A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 2

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738

USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 2
USA > California > Santa Barbara County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 2
USA > California > Ventura County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 2

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In Palou's report on the missions, for- warded to Mexico at the close of 1773, San Luis Obispo is stated to have but twelve converts. " It is," so says the report, " hard to attract the people here to the mission. The population is very numerons, and of friendly disposition toward the missionaries; but as the Indians, having plenty of deer, rabbits, fish and seeds, are better supplied with food than are the Spaniards, they cannot be controlled by self-interest. Moreover, as there is no rancheria close by, they do not stay in the vicinity of the mission. The buildings here are somewhat less extensive than at some of the other establishments, but there is plenty of fertile land, well wooded and well watered, and there has been a small crop of beans and corn even this first year." By 1780 San Lnis had some 2,000 bushels surplus of maize.

It was not until April, 1782, after the founding of the missions of San Carlos, San

PRE-AMERICAN HISTORY OF

Antonio, San Gabriel, San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano, and the beginning of pue- blos and presidios, that further measures were taken toward the settlement of these districts.

Then, indeed, there came up thither the largest expedition as yet seen in California, comprising, besides the officers, seventy sol- diers and their families. Coming from San Gabriel, they reached March 29, the first rancheria on the Santa Barbara channel, that village which had been called Asuncion in 1769 by Portolá's party, and which had been selected long since as a suitable site for a mission. Here, near the beach, and in close vicinity to the native huts of straw and tule, shaped in conical fashion, the cross was duly raised beneath its arbor-like shelter, and, on the 31st, the mission was formally founded and dedicated to the " seraphic doctor," Gio- vanni di Fidanza. Padre Junipero Serra himself it was who preached the dedicatory sermon. There were present many natives, who expressed much pleasure in the estab- lishment of the mission, to the building of whose edifices they cheerfully lent their labors.

The facilities here were good for irrigation, also for procuring good building material. By April 12 of that year, there had been completed an enclosure of 40 x 50 varas (a vara is 333 inches) of palisades four varas high, having two ravelins, a gate and a small warehouse.

Padre Cambon remained until May in charge of the new mission; then Padre Fran- cisco Dumetz and Padre Vicente de Santa Maria arrived there as regular ministers. Notwithstanding the cordiality of the natives, only two adults received the rite of baptismn during 1782.

The first marriage ceremony performned at the mission church was that of Maria Con- cepcion Martiel, of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico,

and Alejandro Sotomayor of Fuerte, Mexico, Padre Dumetz officiating, on August 8, 1782. The first baptism was that of José Cresencio Valdez, son of Eugenio Valdez Español, on April 27, 1782.

About the middle of April, leaving a ser- geant and fourteen men as a guard at the newly founded mission, the governor and the president with the rest of the party journeyed on up the coast to establish the presidio of Santa Barbara.

The site chosen was probably that which Portolá's expedition of 1769 liad called La- guna de la Concepcion. Here work was be- gun at once, and on April 21, Padre Serra formally established the fort, with the saying of mass and the chanting of an alabado (a hymn of praise; a Te Deum). The fort was constructed on an eminence, near some springs and a lagoon. The palisades were of oak from the neighboring timber, and the first enclosure was sixty varas square. This stockade was replaced later by a solid wall, around an area eighty yards square. The na- tives were friendly, and their labors here were repaid with food and clothing. The chieftain of the native town here had authority over no less than thirteen rancherias, and his sup- port was of great value to the settlers. So favorably did matters progress here. that soon irrigation works were constructed, and farming was begun on a small scale.

The founding of a mission here was long postponed, owing to the eninity of the secn- lar authorities toward the friars; but at last, 1786, more than two years after the death of the devoted Padre Junipero, the president with two friars of recent arrival went to the presidio and made preparations for the formal founding of the mission, the tenth to be es- tablished in Alta California. Thus, on De- cember 4, 1786, the cross was raised and blessed, and the mission dedicated to Saint

MISSION SANTA BARBARA.

THE SANTA BARBARA REGION.

