness to perform
any act that might be regarded by others as an indication of an ungenerous
spirit on his part. His acts of charity were performed without ostentation,
and they were numerous and timely. He was nevertheless a prudent and
sagacious man, weighing well each step before taken, and while generous to
those who had no claim upon him, he was always thoughtful of and just to his
family. His public spirit and regard for the welfare of the people were
frequently demonstrated in no unmistakable manner. No worthy and
well-considered project for the promotion of the best interests of the
public was presented to him without receiving his sanction and assistance,
and he not infrequently took the initiative in such movements. He was a
noble, high-minded and useful citizen and friend, who deserves a place of
prominence in the history of the state.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, California," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 289-290.