Rancho Los Ulpinos
Encyclopedia
Rancho Los Ulpinos was a 17726 acres (71.7 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Solano County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to John Bidwell
. The grant was located on the west bank of the Sacramento River
at the junction with Cache Slough, and encompassed the Montezuma Hills
and present day Rio Vista
.
, and led the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
to California in 1841. John Sutter
employed Bidwell as his business manager shortly after Bidwell's arrival in California. Bidwell obtained the four square league Rancho Los Ulpinos Mexican land grant in 1844. Bidwell obtained the two square league Rancho Colus
in 1845. Bidwell built an adobe house in the vicinity of present-day Rio Vista, and attempted to cultivate the land. Bidwell’s efforts at agriculture, as well as those of subsequent settlers on the ranch, were unsuccessful.
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 Ulpinos was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to John Bidwell in 1866.
Rancho Los Ulpinos was subdivided into 20 equal parcels and sold on the Benicia
courthouse steps in 1855. Among those who purchased lots was Colonel N.H. Davis, who founded Rio Vista in 1857. Jospeph Bruning (1822–), a German, came to the mines on Yuba River
in 1850. He then went to San Francisco and engaged in the hotel business until 1858, when he settled on the Los Ulpinos grant.
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 Solano County, California
Solano County, California
Solano County is a county located in Bay-Delta region of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. The county's population was reported by the U.S. Census to be 413,344 in 2010...
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 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...
. The grant was located on the west bank 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...
at the junction with Cache Slough, and encompassed the Montezuma Hills
Montezuma Hills
The Montezuma Hills comprise a small range of low-elevation hills at the northern banks of the Sacramento River Delta in Solano County, California. The Montezuma Hills are bounded by the Sacramento River on the south and east; the Montezuma Slough on the west and roughly by California State Route...
and present day Rio Vista
Rio Vista, California
Rio Vista is a city located in the eastern end of Solano County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, on the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento River Delta region. The population was 7,360 at the 2010 census....
.
History
John Bidwell (1819–1900) was born in Chautauqua County, New YorkChautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, and led the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
Bartleson-Bidwell Party
In 1841, the Bartleson–Bidwell Party led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell, became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.-The trail:...
to California in 1841. John Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
employed Bidwell as his business manager shortly after Bidwell's arrival in California. Bidwell obtained the four square league Rancho Los Ulpinos Mexican land grant in 1844. Bidwell obtained the two square league Rancho Colus
Rancho Colus
Rancho Colus was a Mexican land grant in present day Colusa County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to John Bidwell. The name is derived from the name of a Native American tribe living on the west side of the Sacramento River...
in 1845. Bidwell built an adobe house in the vicinity of present-day Rio Vista, and attempted to cultivate the land. Bidwell’s efforts at agriculture, as well as those of subsequent settlers on the ranch, were unsuccessful.
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 Ulpinos 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 John Bidwell in 1866.
Rancho Los Ulpinos was subdivided into 20 equal parcels and sold on the Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
courthouse steps in 1855. Among those who purchased lots was Colonel N.H. Davis, who founded Rio Vista in 1857. Jospeph Bruning (1822–), a German, came to the mines on Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
in 1850. He then went to San Francisco and engaged in the hotel business until 1858, when he settled on the Los Ulpinos grant.