Rancho Los Ojitos
Encyclopedia
Rancho Los Ojitos was a 8900 acres (36 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes. The grant is now mostly Lake San Antonio
which was created when the San Antonio dam was built across the San Antonio River
.
were divided into at least ten Mexican land grants (including Rancho Milpitas
(Little Fields), Rancho El Piojo
(The Louse), Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad
, and Rancho Los Ojitos (Little Springs) ). The Soberanes family partiarch, José Maria Soberanes (1753–1803) accompanied the Portola expedition
to San Francisco Bay in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759–1822) and received Rancho Buena Vista
. His sons, Feliciano Soberanes (1788–1868) and Mariano de Jesus Soberanes, were granted Rancho El Alisal
in 1833.
Mariano de Jesus Soberanes (1794–1859) was a soldier and also held the office of alcade in Monterey
. Mariano Soberanes married María Isidora Vallejo (1791–1830), sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
. Their daughter, Maria Ygnacia Soberanes, married Dr. Edward Turner Bale
grantee of Rancho Carne Humana
. Mariano de Jesus Soberanes was granted Rancho San Bernardo
and the two square league, former lands of the Mission San Antonio de Padua
, Rancho Los Ojitos in 1842. In 1844, Mariano de Jesus Soberanes married Governor Alvarado's mistress, Maria Raimunda Castillo (1813–1880), the daughter of Jose Castillo and Zeferina Sinaloba of Monterey. In 1845 Soberanes was judge at San Miguel
. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War
, Soberanes was arrested with his sons by soldiers of Frémont
and his property at Rancho Los Ojitos destroyed.
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 Los Ojitos was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to Mariano Soberanes in 1871.
By 1880, the James Brown Cattle Company owned and operated Rancho Los Ojitos. 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 Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes. The grant is now mostly Lake San Antonio
Lake San Antonio
Lake San Antonio is a lake in southern Monterey County, California. The lake is formed by an earthfill dam on the San Antonio River. The dam is 202 feet tall and was completed in 1965 under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr . The lake and dam are owned by the Monterey County Water...
which was created when the San Antonio dam was built across the San Antonio River
San Antonio River (California)
The San Antonio River is a river in southern Monterey County, California.-Geography:The river travels southeast from its headwaters in the Santa Lucia Range in the Los Padres National Forest and into Lake San Antonio. This is a reservoir behind the San Antonio Dam, an earth-fill dam on the river...
.
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 El Piojo
Rancho El Piojo
Rancho El Piojo was a 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.-History:...
(The Louse), 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...
, and Rancho Los Ojitos (Little Springs) ). The Soberanes family partiarch, José Maria Soberanes (1753–1803) accompanied the Portola expedition
Portola expedition
250px|right|Point of San Francisco Bay DiscoveryThe Portolá Expedition was led by Gaspar de Portolá from July 14, 1769 to January 24, 1770. It was the first recorded Spanish land entry and exploration of present day California, United States...
to San Francisco Bay in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759–1822) and received 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:...
. His sons, Feliciano Soberanes (1788–1868) and Mariano de Jesus Soberanes, were granted Rancho El Alisal
Rancho El Alisal
Rancho El Alisal was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to brothers Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes and to William Edward Petty Hartnell. Alisal means Alder tree in spanish...
in 1833.
Mariano de Jesus Soberanes (1794–1859) was a soldier and also held the office of alcade in 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...
. Mariano Soberanes married María Isidora Vallejo (1791–1830), sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state...
. Their daughter, Maria Ygnacia Soberanes, married Dr. Edward Turner Bale
Edward Turner Bale
Edward Turner Bale was an English immigrant physician who built the Bale Grist Mill in Napa County, California.-Life:...
grantee of Rancho Carne Humana
Rancho Carne Humana
Rancho Carne Humana was a Mexican land grant in present day Napa County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Edward Turner Bale. The name means "human flesh" in Spanish. There is speculation as to why the name was chosen. The grant was originally called "Huilic Noma" and also...
. Mariano de Jesus Soberanes was granted Rancho San Bernardo
Rancho San Bernardo (Soberanes)
Rancho San Bernardo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes and Juan Soberanes. The grant extended along the west bank of the Salinas River...
and the two square league, former lands of the Mission San Antonio de Padua
Mission 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:...
, Rancho Los Ojitos in 1842. In 1844, Mariano de Jesus Soberanes married Governor Alvarado's mistress, Maria Raimunda Castillo (1813–1880), the daughter of Jose Castillo and Zeferina Sinaloba of Monterey. In 1845 Soberanes was judge at San Miguel
San Miguel, California
San Miguel is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,336, up from 1,427 at the 2000 census.-Geography:San Miguel is located at ....
. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War
Mexican–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...
, Soberanes was arrested with his sons by soldiers of Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
and his property at Rancho Los Ojitos destroyed.
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 Los Ojitos 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 Mariano Soberanes in 1871.
By 1880, the James Brown Cattle Company owned and operated Rancho Los Ojitos. 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...
.