Rancho Llano de Buena Vista
Encyclopedia
Rancho Llano de Buena Vista was a 8446 acres (34.2 km²) Mexican land grant
in the Salinas Valley
, in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1823 by Governor Luís Antonio Argüello
to José Mariano Estrada. The name means "Plains of Buena Vista". The grant extended along the north bank of the Salinas River
across the river from the Estrada family's Rancho Buena Vista
, and up the river from Hill Town
. Rancho Llano de Buena Vista encompassed present day Spreckels
.
. Mariano Estrada married Maria Isabel Argüello, who was the daughter of José Darío Argüello
and sister of Luís Antonio Argüello. Mariano Estrada was the grantee of the two square league Rancho Buena Vista
in 1822, and the two square league Rancho Llano de Buena Vista in 1823. Mariano Estrada was executor of the Luís Argüello estate in 1830.
José Mariano Estrada's daughter Maria Adelaida Altagracia Estrada (-1875) married David Spence in 1829. Scotsman David Spence (1798-1875) came to Monterey
in 1824 on a vessel from Lima
, Peru
to work for William Hartnell
. Spence was grantee of Rancho Encinal y Buena Esperanza
in 1834, alcalde
of Monterey in 1839, and a member of the state legislature.
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 Llano de Buena Vista was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to David Spence in 1860.
His only son, David Steward Spence (1830-1868), who married Refugio Malarin, daughter of Juan Malarin, grantee of Rancho Chualar
, died in 1868, leaving three sons and a daughter, who inherited their grandfather’s estate.
In 1865 Carlisle S. Abbott (1828- ) rented about 9000 acres (36 km²) of land in the area of Rancho Llano de Buena Vista and operated a dairy cattle farm. By 1875 he owned the land. He subsequently sold David Jacks
.
In 1890, Claus Spreckels
built his sugar beets factory on Rancho Llano de Buena Vista.
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 the Salinas Valley
Salinas Valley
The Salinas Valley lies south of San Francisco, California.The word "salina" is spanish for salt marsh, salt lake or salt pan.-Geography:The Salinas Valley runs approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City. The valley lends its name to the geologic province in which it's located, the...
, 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 1823 by Governor Luís Antonio Argüello
Luis Antonio Argüello
Luis Antonio Argüello was the first native governor of Alta California from 1822 to 1825, during the period California was under Mexican rule, twelfth overall. He was the only governor to serve under the Mexican empire, and the first native Californian to hold that office...
to José Mariano Estrada. The name means "Plains of Buena Vista". The grant extended along the north bank of the Salinas River
Salinas River (California)
The Salinas River is the largest river of the central coast of California, running and draining 4,160 square miles. It flows north-northwest and drains the Salinas Valley that slices through the Coast Range south from Monterey Bay...
across the river from the Estrada family's Rancho Buena Vista
Rancho Buena Vista (Soberanes)
Rancho Buena Vista was a Spanish land concession in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1795 to Jose Maria Soberanes and Joaquin Castro. The grant was just south of Spreckels.-History:...
, and up the river from Hill Town
Old Hilltown, California
Old Hilltown is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It is located on the north side of the Salinas River south-southwest of Salinas, at an elevation of 46 feet ....
. Rancho Llano de Buena Vista encompassed present day Spreckels
Spreckels, California
Spreckels is a census-designated place located in the Salinas Valley of Monterey County, California, United States. Spreckels is located south of Salinas, at an elevation of 62 feet . The population was 673 at the 2010 census, up from 485 at the 2000 census.Spreckels is one of the best-preserved...
.
History
José Mariano Estrada (1784-), a Lieutenant of Mexican Artillery, came to California with his brother, José Raimundo Estrada (1784-), in 1797 with José Joaquín de ArrillagaJosé Joaquín de Arrillaga
José Joaquín de Arrillaga was interim governor of Las Californias from 1792 to 1794, governor of Las Californias from 1800 to 1804 and governor of Alta California from 1804 to 1814.-Death:...
. Mariano Estrada married Maria Isabel Argüello, who was the daughter of José Darío Argüello
José Darío Argüello
José Darío Argüello was a Spanish soldier and California pioneer, and twice governor of California.-Biography:José Darío Argüello was born in Santiago de Querétaro, New Spain ....
and sister of Luís Antonio Argüello. Mariano Estrada was the grantee of the two square league Rancho Buena Vista
Rancho Buena Vista (Soberanes)
Rancho Buena Vista was a Spanish land concession in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1795 to Jose Maria Soberanes and Joaquin Castro. The grant was just south of Spreckels.-History:...
in 1822, and the two square league Rancho Llano de Buena Vista in 1823. Mariano Estrada was executor of the Luís Argüello estate in 1830.
José Mariano Estrada's daughter Maria Adelaida Altagracia Estrada (-1875) married David Spence in 1829. Scotsman David Spence (1798-1875) came to 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...
in 1824 on a vessel from Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
to work for William Hartnell
William Edward Petty Hartnell
William Edward Petty Hartnell, a.k.a. Don Guillermo Arnel was a prominent early immigrant to Alta California who played a vital role in the history of Monterey County, California as well as the history of California.-Early life:William Hartnell was born in Backbarrow, Lancashire, England, and...
. Spence was grantee of Rancho Encinal y Buena Esperanza
Rancho Encinal y Buena Esperanza
Rancho Encinal y Buena Esperanza was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California of two square leagues given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa and a one square league addition given in 1839 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to David Spence...
in 1834, alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
of Monterey in 1839, and a member of the state legislature.
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 Llano de Buena Vista 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 David Spence in 1860.
His only son, David Steward Spence (1830-1868), who married Refugio Malarin, daughter of Juan Malarin, grantee of Rancho Chualar
Rancho Chualar
Rancho Chualar was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1839 by Governor protem Manuel Jimeno to Juan Malarin. The grant extended along the north bank of the Salinas River, and encompassed present day Chualar.-History:...
, died in 1868, leaving three sons and a daughter, who inherited their grandfather’s estate.
In 1865 Carlisle S. Abbott (1828- ) rented about 9000 acres (36 km²) of land in the area of Rancho Llano de Buena Vista and operated a dairy cattle farm. By 1875 he owned the land. He subsequently sold David Jacks
David Jack (businessman)
David Jack , also known as David Jacks, was a powerful Californian landowner, developer, and businessman. Born in Scotland, he emigrated to California during the 1849 Gold Rush, and soon acquired several thousand acres in and around Monterey, shaping the history of Monterey County in the first...
.
In 1890, Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels, formally Adolph Claus J. Spreckels , , was a major industrialist in Hawai'i during the kingdom, republican and territorial periods of the islands' history...
built his sugar beets factory on Rancho Llano de Buena Vista.