USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > History of San Diego, 1542-1908 : an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States, Volume I > Part 14
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rabbits, and Dana makes quite a story of the killing of a rattle- snake.
The rodeos, or "'round-ups" of cattle, were held frequently for the purpose of keeping the herds together, as well as of brand- ing the cattle. They were more in the nature of sport than of labor and gave fine opportunity for the display of horsemanship. As the importance of the cattle interest increased, regulations were enacted by the territorial assembly for the due government of these important functions, which were presided over by the jucz del campo, or judge of the plains. These officials were continued under the American administration and regularly ap- pointed for several years.
The houses in which the Californians lived were of a type peenliarly adapted to the climate and to their habits of life. The walls were of adobes, or large, thin, sun-dried bricks. Us- ually there was no frame-work, and no wood in the structure except the doors, window frames, and roof timbers. The walls were laid up and cemented with mud and whitewashed without and within. The roof timbers were laid upon the walls, usually without other support, and the roof covered with thin red tiles so shaped and laid as to be an effectual protection against rain. The poorer people used tule or earth instead of tiles, for their roofs. The wealthier classes had board floors, either at first or later on, but others were content with the hard-packed ground. Doors were sometimes of wood, but not infrequently consisted of a dried bullock's hide, especially on ranchos. When carefully built, these houses were very comfortable as well as durable; but when exposed unprotected to the weather, they soon decayed. There were no stairs to climb and no plumbing to get out of order; they were cool in summer and warm in winter; and the extent to which the later comers are reverting to the Mission type of architecture shows how sensibly they were built.
- Some of these houses-the simplest-consisted of only four walls and one room. The next better ones had a partition, mak- ing two apartments, and a little farther up the scale. a very long building was erected, with numerous rooms and entrances. But the highest type of house was built in the Spanish fashion, in a square, with an inner court. This patio was surrounded by a corridor, off which doors opened into the rooms. Several of the houses in old San Diego were of this kind.
The furniture was simple-in the earliest days quite primitive. Later, the wealthier families secured furniture from Spain and bought that made at the missions. A good deal of this old Span- ish and mission-made furniture can still be found at the country seats of the principal ranchos. When the Boston ships began to pursue their profitable traffie in hides, they brought quantities of New England-made furniture, which became the rage and
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THE DIET OF THE TIME
was preferred in San Diego to the plainer and more substantial Spanish and mission products.
The Californians ate a great deal of meat-almost subsisted upon it. The staple food was beef broiled on an iron rod, or steak with onions, and sometimes mutton, chicken, and eggs. A lunch put up for Alfred Robinson in San Diego consisted of one boiled chicken, one smoked beef tongue, half a dozen hard- boiled eggs, a loaf of bread, a small cheese, a bottle of wine, and a little paper of salt and pepper-not bad, if one were not a vegetarian. The bread was tortillas, sometimes made with yeast. Beans they knew how to cook admirably, also corn and potatoes. Their tamales and chili con carne (meat cooked with chili peppers) are too well known to require description. The use of soups was understood, and fish were considerably eaten, especially on Fridays.
Duhaut-Cilly says that the Californians considered venison unfit for food. We also learn that they eared little for mutton, pork, or bear's meat, but were exceedingly fond of veal. They were famous makers of sugared pastry. The cooks were largely Indians who had been trained for the work, and some of whom became quite expert. This was something to which the later comers found it hard to become accustomed. Mrs. Morse said respecting this matter : "The cooking at the hotel was quite unlike the cooking at the Hotel Del Coronado at the present time. I sat at the table alone, being the only woman in the house. An Indian boy waited on me at the table, and also gave me the news of the town. The landlord, an Irish gentleman, kindly told me that I could go into the kitchen and cook what- ever I wished, if I did not like the Indian style. I availed my- self of the privilege and there were some interesting discoveries. The cook was sitting on a bench in front of an open saek of flour, vigorously seratehing his head. This brought unpleasant suggestions to mind, as did also his stirring of the food while it was cooking with his long hair dangling over it."
When diet is mentioned, one naturally thinks of the fondness of Californians for high seasoning. The use of red peppers in meat was quite general. In hot countries, these peppers serve a highly important use and are to the Spaniard very much what his pork and beans are to the Bostonian. In the cool climate of San Diego, their use would not appear to have been so necessary.
