Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
Encyclopedia
Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura was a 48823 acres (197.6 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Ventura County, California
given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico
to José de Arnaz (Arnas). The grant derives its name from the secularized Mission San Buenaventura
, and was called ex-Mission because of a division made of the lands held in the name of the Mission — the church retaining the grounds immediately around, and all of the lands outside of this are called ex-Mission lands. The grant extended east from present day Ventura
, excluding the Rancho San Miguel (Olivas)
lands, inland up the anta Clara River (California)|Santa Clara River] to Santa Paula
, between the north bank of the River and Sulphur Mountain.
, the Arnaz ownership was not recognized. When Colonel Stevenson
arrived in the southern part of California in 1847, he took possession in the name of United States, of the Arnaz land and put the property in the custody of another leasee. In 1849, Arnaz bought part of Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes
in Los Angeles
, and sold Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura to Manuel Antonio Rodriguez de Poli in 1850.
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 Ex-Mission San Buenaventura was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Manuel Antonio Rodriguez de Poli in 1874.
Poli sold the property to the San Buenaventura Commercial, Manufacturing and Mining Company. In 1874, the Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura not yet owned by settlers, was sold to Rudolph Steinbach & Horace W. Carpentier
. After the patent was issued, a dispute arose over the boundary between Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura and the adjacent Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy
.
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 Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
to José de Arnaz (Arnas). The grant derives its name from the secularized Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782 in Las Californias, part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain. Named for a Franciscan theologian, Saint Bonaventure, it was the last of the missions founded by Father Serra...
, and was called ex-Mission because of a division made of the lands held in the name of the Mission — the church retaining the grounds immediately around, and all of the lands outside of this are called ex-Mission lands. The grant extended east from present day Ventura
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, excluding the Rancho San Miguel (Olivas)
Rancho San Miguel (Olivas)
Rancho San Miguel was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to Felipe Lorenzana and Raymundo Olivas...
lands, inland up the anta Clara River (California)|Santa Clara River] to Santa Paula
Santa Paula, California
Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 29,321 at the 2010 census, up from 28,598 at the 2000 census...
, between the north bank of the River and Sulphur Mountain.
History
José de Arnaz (1820–1895), born in Spain, was a trader along the California coast. He opened a store in Los Angeles, and married Maria Mercedes de Avila (1832–1867) in 1847. Avila was the niece of Antonio Ygnacio Avila. With his partner Narciso Botello, Arnaz leased the extensive lands of Ex-Mission San Buenaventura. In 1846, Governor Pío Pico granted the twelve square league Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura to Arnaz. Later it was claimed that the grant had been sold (which would not have been legal) by Pio Pico to Arnaz. During the Mexican–American WarMexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
, the Arnaz ownership was not recognized. When Colonel Stevenson
Jonathan D. Stevenson
Jonathan Drake Stevenson was born in New York; won a seat in the New York State Assembly ; was the commanding officer of the First Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Mexican-American War in California; entered California mining and real estate businesses; and died in San Francisco on...
arrived in the southern part of California in 1847, he took possession in the name of United States, of the Arnaz land and put the property in the custody of another leasee. In 1849, Arnaz bought part of Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes
Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes
Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes was a land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1821 to Bernardo Higuera and Cornelio Lopez by Pablo Vicente de Sola, the Spanish Governor of Alta California. In 1843, this Spanish grant was confirmed by Mexican Governor Manuel Micheltorena...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and sold Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura to Manuel Antonio Rodriguez de Poli in 1850.
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 Ex-Mission San Buenaventura 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 1852, 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 Manuel Antonio Rodriguez de Poli in 1874.
Poli sold the property to the San Buenaventura Commercial, Manufacturing and Mining Company. In 1874, the Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura not yet owned by settlers, was sold to Rudolph Steinbach & Horace W. Carpentier
Horace Carpentier
Horace Walpole Carpentier was a lawyer and the first mayor of Oakland, California. He also served as president of the Overland Telegraph Company which oversaw the construction of the western portion of the first transcontinental telegraph in the United States.-Life:Carpentier was born in Galway,...
. After the patent was issued, a dispute arose over the boundary between Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura and the adjacent Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy
Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy
Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy was a Mexican land grant in the Santa Clara River Valley, in present day Ventura County, California, and granted in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Manuel Jimeno Casarin. The rancho lands include the present day cities of Saticoy and Santa Paula along the...
.