William A. Rowntree was born in Tennessee and probably came to California soon after gold was discovered in 1849. In the 1850 census, he was working as a miner in Mariposa County, California. He married Sarah S. Corbitt in Mariposa County on June 7, 1858 (Sacramento Daily Union, June 23, 1858). Sarah was the widow of Alexander H. Corbitt (or Corbett), an innkeeper who was murdered in Mariposa County in 1854.
W. A. and Sarah "Rountree" are listed in the 1860 census of Sacramento, Calif., with her two children from her prior marriage (Mary Corbett, 11, and Therese Corbett, 7) and a baby, "Isadore" Rountree (actually "Musadora"), age 1. William was now employed as a clerk in the Secretary of State's office. In 1861, they had another child, William Alexander Rowntree Jr.
Note that the family's surname appears in various records as "Rountree" or "Roundtree," but "Rowntree" is the spelling used in the Oak Hill Cemetery headstone index.
On Feb. 7, 1861, the Sacramento Daily Union reported that a group of Californians had arrived in the town of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, to work on a silver mine called "La Mina Grande." Among them, "William A. Rountree, whose health has now improved, also goes to Alamos."
"Mrs. Rountree and four children" left for Mexico on the steamer "Sonora" on May 8, 1862 (Sac. Daily Union, May 9, 1862, p.2, col.1). About two years later, "W. H. [sic] Rountree, wife and two children" are on a list of passengers who arrived in San Francisco on Feb. 8, 1864, on the steamer "Sierra Nevada" from the Pacific Mexican ports (Daily Alta California, Feb. 9, 1864, p.1, col.3) (presumably two of the children were sent home earlier). If William was sick, this may explain why the family returned to California. He died about six weeks later.
San Jose Weekly Mercury, Mar. 31, 1864. "In this city, March 23d, William A. Rountree, of dropsy, in the 35th year of his age."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An interesting letter from William A. Rowntree was published in the Mariposa Gazette on Apr. 1, 1862. It reads as follows:
"Guaymas, Sonora, March 1st, 1862.
"Editor Gazette:—Although I have not had the pleasure of seeing your Union sheet for many months, I presume some of my friends do; so I will take the liberty of addressing a few lines, &c., from this silver region. I do so with a view of posting up some of my friends and the public generally on the condition and prospects of this country. One year ago I would have advised families to keep away from here; but now, if they are not well to do in California and can bring a few hundred dollars, they can do well here. The Government offers very liberally to Americans grants of the best of lands—free of taxation for a number of years, &c. I can advise any to come here, if they only have a little money to start with—either in the mines or lands. No one can work a mine with a few hundred dollars, but they can develope [sic] them sufficiently to get plenty of money on them. Several parties have succeeded in this way very well.
"Mr. Tonge, formerly of Hornitos, is well pleased. They live in the city of Hermosillo. Families coming to settle would do well to send one man ahead to select a place and get a grant, while the colonists could come by land, bringing their cattle, horses, &c. Cattle are scare here; cows are worth from $15 to $20—(Spanish cattle.) Good horses or cattle cannot be obtained. Peace—so far as Sonora is concerned—is undoubtedly permanent. Gov. Pesqueira's lenient course has had the effect of winning over his most bitter enemies—therefore his Government is very substantial now.—Hoping that Jeff Davis will have cleaned out the last abolition invader out of God's country by the time this reaches you, I remain,
"Your's, to command,
"Wm. A. Rowntree."
To this, the editor of the newspaper added: "To the sentiment in the last two lines, we have nothing to say, except that God hasn't much to do with the country spoken of, just now, judging from results. However, we thank our Guyamas correspondent for his favor of correspondence, and will be pleased to hear from him again.—Ed."
W. A. and Sarah "Rountree" are listed in the 1860 census of Sacramento, Calif., with her two children from her prior marriage (Mary Corbett, 11, and Therese Corbett, 7) and a baby, "Isadore" Rountree (actually "Musadora"), age 1. William was now employed as a clerk in the Secretary of State's office. In 1861, they had another child, William Alexander Rowntree Jr.
Note that the family's surname appears in various records as "Rountree" or "Roundtree," but "Rowntree" is the spelling used in the Oak Hill Cemetery headstone index.
On Feb. 7, 1861, the Sacramento Daily Union reported that a group of Californians had arrived in the town of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, to work on a silver mine called "La Mina Grande." Among them, "William A. Rountree, whose health has now improved, also goes to Alamos."
"Mrs. Rountree and four children" left for Mexico on the steamer "Sonora" on May 8, 1862 (Sac. Daily Union, May 9, 1862, p.2, col.1). About two years later, "W. H. [sic] Rountree, wife and two children" are on a list of passengers who arrived in San Francisco on Feb. 8, 1864, on the steamer "Sierra Nevada" from the Pacific Mexican ports (Daily Alta California, Feb. 9, 1864, p.1, col.3) (presumably two of the children were sent home earlier). If William was sick, this may explain why the family returned to California. He died about six weeks later.