The women were neat and cleanly in their housekeeping. The bedding, especially, was much praised. The coverlids and pillow- cases were frequently of satin and trimmed with beautiful and costly lace. Except in a few of the wealthiest families, no table was set, but the family would proceed to the kitchen where
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food was passed around in plates or clay dishes. Forks and spoons were of horn.
The subject of dress is another of those topics which can scarcely be touched without the temptation to write a volume, but to which only a paragraph can be given. The dress worn by middle class women was a chemise with short sleeves, em- broidered and trimmed with lace. A muslin petticoat was Hounced with scarlet and seenred at the waist by a scarlet band. Shoes were of velvet or blue satin, and with a cotton scarf, pearl necklace and earrings, completed the costume. The hair was worn plaited and hanging down the back. Others substituted a silk or satin shawl for the reboso.
The English style of dress was early adopted, especially by the better class. When Robinson first came. the picturesque Spanish costumes were almost universally worn by both sexes. The ordinary dress of the men was in short clothes and jacket trimmed with scarlet, a silk sash about the waist, botas of orna- mented and embroidered deer skin. secured by colored garters, embroidered shoes, the hair long, braided and fastened behind with ribbons, a black silk handkerchief around the head, sur- mounted by an oval, broad-rimmed hat. The "best clothes" of both sexes were very gorgeous and expensive, but cannot be de- seribed in detail here. A glimpse of the ordinary dress and diversions of the soldiers is afforded by Robinson, at his first visit to the San Diego Presidio. He says the soldiers were amus- ing themselves at the guard-house. "some seated on the ground playing cards and smoking, while others were dancing to the music of the guitar. At the gate stood a sentinel. with slouched hat and blanket thrown over one shoulder, his old Span- ish musket resting on the other; his pantaloons were buttoned and ornamented at the knee, below which, his legs were pro- tected by leggings of dressed deer-skin, secured with spangled garters."
With the coming of the Americans and the setting of the tide of business toward New England all these things soon began to be affected and, in time, passed into complete eclipse. Man- ners and customs went with the tide, especially after the Mexican War, and left only loving memories. It took some time to thaw the natural reserve between two peoples who did not under- stand each other. This thawing process, marking the period at the beginning of which Americans were regarded with distrust, if not dislike, and the time when they were received with marked favor, may be said to have occurred between 1830 and 1835. At the beginning of this period, intermarriages between the two races were rare and when they did occur created a sensation ; at the end, they were too common to excite comment. In this con- nection, and to illustrate what has been stated. the story of Henry
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MARRIAGE OF CAPTAIN FITCH
D. Fitch's elopement and the troubles which it brought upon him, is worth telling.
Josefa Carrillo, eldest daughter of Joaquin Carrillo, of San Diego, was one of the beautiful women of the place in 1826 when Captain Fitch first came here, and he soon surrendered to her charms. He gave her a written promise of marriage in 1827, according to the custom of the country, and the family consented
MRS. HENRY D. FITCH
to the match, provided the impediments could be removed. The first impediment was that Fitch was a foreigner and a Protestant. He announced his intention of becoming a Mexican citizen, and was baptised by Father Menendez on April 14, 1829, at the chapel in the Presidio, Lieutenant Domingo Carrillo acting as godfather. Menendez had promised to marry the couple the fol-
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lowing day, but at the last moment he weakened. The governor had decreed that no foreigners should marry within the territory without his special license, and this could not be secured. Domingo Carrillo, uncle of the bride, also refused to serve as a witness, and the case looked hopeless. But Menendez was a man of resources; though not willing to get into trouble himself, he was not averse to helping the lovers, and so suggested an elope- ment. This was soon arranged and Fitch hastily made ready for a voyage. Hle bade adieu to his friends, including Miss Carrillo, and got under way in the Vulture. But the departure of the Captain and the ship was only a blind, and in the darkness of night they were hovering close to the shore. Pio Pico, the cousin of Señorita Carrillo, took her on his saddle and carried her swiftly to a spot on the bay shore where a boat was in waiting, and soon the lovers were reunited on the deck. All went well, and they were married at Valparaiso on the 3rd of July, by the Curate Orrego.