Barbara, Virgin and Martyr, the patroness of artillerymen in the Spanish army. The cere- inonies were not completed at this time, as Fages, the governor, was absent, and he had ordered operations to be suspended until his arrival. If he had meant to impede the pro- ceedings of the clergy here, he appeared to think better of it upon reflection, and, after his arrival, the first mass was said by Padre Paterna, a sermon was preached by Lasnen, and thus was completed the founding of la Mision de Santa Barbara, Virjen y Martir. The first baptism was on December 31, and the rite was administered at the presidio, as the rains prevented the erection of buildings at the mission itself for the time. However, a church 18 x 90 feet was completed in 1789, and by the end of 1790 there were numerous inission buildings, well built of adobes, and roofed with tiles. By this time, the number of baptisins here had reached 520, and the 102 deaths left 438 neophytes at that date. At this time, Santa Barbara mission owned 296 head of large, and 503 head of small, stock, and the agricultural products amounted to about 1,500 busliels.

Yet the mission had poor resources, and owing to this lack of means to support the Indians, only voluntary converts were admit- ted at first

The formal founding of the third of the channel missions took place on December 8, 1787, this day being selected as being that dedicated to " Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception." This because it had been deter- mined to consecrate this new. mission to that service, and it was accordingly called " de la Purisima Concepcion." The mere act of fonnding accomplished, this mission was left alone until March, 1788, when a detachment returned thither to prepare buildings. By August, 1788, there had been enrolled seven- ty-nine neophytes. The site of this mission

was changed somewhat later, as will be shown.

There were in the Purisima district over fifty rancherias, or Indian villages.

At this time, the white population of Santa Barbara presidial district was about 220, or 360, including Los Angeles. The natives were employed as hired laborers, and they did their work well. The neophytes of this en- tire district, including San Gabriel and San Fernando, numbered at this period nearly 4,000.

The presidio had eight guns, all but one of brass, from one to six pounds of caliber. Half of these were distributed among the missions, but they were not in use, as there was no hostility among the Indians, and the foreign disturber as yet appeared not.

At San Buenaventura, Padres Dumetz and Santa Maria had continued as ministers throughout this decade; and so zealous were they that the lukewarmness of the Indians was overcome, so that the neophytes increased from twenty-two to 388 within this period, besides 115 who died as converts. The large stock had now increased from 103 to 961, the small stock from forty-four to 1,503; and the crops for 1790 were over 3,000 bushels. The natives hereabouts continued friendly; but, in view of the great number of them, it was deemed prudent to maintain here a larger gnard than at the other missions. However, this " large guard " would seem to have been absurdly inadequate to hold in check the hordes of Indians, liad they chosen to be hos- tile, for the force numbered now fifteen, and now only ten men.

On November 10, 1793, Vancouver an- chored at Santa Barbara, where he was court- eously received by the commandant, Goycoe chea, and hospitably entertained by the padres, who saw the importance of a favorable im- pression to be made upon visiting foreigners.

PRE-AMERICAN HISTORY OF

The Englishman pronounced the appearance of the place "far more civilized than any other of the Spanish establishments, * * * the buildings regular and well constructed, the walls clean and white, and the roofs of the houses covered with a bright red tile." "The presidio," he wrote, "excels all the others in neatness, cleanliness, and other smaller though essential comforts; it is placed on an elevated part of the plain, and is raised some feet from the ground by a basement story which adds much to its pleasantress." When Vancouver sailed on the 18th for San Buenaventura, he carried a passenger-Padre Santa Maria, who took that opportunity of making a visit to the neighboring mission, at the same time that he combated, by the force of his own experience, the prejudice and fears of the Indians, as against foreign- ers. The padres were very hospitable and courteous toward this traveler.

Padre Antonio Paterna, the founder, and a pioneer of 1771, died in 1793, at Santa Barbara mission.

On January 10, 1794, took place the first public execution, when Ygnacio Rochin paid the penalty for murder. Death was inflicted upon him by shooting, there being no hang- man in the province.

The English merchant ship Phoenix touched here in August, 1795. Communi- cation with the outside world had now begun to increase with each succeeding year.

In February, 1798, died Captain José Or- tega, former commandant of Santa Barbara.