San Jose Weekly Mercury, Mar. 31, 1864. "In this city, March 23d, William A. Rountree, of dropsy, in the 35th year of his age."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An interesting letter from William A. Rowntree was published in the Mariposa Gazette on Apr. 1, 1862. It reads as follows:
"Guaymas, Sonora, March 1st, 1862.
"Editor Gazette:—Although I have not had the pleasure of seeing your Union sheet for many months, I presume some of my friends do; so I will take the liberty of addressing a few lines, &c., from this silver region. I do so with a view of posting up some of my friends and the public generally on the condition and prospects of this country. One year ago I would have advised families to keep away from here; but now, if they are not well to do in California and can bring a few hundred dollars, they can do well here. The Government offers very liberally to Americans grants of the best of lands—free of taxation for a number of years, &c. I can advise any to come here, if they only have a little money to start with—either in the mines or lands. No one can work a mine with a few hundred dollars, but they can develope [sic] them sufficiently to get plenty of money on them. Several parties have succeeded in this way very well.
"Mr. Tonge, formerly of Hornitos, is well pleased. They live in the city of Hermosillo. Families coming to settle would do well to send one man ahead to select a place and get a grant, while the colonists could come by land, bringing their cattle, horses, &c. Cattle are scare here; cows are worth from $15 to $20—(Spanish cattle.) Good horses or cattle cannot be obtained. Peace—so far as Sonora is concerned—is undoubtedly permanent. Gov. Pesqueira's lenient course has had the effect of winning over his most bitter enemies—therefore his Government is very substantial now.—Hoping that Jeff Davis will have cleaned out the last abolition invader out of God's country by the time this reaches you, I remain,
"Your's, to command,
"Wm. A. Rowntree."
To this, the editor of the newspaper added: "To the sentiment in the last two lines, we have nothing to say, except that God hasn't much to do with the country spoken of, just now, judging from results. However, we thank our Guyamas correspondent for his favor of correspondence, and will be pleased to hear from him again.—Ed."
William A. Rowntree was born in Tennessee and probably came to California soon after gold was discovered in 1849. In the 1850 census, he was working as a miner in Mariposa County, California. He married Sarah S. Corbitt in Mariposa County on June 7, 1858 (Sacramento Daily Union, June 23, 1858). Sarah was the widow of Alexander H. Corbitt (or Corbett), an innkeeper who was murdered in Mariposa County in 1854.
W. A. and Sarah "Rountree" are listed in the 1860 census of Sacramento, Calif., with her two children from her prior marriage (Mary Corbett, 11, and Therese Corbett, 7) and a baby, "Isadore" Rountree (actually "Musadora"), age 1. William was now employed as a clerk in the Secretary of State's office. In 1861, they had another child, William Alexander Rowntree Jr.
Note that the family's surname appears in various records as "Rountree" or "Roundtree," but "Rowntree" is the spelling used in the Oak Hill Cemetery headstone index.
On Feb. 7, 1861, the Sacramento Daily Union reported that a group of Californians had arrived in the town of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, to work on a silver mine called "La Mina Grande." Among them, "William A. Rountree, whose health has now improved, also goes to Alamos."
"Mrs. Rountree and four children" left for Mexico on the steamer "Sonora" on May 8, 1862 (Sac. Daily Union, May 9, 1862, p.2, col.1). About two years later, "W. H. [sic] Rountree, wife and two children" are on a list of passengers who arrived in San Francisco on Feb. 8, 1864, on the steamer "Sierra Nevada" from the Pacific Mexican ports (Daily Alta California, Feb. 9, 1864, p.1, col.3) (presumably two of the children were sent home earlier). If William was sick, this may explain why the family returned to California. He died about six weeks later.
San Jose Weekly Mercury, Mar. 31, 1864. "In this city, March 23d, William A. Rountree, of dropsy, in the 35th year of his age."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An interesting letter from William A. Rowntree was published in the Mariposa Gazette on Apr. 1, 1862. It reads as follows:
"Guaymas, Sonora, March 1st, 1862.
"Editor Gazette:—Although I have not had the pleasure of seeing your Union sheet for many months, I presume some of my friends do; so I will take the liberty of addressing a few lines, &c., from this silver region. I do so with a view of posting up some of my friends and the public generally on the condition and prospects of this country. One year ago I would have advised families to keep away from here; but now, if they are not well to do in California and can bring a few hundred dollars, they can do well here. The Government offers very liberally to Americans grants of the best of lands—free of taxation for a number of years, &c. I can advise any to come here, if they only have a little money to start with—either in the mines or lands. No one can work a mine with a few hundred dollars, but they can develope [sic] them sufficiently to get plenty of money on them. Several parties have succeeded in this way very well.