This elopement caused considerable scandal, and, the matter having been arranged with some secrecy, various rumors were in circulation. One account had it that the lady was forcibly abducted. Fitch re-appeared the next year with his wife and infant son, and after touching at San Diego proceeded to San Pedro where he was arrested by Echeandía's order and sent to San Gabriel for trial. Mrs. Fitch was at first kept under sur- veillance in a private house and later sent also to San Gabriel. It was alleged that the marriage was a nullity, and technical flaws were picked in the certificate. ' The couple were repeatedly interrogated before the ecclesiastical court, Fitch acting as his own attorney, and offering to marry his wife over again. The vicar finally decided, in December, that the charges were not substantiated; that the marriage, though irregular, was valid; and ordered that the wife be given up to the husband. "Yet considering the great scandal which Don Enrique has caused in this province. I condemn him to give as a penance and reparation a bell of at least fifty pounds in weight for the church at Los Angeles, which barely has a borrowed one." Certain other easy penances were provided and poor Menendez's conduct was the subject of an investigation. The troubles of the couple were not quite over, for on Jan. 31, 1831, Captain Fitch, writing to his friend, Captain Cooper, complained of the conduct of his wife's parents, who. he says, abused his wife and would not leave her with him. However, although the historian cannot record that they did literally "live happy ever after," it is pleasant to know that they had many years of life together and brought up a large family.
FINE EXAMPLE OF OLD SPANISH HOME
Residence of Col Cave J. Couts, Rancho Guajome, nine miles from Oceanside and forty-five miles from San Diego. This view shows court yard, while the view on next page shows court yard from roof. This is the architecture which enables a household to take full advantage of the San Diego climate, as, in a sense, they get the outside of their house on the inside
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ANOTHER VIEW OF THE HOME OF CAVE J. COUTS Showing court yard from the roof
CHAPTER VI
PROMINENT SPANISH FAMILIES
HE names and annals of Spanish families, con- spicuous in the social, commercial, religious, T and political life of Old San Diego, will al- ways be treasured as an interesting and vital part of local history. It would be quite in- vidious to attempt to present them in the order of their importance. IIence, the alphabetical plan is adopted in this arrangement of facts obtained from a great variety of sources :
AGUILAR, Blas, son of Corporal Rosario, born at San Diego, 1811, outside the Presidio walls. Was majordomo at Temecula in 1834. Settled at San Juan Capistrano and was a petitioner for land in 1841. Was alcalde there in 1848. Married Antonia Gniterrez.
AGUILAR, Rosario. Corporal of the mission guard at San Diego soon after the year 1800. Had a house on site of the pres- ent town, in 1821. Majordomo of San Diego Mission, 1838. Juez de paz in 1841. Removed to San Juan Capistrano soon * after and obtained land there. Died there in 1847 leaving several children, of whom Blas Aguilar, mentioned above, was one. His daughter Rafaela was married to José Antonio Serrano.
AGUIRRE, José Antonio. A native of Basque, Spain, born about 1793. At the time of the Mexican revolution he was a merchant at Guaymas. Remaining loyal to Spain, he was driven out of Mexico and settled in Upper California. Owned brigs Leonidas and Joven Guipuzoana, and engaged in coast, Island, and China trade. On arrival of the Híjar colony at San Diego in 1834, gave a ball in Híjar's honor. It was at this ball that certain modern dances are said to have been first introduced into California. He divided his residence between San Diego and Santa Barbara, at which latter place he owned the finest residence in 1842. In 1843, he was grantee of the Tejon rancho. In 1848 and 1849, engaged in trade with Wil- liam Heath Davis, and in 1850 he and Davis, with four others, founded new San Diego. He was at San Diego April 1, 1850, and appears in a list of the voters at Old Town. In Sep- tember of the latter year he served on the first grand jury
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in San Diego county under American rule. He married Fran- cisca, daughter of Prefect José Antonio Estudillo, of San Diego, and after her death married her sister, María del Rosario Estudillo. He was a large man and on that account was some- times called "Aguirron" (big Aguirre). He was a fine type of the old Spanish merchant and left a large estate to his widow and four children. A son, Miguel Aguirre, lives in the neighbor- hood of the San Jacinto rancho. A daughter was married to Francisco Pico and lives in the same vicinity. His widow married Colonel Manuel A. Ferrer, of San Diego.
ALIPAS, Damasio and Gervasio; mentioned by Juan Bandini as members of the revolutionary junta of fourteen which began the revolt against Governor Victoria in November, 1831. A third brother, Santos Alipas, was one of the men killed in the Pauma massaere, in December, 1846.
Damasio Alipás married Juana Machado, daughter of José Manuel Machado, and had three daughters: Ramona, whose first husband was William Curley and her second William Williams ("Cockney Bill"), and who is still living, in Los Angeles; Josefa, who married John Peters, and left San Diego in 1854 or 1855; and María Arcadia, who became the wife of Captain Robert D. Israel and lives in Coronado. Damasio Alipás went to Sonora before the Civil War, and was killed there. His widow then married Thomas Wrightington.
