Jasper O'Farrell
Encyclopedia
Jasper O'Farrell was the first surveyor for San Francisco
. He designed the "grand promenade" that became today's Market Street. O'Farrell Street in San Francisco is named after him.
, Ireland
in 1817 and was educated in Dublin. He went to London
, England
, where he boarded a ship bound for South America
. After leaving Chile
, he came to San Francisco in 1843.
and Sonoma counties
. He was one of the first settlers of Sebastopol
, where he purchased Rancho Estero Americano
in 1843. He named the valley after , Ireland, the home of the O'Ferral family.
commissioned a land survey of Yerba Buena (later to be called San Francisco) in 1847. O'Farrell improved the 1839 street maps produced by the former Mexican alcade (mayor) of Yerba Buena, Francisco Guerrero
, and his Swiss surveyor, Jean Jacques Vioget
. O'Farrell's map covered the area bounded by Post, Leavenworth, and Francisco Streets and the Bay, and also corrected the Vioget street designs, which were 2½ degrees off true right angles.
Shortly after that survey he established the location (parallel to Mission Street) and width of Market Street. He was also influential in naming streets, including Market, Lombard, Chestnut, Filbert, and Pine. O'Farrell named Valparaiso Street after the port in Chile, where he lived for a time before coming to San Francisco.
and the twin sons, Francisco and Ramon, of Francisco De Haro
, in 1846. His account of the murders, by soldiers under the command of John C. Frémont
, is believed to have hindered Frémont's political career.
O'Farrell acquired significant land holdings. He was the grantee of Rancho Estero Americano and claimant for Rancho Cañada de Jonive
and Rancho Cañada de Capay
. At one time, he owned a part of Rancho Nicasio
. Jasper O'Farrell married Mary McChristian in 1849. He was elected as State Senator from Sonoma County
in 1858. He died November 16, 1875 in San Francisco.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He designed the "grand promenade" that became today's Market Street. O'Farrell Street in San Francisco is named after him.
Early life
O'Farrell was born in County WexfordCounty Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1817 and was educated in Dublin. He went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he boarded a ship bound for South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. After leaving Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, he came to San Francisco in 1843.
Land grant surveys
O'Farrell found work with the Mexican government and surveyed much of MarinMarin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
and Sonoma counties
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
. He was one of the first settlers of Sebastopol
Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
, where he purchased Rancho Estero Americano
Rancho Estero Americano
Rancho Estero Americano was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1839 by Governor Pro-tem Manuel Jimeno to Edward Manuel McIntosh...
in 1843. He named the valley after , Ireland, the home of the O'Ferral family.
Survey of San Francisco
Following the American conquest of San Francisco, the Military Mayor of San Francisco, Lt.Washington Allon BartlettWashington Allon Bartlett
Washington Allon Bartlett was the first alcalde of the American-era San Francisco serving from August 14, 1846 to January 31, 1847.-Early life and career:...
commissioned a land survey of Yerba Buena (later to be called San Francisco) in 1847. O'Farrell improved the 1839 street maps produced by the former Mexican alcade (mayor) of Yerba Buena, Francisco Guerrero
Francisco Guerrero (politician)
Francisco Guerrero was the Alcalde of Yerba Buena in 1836 and 1839.-Life:Guerrero was born in Tepic, Mexico. He came to California with the Hijar-Padres Colony in 1834, and settled in San Francisco. He was married to Josefa De Haro and had five sons...
, and his Swiss surveyor, Jean Jacques Vioget
Jean Jacques Vioget
Jean Jacques Vioget , originally from Switzerland, was a surveyor and sea captain, who came to California in 1837. He made the first survey and map of Yerba Buena in 1839. He worked for John Sutter and later moved to San Jose...
. O'Farrell's map covered the area bounded by Post, Leavenworth, and Francisco Streets and the Bay, and also corrected the Vioget street designs, which were 2½ degrees off true right angles.
Shortly after that survey he established the location (parallel to Mission Street) and width of Market Street. He was also influential in naming streets, including Market, Lombard, Chestnut, Filbert, and Pine. O'Farrell named Valparaiso Street after the port in Chile, where he lived for a time before coming to San Francisco.
Later life
O'Farrell was an eye-witness to the murders of José de los Reyes BerreyesaJosé de los Reyes Berreyesa
José de los Reyes Berrelleza was born at Mission Santa Clara de Asís in Las Californias on January 6, 1785, the third child and first son in the family of María Gertrudis Peralta and Nicholas Antonio Berrelleza. He served as an army sergeant at El Presidio Real de San Francisco. In 1805, he...
and the twin sons, Francisco and Ramon, of Francisco De Haro
Francisco de Haro
Francisco de Haro was the first Alcalde of Yerba Buena in 1834.-Life:De Haro was born in Compostela, Nayarit, Mexico and came to San Francisco in 1819. He was the first Alcalde of Yerba Buena in 1834. He was instrumental in planning the street grid of the town along with Englishman William A....
, in 1846. His account of the murders, by soldiers under the command of John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
, is believed to have hindered Frémont's political career.
O'Farrell acquired significant land holdings. He was the grantee of Rancho Estero Americano and claimant for Rancho Cañada de Jonive
Rancho Cañada de Jonive
Rancho Cañada de Jonive was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to James Black. The grant encompassed the town of Freestone.-History:...
and Rancho Cañada de Capay
Rancho Cañada de Capay
Rancho Cañada de Capay was a Mexican land grant in present day Yolo County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to the three brothers Santiago, Nemicio, and Francisco Berreyesa. "Cañada de Capay" means "valley of the Capay" in Spanish. "Capay" comes from the Southern Wintun Indian word...
. At one time, he owned a part of Rancho Nicasio
Rancho Nicasio
Rancho Nicasio was a Mexican land grant of granted to the Coast Miwok indigenous people in 1835, located in the present-day Marin County, California, a tract of land that stretched from San Geronimo to Tomales Bay...
. Jasper O'Farrell married Mary McChristian in 1849. He was elected as State Senator from Sonoma County
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
in 1858. He died November 16, 1875 in San Francisco.