Sacramento Valley Biographies

WILLIAM TREVETHAN 

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, July 2009.

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

      In the vicinity of Pleasant Grove, Sutter county, is located the ranch 
owned by William Trevethan and his sons, the former a well-known and highly 
esteemed pioneer of this section and one who has not only profited personally by 
the many opportunities held out to the man of ability and energy, but has also 
contributed materially to the upbuilding of the community in which he has made 
his home. He is a native of England, born December 24, 1830. Brought to 
Wisconsin in 1842 by his parents, he finished his education in the common 
schools of that state, after which he was engaged in the lead mines, where his 
father was also employed. Upon attaining his majority he went to Lake Superior 
and worked in the copper mines until 1854, when he returned to Wisconsin and 
again found employment in the mines in the vicinity of his home. Attracted by 
the possibilities of the mines of the west, he located in Central City, 
Colorado, in 1862, remaining there for two years. In 1864 he crossed the plains 
with horse-teams to Nevada and settled at Gold Hill, where he worked in the 
mines until 1868. In the meantime, however, in 1866, he had come to California 
and purchased his present property, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres 
in Sutter county, and upon this he located in 1868 and engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. Three years later he returned to Nevada to take charge of Shaft No. 3 
of the Sutter Tunnel Works in the vicinity of Virginia City. Returning to his 
ranch in 1875 he has remained in this locality since, improving and developing 
his property and taking an active interest in the growth and upbuilding of the 
community. In addition to his own property he also rents from five to six 
hundred acres of land which he devotes principally to the cultivation of grain. 
For several years he also conducted a threshing machine. One of his chief 
interests at the present time is the raising or chickens, the greater part of 
his attention being given to this line of work, while his sons look after the 
heavier work in the management of the ranch. 
        December 16, 1854, Mr. Trevethan was united in marriage with Sarah Ann 
Howlsley, who was born in Manchester, England, November 14, 1836, and immigrated 
to the United States in 1843 in company with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Trevethan 
became the parents of eight children. Thomas W., born in Wisconsin, is a 
prosperous rancher of this vicinity, as is also George Howsley; James, born in 
Colorado, died at the age of forty-two years; Mary is the wife of Louis James of 
this locality; Eli Grant is a rancher near Pleasant Grove; Charles H. is engaged 
on a ranch near his childhood's home; Emma is the wife of Charles Erickson, a 
public officer of Placer county; and Frank is associated with his father in the 
management of the home ranch. In his political convictions Mr. Trevethan is a 
stanch Republican, his first ballot being cast for Scott and his next for 
Fremont. He has served as justice of the peace here and also as road overseer. 
Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows organization, becoming a 
member in 1866 and a charter member of Pleasant Grove Lodge No. 269, I. O. O. 
F., he being one of the four living members out of the nine that organized the 
lodge here December 27, 1877. 
  
"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento 
Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1906, Pages 
966-967.