ALTAMIRANO, José Antonio, was the son of Tomás Altamirano and Dolores Carrillo, and was born at La Paz, .Lower California, May 31, 1835. His mother was a sister of Joaquin Carrillo, the father of Mrs. Henry D. Fitch ; another of her brothers was Pedro C. Carrillo, who once owned the San Diego (Coronado) peninsula and sold it for $3000. José Ant. Altamirano came to California in 1849 and was first engaged in mining. In 1859 he went into stock raising on a large scale near San Jacinto. He owned the Valle de las Palmas rancho, near Tia Juana, in Lower California, which is still in the family, and was at one time the owner of the Algodones grant, on the Colorado river, near Yuma. In the Mexican War, he served on the American side. He lived at Old Town. where he married Ysabel de Pedrorena, daughter of Mignel de Pedrorena, and had a large family.
Miguel is ummarried, and lives on Las Flores rancho: Antonio is married, and lives at Paris, France, was formerly a San Diego councilman ; JJosé is unmarried, and lives in San Francisco ; Robert, died at the age of twenty ; Dolores, married, first Harry Neale, of San Diego, and had three children, second. Robert Burns, of Sacramento; Ysabel, married E. W. Ackerman and lives in Old Town; Tula, Victoria, and Mary, unmarried; and Maria Antoinette, who died.
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SANTIAGO ARGUELLO
ALVARADO, Francisco María. First regidor of San Diego, 1837. Treasurer, 1840-1. Jucz de paz, 1845. Grantee of Peñasquitas rancho in 1823, 1834, and 1836, on which he lived ; and grantee of Soledad rancho in 1838. . Was an elector at San Diego, April 1, 1850.
ALVARADO, Juan Bautista. First regidor of San Diego, 1835 ; comisario de policia, 1836. Daughter Maria Antonia was married to Captain Joseph F. Snook.
ARGUELLO, José Ramon, son of Santiago Argüello. Second alcalde (juez de paz) in 1845. Davis related that on a trip into Lower California with Don Ramon as guide, he found that gen- tleman addicted to eating rattlesnakes.
ARGUELLO, Santiago. Son of José D. Argüello, born at Monterey 1791. Paymaster at San Diego in 1818, and in 1821 had a garden in Mission Valley. His part in the Bouchard invasion has been related. In 1827-31 he was lieutenant of the San Diego Company. and commandant from 1830 to 1835. From 1831-5 was captain of the company and took part in the revolt against Victoria. In 1833-4 he was revenue officer at San Diego. In 1836 he was alcalde, and held several other offices. During the Mexican war he was friendly to the Ameri- cans and gave them considerable aid. Soldiers were quartered at his house and he held a commission as captain in the Cal- ifornia battalion. Was a member of the Legislative council in 1847 and made collector of the port.
In 1829 he was granted the Tia Juana rancho, in 1841 the Trabujo, and in 1846 the San Diego Mission lands. He married Pilar Ortega, daughter of Francisco Ortega, of Santa Barbara, by whom he had 22 children. Among the children who lived and had issue were: Francisco, Ignacio, José Antonio, José Ramon, Santiago E, Refugio who was married to Juan Bandini, Teresa who was married to Jose M. Bandini, María Louisa, who was married to A. V. Zamorano, and Concepcion. wife of Agustin Olvera.
He died on his Tia Juana ranch in 1862, and his widow in 1878. The ranch is still owned by the family. Davis takes pains to state that his sons were finely-formed, well proportioned men. He was a man of ability and left an honorable record. His disposition was somewhat reserved and he was not universally personally popular.
ARGUELLO, Santiago E. Son of Santiago, was born Angust 18. 1813. Collector of revenue at San Diego, 1833-4. Took part against Alvarado in 1836-7. Deputy in assembly and juez de paz in 1845-6. Aided the Americans in Mexican War and had a claim for $11,548 for damages to his property. Was in charge of the Otay and San Antonio Abad ranchos in 1836-7. and majordomo and landowner at San Juan Capistrano in 1841.
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He was an elector at Old San Diego, April 1, 1850. He married Guadalupe Estudillo, daughter of José Antonio Estudillo. He died at the Rancho de la Punta, October 20, 1857, and left two sons and a number of daughters. One daughter, María Antonia, was married to A. H. Wilcox and another, Refugia, to William B. Couts. One son, Francisco, lives at Tia Juana and has a family.
