Rancho El Piojo
Encyclopedia
Rancho El Piojo was a 13329 acres (53.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joaquín Soto. The grant extened along Piojo Creek south of Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad
.
were divided into at least ten Mexican land grants (including Rancho Milpitas
(Little Fields), Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad, Rancho Los Ojitos
(Little Springs) and Rancho El Piojo (The Louse)). The three square square league Rancho El Piojo was granted to Joaquín Soto.
With the cession
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho El Piojo was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to Joaquín Soto in 1866.
The rancho was bought at a foreclosure sale by Charles B. Polhemus, who sold it in 1871 to his business partner, Henry Mayo Newhall
, and along with Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad, it became part of the Newhall Land and Farming Company
. In 1940, in preparation for involvement in World War II, the U.S. War Department purchased the land to create a troop training facility known as the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation
.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
in present day Monterey County, California
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joaquín Soto. The grant extened along Piojo Creek south of Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad
Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad
Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad was a Mexican land grant in present day southern Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José Rafael Gonzalez...
.
History
With secularization, the lands of the Mission San Antonio de PaduaMission San Antonio de Padua
Mission San Antonio de Padua was founded on July 14, 1771, the third mission founded in Alta California by Father Presidente Junípero Serra, and site of the first Christian marriage and first use of fired-tile roofing in Upper California.-History:...
were divided into at least ten Mexican land grants (including Rancho Milpitas
Rancho Milpitas (Pastor)
Rancho Milpitas was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1838 by governor Juan Alvarado to Ygnacio Pastor. The grant encompassed present day Jolon.-History:...
(Little Fields), Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad, Rancho Los Ojitos
Rancho Los Ojitos
Rancho Los Ojitos was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes...
(Little Springs) and Rancho El Piojo (The Louse)). The three square square league Rancho El Piojo was granted to Joaquín Soto.
With the cession
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession of 1848 is a historical name in the United States for the region of the present day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S...
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho El Piojo was filed with the Public Land Commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1853, and the grant was patented
Land patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
to Joaquín Soto in 1866.
The rancho was bought at a foreclosure sale by Charles B. Polhemus, who sold it in 1871 to his business partner, Henry Mayo Newhall
Henry Newhall
Henry Mayo Newhall was an American businessman, whose extensive land holdings became the current communities of Newhall, Saugus, Valencia, and the city of Santa Clarita, in Southern California.-Life:...
, and along with Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad, it became part of the Newhall Land and Farming Company
Newhall Land and Farming Company
The Newhall Land and Farming Company is a land management company based in Valencia, California, United States. The company is responsible for the master community planning of Valencia, as well as the management of farm land elsewhere in the state...
. In 1940, in preparation for involvement in World War II, the U.S. War Department purchased the land to create a troop training facility known as the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation
Fort Hunter Liggett
Fort Hunter Liggett , named after General Hunter Liggett in 1941, is a United States Army fort in southern Monterey County, California, about 250 miles north of Los Angeles and south of San Francisco...
.