"Mr. Tonge, formerly of Hornitos, is well pleased. They live in the city of Hermosillo. Families coming to settle would do well to send one man ahead to select a place and get a grant, while the colonists could come by land, bringing their cattle, horses, &c. Cattle are scare here; cows are worth from $15 to $20—(Spanish cattle.) Good horses or cattle cannot be obtained. Peace—so far as Sonora is concerned—is undoubtedly permanent. Gov. Pesqueira's lenient course has had the effect of winning over his most bitter enemies—therefore his Government is very substantial now.—Hoping that Jeff Davis will have cleaned out the last abolition invader out of God's country by the time this reaches you, I remain,
"Your's, to command,
"Wm. A. Rowntree."
To this, the editor of the newspaper added: "To the sentiment in the last two lines, we have nothing to say, except that God hasn't much to do with the country spoken of, just now, judging from results. However, we thank our Guyamas correspondent for his favor of correspondence, and will be pleased to hear from him again.—Ed."
W. A. and Sarah "Rountree" are listed in the 1860 census of Sacramento, Calif., with her two children from her prior marriage (Mary Corbett, 11, and Therese Corbett, 7) and a baby, "Isadore" Rountree (actually "Musadora"), age 1. William was now employed as a clerk in the Secretary of State's office. In 1861, they had another child, William Alexander Rowntree Jr.
Note that the family's surname appears in various records as "Rountree" or "Roundtree," but "Rowntree" is the spelling used in the Oak Hill Cemetery headstone index.
On Feb. 7, 1861, the Sacramento Daily Union reported that a group of Californians had arrived in the town of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, to work on a silver mine called "La Mina Grande." Among them, "William A. Rountree, whose health has now improved, also goes to Alamos."
"Mrs. Rountree and four children" left for Mexico on the steamer "Sonora" on May 8, 1862 (Sac. Daily Union, May 9, 1862, p.2, col.1). About two years later, "W. H. [sic] Rountree, wife and two children" are on a list of passengers who arrived in San Francisco on Feb. 8, 1864, on the steamer "Sierra Nevada" from the Pacific Mexican ports (Daily Alta California, Feb. 9, 1864, p.1, col.3) (presumably two of the children were sent home earlier). If William was sick, this may explain why the family returned to California. He died about six weeks later.
San Jose Weekly Mercury, Mar. 31, 1864. "In this city, March 23d, William A. Rountree, of dropsy, in the 35th year of his age."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An interesting letter from William A. Rowntree was published in the Mariposa Gazette on Apr. 1, 1862. It reads as follows:
"Guaymas, Sonora, March 1st, 1862.
"Editor Gazette:—Although I have not had the pleasure of seeing your Union sheet for many months, I presume some of my friends do; so I will take the liberty of addressing a few lines, &c., from this silver region. I do so with a view of posting up some of my friends and the public generally on the condition and prospects of this country. One year ago I would have advised families to keep away from here; but now, if they are not well to do in California and can bring a few hundred dollars, they can do well here. The Government offers very liberally to Americans grants of the best of lands—free of taxation for a number of years, &c. I can advise any to come here, if they only have a little money to start with—either in the mines or lands. No one can work a mine with a few hundred dollars, but they can develope [sic] them sufficiently to get plenty of money on them. Several parties have succeeded in this way very well.
"Mr. Tonge, formerly of Hornitos, is well pleased. They live in the city of Hermosillo. Families coming to settle would do well to send one man ahead to select a place and get a grant, while the colonists could come by land, bringing their cattle, horses, &c. Cattle are scare here; cows are worth from $15 to $20—(Spanish cattle.) Good horses or cattle cannot be obtained. Peace—so far as Sonora is concerned—is undoubtedly permanent. Gov. Pesqueira's lenient course has had the effect of winning over his most bitter enemies—therefore his Government is very substantial now.—Hoping that Jeff Davis will have cleaned out the last abolition invader out of God's country by the time this reaches you, I remain,
"Your's, to command,
"Wm. A. Rowntree."
To this, the editor of the newspaper added: "To the sentiment in the last two lines, we have nothing to say, except that God hasn't much to do with the country spoken of, just now, judging from results. However, we thank our Guyamas correspondent for his favor of correspondence, and will be pleased to hear from him again.—Ed."
Inscription
Wm. A. Rowntree
Died 1864, age 35
Husband of Sara S. Stillwell
[per index]
Gravesite Details
Source: Index of headstone inscriptions at Oak Hill Cemetery by the Santa Clara County historical society. His headstone was not seen during the 1982 cemetery survey, but was recorded in an earlier survey.
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Children
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