Rancho Las Flores
Encyclopedia
Rancho Las Flores was a 13316 acres (53.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Tehama County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to William Chard
. The name means "ranch of the flowers". The grant was on west side of the Sacramento River
and was bounded by Rancho Barranca Colorado
and Coyote Creek on the north and by Rancho Saucos
and Elder Creek on the south, and encompassed present day Gerber
and Proberta.
and came to California via New Mexico
about 1832. Chard lived in Los Angeles for four years, before he moved to the Monterey
area. Chard married Maria Esteven Robles (1823-1871) in 1837. In 1843, Chard was a business partner of Josiah Belden
in Monterey. Chard was granted three square leagues and arrived in the area in the company of Albert G. Toomes (Rancho Rio de los Molinos
), Robert Hasty Thomes (Rancho Saucos
) and Job Francis Dye (Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos
). Chard was superintendent of the New Almaden
quicksilver mine south of San Jose
until 1846.
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 Las Flores was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to William George Chard in 1859.
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 Tehama County, California
Tehama County, California
Tehama County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. It is bisected by the Sacramento River. As of 2010 its population was 63,463, up from 56,039 as of 2000. The county seat is Red Bluff.-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 William Chard
William Chard
-Life:William George Chard was born in Columbia County, New York in 1812. He came to California via New Mexico with trappers Cyrus Alexander and Lemuel Carpenter, arriving in Los Angeles in 1832. He travelled to Santa Barbara, and Monterey. Chard married Maria Esteven Robles in 1837...
. The name means "ranch of the flowers". The grant was on west side 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 was bounded by Rancho Barranca Colorado
Rancho Barranca Colorado
Rancho Barranca Colorado was a Mexican land grant in present day Tehama County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Josiah Belden. The name means "Ranch of the Red Bluffs". The grant was on the west bank of the Sacramento River and bounded Red Bank Creek on the north,...
and Coyote Creek on the north and by Rancho Saucos
Rancho Saucos
Rancho Saucos was a Mexican land grant in present day Tehama County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Robert H. Thomes. The name means "Ranch of the Elder trees"...
and Elder Creek on the south, and encompassed present day Gerber
Gerber-Las Flores, California
Gerber-Las Flores is a former census-designated place in Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 1,389 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gerber-Las Flores is located at ....
and Proberta.
History
William George Chard (1812–1877) was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and came to California via New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
about 1832. Chard lived in Los Angeles for four years, before he moved to the Monterey
Monterey, 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...
area. Chard married Maria Esteven Robles (1823-1871) in 1837. In 1843, Chard was a business partner of Josiah Belden
Josiah Belden
Josiah Belden was an American pioneer and politician.-Life:Born in Connecticut, Belden was orphaned by the time he was 14. He later moved to St. Louis, Missouri and became a successful businessman. In 1841 he joined the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, the first organized emigrant party to use the...
in Monterey. Chard was granted three square leagues and arrived in the area in the company of Albert G. Toomes (Rancho Rio de los Molinos
Rancho Rio de los Molinos
Rancho Rio de los Molinos was a Mexican land grant in present day Tehama County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Albert Gallatin Toomes. "Rio de los Molinos" means "River of the Mills"...
), Robert Hasty Thomes (Rancho Saucos
Rancho Saucos
Rancho Saucos was a Mexican land grant in present day Tehama County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Robert H. Thomes. The name means "Ranch of the Elder trees"...
) and Job Francis Dye (Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos
Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos
Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos was a Mexican land grant in present day Tehama County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Job Francis Dye. Rio de Los Berrendos means River of the Antelopes...
). Chard was superintendent of the New Almaden
New Almaden
The New Almaden quicksilver mine in the Santa Teresa Hills in Santa Clara County, California, United States, is the oldest and most productive quicksilver mine in the U.S. The site was known to the Ohlone Indians for its cinnabar long before a Mexican settler discovered the ores in 1820...
quicksilver mine south of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
until 1846.
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 Las Flores 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 William George Chard in 1859.