William R. Rowland
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Richard Rowland (November 11, 1846 – February 4, 1926) was the eleventh sheriff of Los Angeles County, California
, and a large landowner in the La Puente
area of the San Gabriel Valley
. He organized the posse and crafted the successful strategy that resulted in the wounding and capture of notorious bandit Tiburcio Vasquez
in 1874. He did not accompany the posse himself for fear of the tactic becoming known. Rowland discovered oil in the Puente Hills
and founded the Puente Oil Company, one of the oldest such endeavors in California.
Rowland was born on November 11, 1846, at Rancho La Puente
, the son of John and Dona Incarnación Martinez Rowland. She was the daughter of Col. Isaac Williams of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
. He was elected and became sheriff in 1871, when he was 26 years old, still the youngest as of 2011. He was the county's first sheriff of Latino
descent.
He was married to Dona Manuela Rowland. They had two daughters, Mrs. C.E. (or Mrs. Clarence G.)Toland and Mrs. E. Clarence (Helen) Moore, and two grandchildren, William Rowland Moore and Helen Moore.
While living in La Puente, Rowland commuted daily to his Los Angeles office via the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
.
Rowland was a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. He died of a heart attack February 4, 1926, in the family home at 805 Bonnie Brae Street, Los Angeles, after a five-year illness. A solemn requiem mass was held at the Saint Vibiana Cathedral
, at which pallbearers included noted civic leaders like William Mulholland
, the father of the Los Angeles Aqueduct
. Bishop John J. Cantwell eulogized:
His left an estate of $1,257,186, including land and holdings valued at $1 million.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, and a large landowner in the La Puente
La Puente, California
La Puente is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 39,816 at the 2010 census.* City flower: The Golden Hibiscus* City colors: Green and White.-History:...
area of the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
. He organized the posse and crafted the successful strategy that resulted in the wounding and capture of notorious bandit Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vásquez was a Californio bandit who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The Vasquez Rocks, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, were one of his many hideouts and are named for him.-Early life:...
in 1874. He did not accompany the posse himself for fear of the tactic becoming known. Rowland discovered oil in the Puente Hills
Puente Hills
The Puente Hills is a chain of hills, one of the lower Transverse Ranges, in an unincorporated area in eastern Los Angeles County, California.-Geography:...
and founded the Puente Oil Company, one of the oldest such endeavors in California.
Rowland was born on November 11, 1846, at Rancho La Puente
Rancho La Puente
Rancho La Puente was a ranch in the eastern San Gabriel Valley that, in its fullest extent, measured just under , and remained intact until about 1870. By modern landmarks, the ranch extended from San Gabriel River on the west to just west of the 57 Freeway on the east and from Ramona...
, the son of John and Dona Incarnación Martinez Rowland. She was the daughter of Col. Isaac Williams of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino was a Mexican land grant in the Chino Hills of present day San Bernardino County, California given to Antonio Maria Lugo in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado...
. He was elected and became sheriff in 1871, when he was 26 years old, still the youngest as of 2011. He was the county's first sheriff of Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
descent.
He was married to Dona Manuela Rowland. They had two daughters, Mrs. C.E. (or Mrs. Clarence G.)Toland and Mrs. E. Clarence (Helen) Moore, and two grandchildren, William Rowland Moore and Helen Moore.
While living in La Puente, Rowland commuted daily to his Los Angeles office via the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
The Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad was a rail company that completed and operated a railway line between its namesake cities, via Las Vegas, Nevada. Incorporated in Utah in 1901 as the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the line was largely the brainchild of William Andrews Clark,...
.
Rowland was a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. He died of a heart attack February 4, 1926, in the family home at 805 Bonnie Brae Street, Los Angeles, after a five-year illness. A solemn requiem mass was held at the Saint Vibiana Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Vibiana
The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, often called St. Vibiana's, is a former cathedral church building and parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles...
, at which pallbearers included noted civic leaders like William Mulholland
William Mulholland
William Mulholland was the head of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, in Los Angeles. He was responsible for building the water aqueducts and dams that allowed the city to grow into one of the largest in the world. His methods of obtaining water for the city led to disputes collectively...
, the father of the Los Angeles Aqueduct
Los Angeles Aqueduct
The Los Angeles Aqueduct system comprising the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct, is a water conveyance system operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power...
. Bishop John J. Cantwell eulogized:
He was one of the pioneer sons of the Golden West and he saw a great city growing up around him. He used opportunities that were in his path to build things that were worthy of an honorable citizen.
His left an estate of $1,257,186, including land and holdings valued at $1 million.