Rancho Rio de los Molinos
Encyclopedia
Rancho Rio de los Molinos was a 22172 acres (89.7 km²) 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". The long narrow grant extended along the east side of the Sacramento River
from Dye Creek
on the north, to Toomes Creek on the south, and encompassed present day Los Molinos
.
and came to California via New Mexico
with the Workman-Rowland Party in 1841. He moved to Monterey
where he married Maria Isabel Lorenzana (1822–1878) in 1844. Toomes and Robert Hasty Thomes became partners in a carpentry business in Monterey. They built a house in Monterey for Governor pro tem Manuel Jimeno. Toomes arrived in the area in the company of Thomes (Rancho Saucos
), William Chard
(Rancho Las Flores
), and Job Francis Dye (Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos
). Toomes five square league grant was directly across the Sacramento River from the five square league grant Rancho Saucos of Thomes.
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 Rio de los Molinos was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1855, and the grant was patented
to Albert Gallatin Toomes in 1858.
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 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 Albert Gallatin Toomes. "Rio de los Molinos" means "River of the Mills". The long narrow grant extended along the east 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...
from Dye Creek
Dye Creek
Dye Creek is an watercourse in Tehama County, California, USA, that is tributary to the Sacramento River. Dye Creek's watershed is situated in north-central California. The Dye Creek watershed contains rugged terrain areas of oak-studded forest, and also provides habitat for numerous understory...
on the north, to Toomes Creek on the south, and encompassed present day Los Molinos
Los Molinos, California
Los Molinos is a census-designated place in Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 2,037 at the 2010 census, up from 1,952 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Los Molinos is located at ....
.
History
Albert Gallatin Toomes (1817–1872) was born in MissouriMissouri
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...
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...
with the Workman-Rowland Party in 1841. He moved 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...
where he married Maria Isabel Lorenzana (1822–1878) in 1844. Toomes and Robert Hasty Thomes became partners in a carpentry business in Monterey. They built a house in Monterey for Governor pro tem Manuel Jimeno. Toomes arrived in the area in the company of 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"...
), 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...
(Rancho Las Flores
Rancho Las Flores
Rancho Las Flores was a 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"...
), 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...
). Toomes five square league grant was directly across the Sacramento River from the five square league grant Rancho Saucos of Thomes.
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 Rio de los Molinos 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 1855, 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 Albert Gallatin Toomes in 1858.