Rancho Larkin’s Children
Encyclopedia
Rancho Larkin’s Children was a 44364 acres (179.5 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Glenn County
and Colusa County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Francisco Larkin, Caroline Ann Larkin, and Sophia Adelaide Larkin, children of Thomas O. Larkin
. The grant extended south from Glenn
and Rancho Jacinto
along both banks of the Sacramento River
, and encompassed present day Butte City
, Princeton
and Codora
.
, was unwilling to become a Mexican citizen, and thus could not obtain a direct land grant. In 1844 Larkin applied for the naturalization of three of his children and a land grant for them. Larkin had John Bidwell
locate it for him. Manuel Micheltorena, heavily in debt to Larkin, complied. Two days after the children where naturalized, they received the ten square league grant. Larkin arranged for John S. Williams to run the rancho.
John Shelby Williams (–1849) came to California in 1843 from Missouri
. His brother, Isaac Williams, owned Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
. John S. Williams and his brother James owned the north half of Rancho Farwell
. In 1847, John S. Williams married Maria Louisa Gordon. After three years, Williams left Rancho Larkin’s Children in 1849, but died shortly thereafter.
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 Larkin’s Children was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Francisco Larkin, Caroline Ann Larkin, and Sophia Adelaide Larkin in 1857.
Senator John Boggs (1829–1899), born in Missouri, came to Colusa County in 1854 and bought 6000 acres (24 km²) of Rancho Larkin’s Children. In 1866 be was elected to the California State Senate
and died in office.
In 1855, Larkin sold the south half of this grant to settlers, and in 1866 the residue was sold to A. Montgomery.
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 Glenn County
Glenn County, California
Glenn County is in the California Central Valley. As of 2010, it had a population of 28,122. The county seat is the city of Willows.-History:Glenn County was formed in 1891 from parts of Colusa County. It was named for Dr. Hugh J...
and Colusa County, California
Colusa County, California
Colusa County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, northwest of state capital Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, its population was 21,419. The county seat is Colusa.-History:...
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
to Francisco Larkin, Caroline Ann Larkin, and Sophia Adelaide Larkin, children of Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas Oliver Larkin was an early American emigrant to Alta California and a signer of the original California Constitution. He was the United States' first and only consul to the California Republic.-Early years:...
. The grant extended south from Glenn
Glenn, California
Glenn is an unincorporated community in Glenn County, California. It lies at an elevation of 98 feet .. The town is located on the Sacramento River, at the intersection of State Route 45 and State Route 162. It is about ten miles east of Interstate 5 and Willows on the U.S. Geological Survey...
and Rancho Jacinto
Rancho Jacinto
Rancho Jacinto was a Mexican land grant in present day Glenn County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Jacinto Rodriguez...
along both banks of the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
, and encompassed present day Butte City
Butte City, California
Butte City is an unincorporated community in Glenn County, California. It is located on the east bank of the Sacramento River south-east of Willows, at an elevation of 89 feet ....
, Princeton
Princeton, California
Princeton is a census-designated place in Colusa County, California. It lies at an elevation of 82 feet . Its zip code is 95970 and its area code is 530. Princeton's population was 303 at the 2010 census.-Demographics:...
and Codora
Codora, California
Codora is an unincorporated community in Glenn County, California. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad east-southeast of Willows, at an elevation of 89 feet ....
.
History
Thomas O. Larkin (1802 –1858), consul of the United States at MontereyMonterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, was unwilling to become a Mexican citizen, and thus could not obtain a direct land grant. In 1844 Larkin applied for the naturalization of three of his children and a land grant for them. Larkin had John Bidwell
John Bidwell
John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician, prohibitionist and philanthropist...
locate it for him. Manuel Micheltorena, heavily in debt to Larkin, complied. Two days after the children where naturalized, they received the ten square league grant. Larkin arranged for John S. Williams to run the rancho.
John Shelby Williams (–1849) came to California in 1843 from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. His brother, Isaac Williams, owned Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino was a Mexican land grant in the Chino Hills of present day San Bernardino County, California given to Antonio Maria Lugo in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado...
. John S. Williams and his brother James owned the north half of Rancho Farwell
Rancho Farwell
Rancho Farwell was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Edward A. Farwell. The grant was located east of the Sacramento River along the south bank of Chico Creek and encompassed part of present day Chico. -History:Edward...
. In 1847, John S. Williams married Maria Louisa Gordon. After three years, Williams left Rancho Larkin’s Children in 1849, but died shortly thereafter.
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 Larkin’s Children 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 Francisco Larkin, Caroline Ann Larkin, and Sophia Adelaide Larkin in 1857.
Senator John Boggs (1829–1899), born in Missouri, came to Colusa County in 1854 and bought 6000 acres (24 km²) of Rancho Larkin’s Children. In 1866 be was elected to the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
and died in office.
In 1855, Larkin sold the south half of this grant to settlers, and in 1866 the residue was sold to A. Montgomery.