California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JAMES S. ROWLAND, a successful blacksmith and wheelwright of Visalia, Tulare county, 
was born in Rock Island, Ill., November 30, 1848, the second in a family of three chil- 
dren born to his parents, Jacob and Ruth (Hobert) Rowland. The father was a native of 
Hancock, Md., who became a pioneer of Illinois in 1836, locating east of Alton, where he 
followed his trade of millwright. He also conducted mills, following this line of work in the 
Mississippi valley from St. Paul to New Orleans, during which time his family lived at Port Byron, 
Ill. In 1877 he came to California on account of his health, locating near Tulare river, where 
he lived retired until his death in 1901 at the age of eighty-five years. His wife, a native of Bos- 
ton, Mass., died June 5, 1902, in this state, lacking one month of being eighty-five years old. 
Of their other two children, Marcus is located in Redlands, while Anna is the wife of Jacob C. 
Williams, of Visalia. 

The education of James S. Rowland was received in the common schools of his native state, 
after which he engaged as night watchman in the employ of the Racine & Mississippi Railway. 
Later entering the operating department he was fireman for two years, when he was promoted to 
the position of engineer which he retained successfully for seven years on the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railway. In 1879 he followed his parents to California, locating in Visalia, 
where he engaged in blacksmithing and wagonmaking, having learned this trade in Louisville, 
Pottawatomie county, Kans. For three years following this work he operated the engine in a 
flour mill in Visalia, after which he engaged again in the prosecution of his trade. 

In Louisville, Kans., Mr. Rowland married Frances Wilson, a native of Canada, and they 
are now the parents of three sons and three daughters, namely: David H., a miller; Jacob, 
Ray. Alma, Ruth and Laura, all except David H. being still at home with their parents. In his 
political convictions Mr. Rowland is a Democrat.