Rowland, John, 1791-1873

John A. Rowland was born in Cecil County, Maryland, on April 15, 1791. The Rowlands soon moved to Ohio, and in 1823 John traveled to New Mexico via the Santa Fe Trail. He settled in Taos and worked as a fur trapper and flour miller. In 1825 he became a Mexican citizen and married Maria Encarnacion Martinez. Rowland then went into the whisky business with William Workman until they were arrested for smuggling. In 1840 Rowland was made an agent of the Texas government in New Mexico, although he departed for California in 1841. In 1842 he received, along with Workman, an 11,000 acre land grant of the Rancho La Puente, which was later extended to 48,000 acres. The pair, who eventually split the land, operated successful cattle and farming businesses. Following the death of his first wife, Rowland married Charlotte Gray in 1852, and as of 2010 their home in the modern-day City of Industry is the oldest brick structure in southern California. Rowland died on October 13, 1873. Rowland Heights, California, was named in his honor.