During this decade the number of neophytes increased from 438 to 864. Horses and cat- tle had multiplied from 296 to 2,492, and sheep from 503 to 5,615. The crops in 1800 were 3,000 bushels, although the crop three years earlier was 5,400 bushels. During this period many improvements in building had been made at the mission. In 1791 were

added three tool houses and a guard-house; in 1792, two large stone corrals. In 1793- '94 was erected a new church, built of adobes and plastered, with tiled roof; its ground space was 28x135 feet, and it had a brick portico, and a sacristy 15 x 28 feet. In 1794 were built a granary and a spinning room, set on stone foundations; also an enclosure 48 x 135 feet, for a cemetery ; also a sheepfold. In 1797 a corridor with brick pillars and tile roof was added, on the side of the quad- rangle nearest to the presidio, and another alongside the spinning room ; four new rooms were completed for the friars; and beams of pine were placed wherever alder and poplar had been used for that purpose. In 1797 were completed several rooms for granaries, store-rooms, and offices. In 1799 were built for the neophytes nineteen adobe houses, each 12 x 19 feet, plastered, whitewashed, and tile-roofed; also an adobe wall nine feet high was carried 1,200 yards around the garden and vineyard, and a warehouse was built. In 1800 were built thirty-one more adobe houses in a row, the three remaining sides of the square were completed, and measures were taken for the construction, from brick and inortar and stone, of a reservoir for drinking water. In 1800 sixty neophytes were en- gaged in weaving and its attendant processes. Others were taught carpentry, and others tanning.

The same priests remained in charge of San Buenaventura until 1797, when Padre Dumetz was succeeded by Padre José Fran- cisco de Panla Senan. The only notable event of this decade would seem to have been a fracas between the Christian Indians and the unconverted, in which the former, while they had several men wounded, were victo- rions, killing two chiefs of the pagans, and taking six or seven captives. The authorities punished impartially the leaders on both

THE SANTA BARBARA REGION.

gides, one of the neophytes being put to labor in irons.

By this time, although there had been 412 burials among the converts, the number of neophytes had increased to 715; and, although the population here was less than at any other of the older missions, San Buenaven- tura in 1800 had more cattle and raised more grain than any other place in California. There were 10,013 head of cattle and horses, and 4,622 sheep; and the crop of 1800 was 9,400 bushels, the smallest crop being 1,500 bushels in 1797, while the average yield was 4,800 bushels. Wheat was little grown until 1798, when this became the chief crop, reach- ing over 8,000 bushels per year.

The buildings here were superior in con- struction, having been rebuilt after the old ones had been swept away by fire. The church alone, of the mission quadrangle, was not complete. It was begun about 1793, and completed during the decade, being built of stone. Vancouver, who landed here Novem- ber 20, 1793, pronounced this mission of "a very superior style to any of the new establishments yet seen." "The garden of Buena Ventura far exceeded," he wrote, "anything I had before met with in these regions, both in respect of the quality, quan- tity, and variety of its excellent productions, not only indigenous to the country, but ap- pertaining to the temperate as well as the torrid zone; not one species having yet been planted or sown that had not flourished. These have principally consisted of apples, pears, plums [sic], figs, oranges, grapes, peaches and pomegranates, together with the plantain, banana, cocoa-nut, sngar-cane, in- digo, and a great variety of the necessary and useful kitchen herbs, plants and roots. All these were flourishing in the greatest health and perfection, though separated from the seaside only by two or three fields of corn,

that were cultivated within a few yards of the surf."

San Luis Obispo reached its maxinmm of population, 946, in 1794, but it had, in 1800, the considerable number of 726. from 605 in 1790. At this date, the cattle and horses had increased to 6,500 head, and sheep to 6,150. There were raised this year 2,700 bushels of grain, the average number being 3,200, while in 1798 the harvest was 4,100 bushels. This mission raised no barley.

During this decade had been completed an adobe church, with portico and tile roof, a house for the ministers, a guard-house, work- roomn, and barrack, and a mill run by water- power. The huts of the natives there were well built.

This mission was fortunate in receiving a miller, blacksmith, and carpenter, sent hither to impart instruction.

In 1794 there was at San Lnis a certain excitement, resulting from the efforts of sev- eral gentile chiefs to incite a revolt among the Indians hereabouts. Those at Purisima were approached by agents of the malcon- tents, but the neophytes scorned the presents offered for the purpose and were so loyal to the Spaniards that five of the unruly In- dians were delivered over for punishment.

For a long time there had been entertained by the authorities of the church a project to found a series of new missions to lie between the old ones, and as nearly as might be equi- distant from each two of them, all of these to be situated somewhat farther inland than those of the original chain. Practically, the sites had been chosen by the friars; but for form's sake, the priests made, in 1794-'95, an exploration, in conjunction with the mili- tary. After this, and some preliminary cor- respondence, the five new missions were organized.

On June 11, 1797, was founded San Jose;

PRE-AMERICAN HISTORY OF

on June 24 San Juan Bautista, and on July 25, San Miguel, being the third of the new missions, and the only one with which we have to deal in the present chapters on this section.