BANDINI, Juan. Any sketch of this interesting figure in the early life of San Diego must necessarily fail to do him entire justice. For nearly forty years he was an honored citizen of California, saw it pass from Spanish into Mexican hands, and lived to take a prominent part in wresting it from the control of the Californians and making it an American State. Through all the intervening days of struggle, he took an important part, and narrowly missed the highest political honors of his time. Esti- mates of his character and services vary somewhat and have been influenced by the financial misfortunes which pursued him. But it seems clear that his long residence and eminent public services in San Diego entitled him to be considered the first Spanish citizen of his day.
The name of Bandini is not originally Spanish, but Italian, the family originating in Italy and there being a family of Bandinis of princely rank now in existence in Italy.
He was the son of José Bandini, who was a native of Anda- lusia. He was born at Lima in 1800, and received his education there. His father came to California as master of a Spanish trading vessel in 1819 and 1821, and it is possible Juan was with him. The father took an active part in the Mexican revolution and was made a captain. Soon after peace came, the father and son came to San Diego and built a house. His public services began in 1827-8 as a member of the assembly, and from 1828 to '31 he was sub-comisario of revenues. His house at San Diego, which is still standing in a good state of preservation. was erected in 1829. In 1830 he was chosen substitute congressman. In 1831 he took a leading part in the revolt against Governor Victoria, as related elsewhere. In 1832, he was appointed comi- sario principal ad interim, but Victoria refused to recognize his authority outside San Diego, and he soon resigned. In 1833 he went to Mexico as congressman and returned the following year as Vice-President of the Hijar colonization company and in- spector of customs for California. His elaborate entertainment of Híjar has been alluded to. The colonization scheme was a failure, however. The California officials also refused to ree- ognize his authority over the customs and brought a counter charge of smuggling which they succeeded in substantiating. technically, at least. These failures of his hopes were a severe blow to Bandini, from which he never fully recovered. In
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JUAN BANDINI
1836-7-8 he was the leading spirit in the opposition to Governor Alvarado, and on one occasion, at least, had the satisfaction of a great public reception when the whole population of San Diego turned out to meet him on his return from the capture of Los Angeles, in 1837. His return at this time was due to Indian troubles. He was the owner of the Tecate rancho on the Mexican border, which was pillaged by the hostiles and the family re- duced to want. But peace having been made. Alvarado made him administrator of the San Gabriel Mission, and he was also granted the Jurupa, Rincon, and Cajon de Muscapiabe ranchos, besides land at San Juan Capistrano. He held other offices. but continued to oppose Alvarado and was present with troops at the battle of Las Flores, in 1838. On Christmas night. 1838, while the Pastorela was being performed at his house, all the prominent citizens of San Diego being present, the house was surrounded by General Castro, acting under Alvarado's orders. and the two Picos and Juan Ortega taken prisoners. Bandini was absent at this time, and thus escaped arrest.
In 1845-6 he was Governor Pico's secretary and supported his administration. After the Mexican War began, however, he adhered to the American cause and rendered valuable services. He furnished supplies for the troops, and did everything in his power to aid them.
In 1847 he was a member of the legislative council. and in 1848, alcalde. On April 1, 1850, he appears as an elector at San Diego, and was elected treasurer, but declined to serve. In this year he was keeping a store at San Diego, and also erected a large building for a hotel, the Gila House, which is said to have cost $25,000. Soon after this he removed to a rancho which had been granted him in Mexico and resumed his Mexican citizenship. Here he took some part in politics, and was a supporter of Melendres, and had to quit the country with his belongings, in 1855. He died at Los Angeles, whither he had gone for treat- ment, in November. 1859.
His first wife was Dolores, daughter of Captain Jose M. Estudillo, and their children were: Areadia, who married Abel Stearns and afterward Colonel Robert L. Baker. She lives at Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Ysidora, who was born Septem- ber 23. 1829. was married to Cave J. Conts, died May 24. 1897, and is buried at San Diego. Josefa, who was married to Pedro C. Carrillo, who was alcalde and a member of California's first legislature in 1847. José María, who married Teresa, daughter of Santiago Argüello : and Juanito. His second wife was Refugia, daughter of Santiago Argüello (a sister of his son José Maria's wife). They had: Juan de la Cruz, Alfredo, Arturo, and two daughters, one of whom, Dolores, was married to Charles R. Johnson, and the other, Victoria (Chata), to Dr. James B. Win-
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