San Miguel was founded by Padre Lasuen and Friar Buenaventura Sitjar, on a site which the natives called Vahiá or Vatica, and the Spaniards Las Posas. It was between San Luis Obispo and San Antonio, Padres Sitjar and Horra, generally called Padre Concepcion, were appointed ministers. The founding was attended by a great number of Indians, fifteen of whose children were pre- sented for baptism on that day; and this good disposition seemed to continue, for by the end of 1800 there had been baptized 385. The other missions had contributed a few head of stock, which by the end of the decade had in- creased to 372 large and 1,582 small animals. The total product of crops for these three years was 3,700 bushels. The church was built of wood, with a mud roof, and it con- tinued in use for some years.

In 1801 the safety of the whites of Santa Barbara was jeopardized, from a singular cause. An epidemic of lung disease had been causing great mortality among the Indians, when a neophyte claimed to have seen in a dream or trance, Chupn, the deity of the channel natives, who announced that all the baptized Indians would fall victims to the evil unless they would renounce Christianity and perform certain rites to Chupu. The natives of most of the channel rancherias hastened to comply, while the padres remained in igno- rance of the movement; and it is not quite clear what withheld the fanatics from pro- ceeding to attack the Spaniards.

On September 17, 1804, was founded the nineteenth of the Alta California Missions, dedicated to Santa Ynes (Saint Agnes), Vir- gin and Martyr. As far back as 1795

the Spaniards had made explorations for a mission site here. The spot chosen was called by the Indians Alajulapu (rincon, a corner or nook). Mission work here was begun with the baptisin of twenty-seven children, and the enrolling of many catechu- mens, among them three captains or chiefs. By the end of the year Santa Ynes had 225 neophytes, but at least half of them came from other missions. The church here was a very poor one in this decade. The crops here averaged 2,700 bushels yearly, and by 1810 the live stock numbered 3,200 cattle, 420 horses, 61 mules, 11 asses, and 2,300 sheep.

At this time was agitated the question of founding a mission on one of the Channel Islands, but an epidemic of measles carried off over 200 of the natives, and the president had to admit, moreover, that the facilities of lands and the water supply were unfavorable to the project.

At Santa Barbara, during each year from 1801 to 1805, from thirty to fifty adobe dwell- ings for the neophytes were built, and their numbers reached 234, they being enclosed on three sides by an adobe wall, constructed in 1802. Other erections of this period were three large warehouses, a major-domo's house, a tannery, and several other buildings, one of which was 120 feet long. Meanwhile, at the Indian rancheria of Mescaltitlan, by the Spaniards called San Miguel, six miles from Santa Barbara, there had been built an adobe chapel, 66 x 27 feet, a stone prison building, a reservoir of masonry, a fountain, arranged with washing places for the laundresses, a pottery, and more than a score of adobe-built dwelling houses.

In 1805-'6, the presidial company at Santa Barbara was increased from fifty-nine to sixty men by the process of recruiting, and there were thirty-five invalided soldiers, mostly living at the presidio. The total white

MISSION SAN MIGUEL,-SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

THE SANTA BARBARA REGION.

population, including Santa Bárbara, San Buenaventura, Purisima, Santa Ynes, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Los Angeles and the ranchos (all these points were under the military jurisdiction of Santa Barbara pre- sidio) was 825, having gained 150 during the decade. Without Los Angeles and the ran- chos, there had been an increase to 460 from 390.

The greatest number of neophytes at San Luis Obispo, 854, was reached in 1803, but by the end of the decade it had declined to 713. Although the smallest of the old mis- sions, excepting San Carlos, this was far above the average in the production of live- stock. Its agricultural results were less satis- factory. The friars there were somewhat noted for their discouraging treatment of foreign vessels.

At San Miguel, this period was character- ized by the death of Padre Pujol, and the violent illness of two other priests, all sup- supposed to have been poisoned by the neophytes. There was also some trouble over the defiant attitude of Cuchapa, one of the Indian captains, who was, however, subdued by judicious treatment.

A great loss was sustained at San Miguel in 1806, in a fire which destroyed that por- tion of the mission buildings used for manu- facturing purposes, with the implements and a large quantity of raw material, including wool, hides, cloths, and 6,000 bushels of wheat.

In population San Miguel grew from 362 to 973, the greatest gain of the decade, except at San Luis Rey and San Fernando. Its death rate was only forty-nine per cent. of the baptisms. This had more sheep than any other mission save San Juan Capistrano.

The chapel at Santa Barbara presidio had its walls badly injured by an earthquake in March, 1806, and just two months later, the

edifice was almost totally destroyed by a great storm.

At intervals through this decade, no little local excitement was wrought up over three criminal cases of a repulsive nature, and by a case of alleged blasphemy.

The channel was visited during this period by the Hazard, the Lelia Byrd, the O'Cain, and the Albatross. There were in this presidial jurisdiction, which included San Gabriel, 6,500 neophytes (round numbers), the gain over the previous decade being 2,500.

By 1810 the numerical decline of the neophyte population had begun; although there was an actual increase from 864 to 1,355, this was a considerable drop from 1,792, the figure which had been reached in 1803. Santa Barbara by this time led all the other missions in the whole number of bap- tisms for the decade, and in the highest num- ber for one year. The large stock of this mission had increased from 2,492 to 5,670; there were 1,390 horses and mules in 1810. The small stock increased from 5,615 to 8,190. The average crop for the decade was of 6,216 bushels per year; at one time there were produced 10,150 bushels.

AN INVASION.

On October 6, 1818, the American brig Clarion brought to Santa Barbara the news that there were being fitted out at the Sand- wich Islands two privateers, carrying collect- ively fifty-four guns and 250 men whose purpose was to make a cruise on this coast. Commandant Guerra at once despatched messengers at all speed to Governor Sola at Monterey, and to the friars of the southern missions. Sola at once issued orders that all church vessels, ornaments, and other articles of intrinsic value, should be packed up and sent to points of safety inland; the women and children made ready to retire thither also;

PRE-AMERICAN HISTORY OF

provisions and ammunition prepared for at- tack; live-stock driven inland; soldiers and settlers summoned for defense at their re- spective presidios, as well as the native archers; sentinels and couriers stationed at convenient points; and, in fact, every prepa- ration made for resistance, at the same time that all precautions must be taken to prevent the expected vessels from effecting a landing upon any pretense. The missionaries, too, were officially notified of the expected attack, and earnestly recommended to co-operate with the commandants.

Taken all these prudent measures nearly two months elapsed without sign of hostile approach, and Sola ordered the civilians dis- missed to the attention of their own affairs. Guerra and some others considered this relaxation premature, in which the events sustained them; for on November 20, the dreaded vessels were descried approaching Monterey. The account of the ravages there committed by their crews is not strictly germane to the subject of these pages. Suf- fice it to say that, after destroying all they could in that quarter, and losing three of their men-one an American-as prisoners, the two ships came southward, the news be- ing brought by a returning corporal and six men whom the prudent Guerra had sent up to re-enforce Monterey. The marauders landed at the Rancho Refugio of the Ortegas on De- cember 2, the family having abandoned the place on their approach. Here they killed cattle, and plundered and fired the buildings, while they were watched by Spaniards as- sembled at Santa Ynes, who captured, from an ambush three of the " pirates." Sailing hence the two ships anchored at Santa Bar- bara on December 6, and Bouchard, the com- mander, sent ashore with a flag of truce a letter to the commandant, promising to leave the coast without further hostilities after an

exchange of prisoners. Guerra replied, avow- ing his positive yearning to fight, but con- senting to consider the other's proposition, " from feelings of humanity," and to forward the letter to the governor. Further urgency from Bouchard impelled Guerra to consent to an immediate exchange, but, on coming to the point, he found that but one prisoner was offered for three. To Guerra's indignation on this score, Bonchard averred that he had but one captive, and this one, when delivered over for Bouchard's three useful men, proved to be a drunken vagabond named Molina, who had stumbled into the arms of the in- vaders while they were at Monterey, and who was a nuisance to the community! Besides his chagrin at this victimizing of the wily Bouchard, poor, plucky, sincere Guerra had to bear the blunt of Sola's reproaches for con - senting to terms with the cheating rascals. Perhaps the worst of the matter, however, after all, touched Molina, for. he was sen- tenced to six years in the chain gang, after 100 blows on his bare back. Bouchard, after some lingering, finally disappeared on De- cember 12 from Santa Barbara, and the troops at this point were then hurried south- ward, to assist in the defense of San Diego and the other sonthernmost missions, and Guerra himself followed.

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Author: Storke, Yda Addis Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 738

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738