USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 22
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
San Luis Hot Sulphur Springs
These springs used to be called the oil wells, for it was in drilling for oil that a great flow of hot sulphur water was obtained. Gas is abundant and burns all the time over the main well. The springs are about a mile and a half this side of Avila, in a pretty, secluded glade beside San Luis creek. There are a hotel, cottages, a hall, bath house and plunge, all very good. Great sycamores and oaks grow about. The climate is lovely-soft, warm, and balmy. The ozone from the near-by ocean soothes the nerves, and the mountains shut out all harsh winds. A mile and a half distant there is surf bathing. This is a popular resort, and many ills are cured here.
POZO
About eighteen miles southeast of Santa Margarita is the village of Pozo (a deep depression, or "cup"), surrounded by mountains more or less distant. It has a schoolhouse, a store, a blacksmith shop, a sort of hotel, a saloon and a hall. The Salinas river is near by, and a rich fertile country surrounds it. This vicinity used to be called San Jose Valley. The situation is beautiful and the climate very fine, especially for those inclined to lung trouble. It is on the stage line to Simmler and La Panza, and has daily mail. The post office is in MacNeil's store.
SHANDON
Shandon town site was surveyed and the map filed in the Recorder's office in July, 1890. "Sunset" was the name Mr. Charles E. Tobey selected for the new town; but when this was submitted to the postal authorities, they refused it, as there was already a post office of that name. "Shandon Bells," a story published in Harper's in 1882-83, was a great favorite with Dr. John Hughes; so he suggested "Shandon" for the name of the new town. This was officially accepted in 1891, and the name was placed on the map.
The West Coast Land Co. laid out the town and tried to "boom" it after their successful operations at Templeton. Years before that, all the land now known as the Shandon country had been taken up in government claims. It comprises the territory about the junction of the Cholame, San Juan and Estrella rivers. Wheat is the staple product, and each season. especially in the good years, long trains of mules and horses haul the grain to Paso Robles warehouses. Two wagons, sometimes three, are chained together, and from eight to sixteen mules or horses pull the heavy load. It takes the best part of three days to make the round trip to and from the farthest ranches. Men and teams are covered with sweat and gray with dust. Tinkling bells are worn by the leaders to warn others on the short turns and steep grades. The earliest settlers used to get mail from the Cholame post
168
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
office "The men would take turns bringing the mail for the neighborhood. On a quarter secloin about three miles southwest of what is now Shandon, Rudolph Mayer bad opened a saloon, and thinking it would be a good stroke ot business he drepied to try to get a post office also. He circulated a petition and obtained the necessary signatures, with the understanding, however, that the petitioners should have a say about the name and location of the new post office. Mayer, however, unadvised, named the office Starkey, for a friend of his, and located it in the saloon. Starkey had tried to jump a claim ; so it is needless to say neither name nor location was popular. But it served the purpose and was better than going to Cholame for mail. As this new office had not been included in the mail route, Mayer had to meet the mail stage on the Paso Robles road and carry his mail bag three miles to the delivery station. Soon after Mayer got the office established in its saloon home, (. J. Shaw started a store on the quarter section owned by M. P. Hansen and adjoining the old Spring schoolhouse, the first store in the valley. Mr. Shaw was a quaint little old gentleman, born in London, Canada, of English descent, who came to this country when only seventeen years old. Well educated, quite literary, a devout Episcopalian, he always worked in the church at Shandon, doing much for the uplift of the community. He was exceedingly polite and affable in manner, and the people insisted upon making him postmaster and moving the office to his store. Mr. Shaw continued to be postmaster until his death in May. 1913. Before coming to Shandon he had lived many years at Santa Barbara, but his body was sent back to London. Canada, for burial. Cliff Barnes succeeded Mr. Shaw as postmaster for a short time : then C. U. Margetts received the appointment, and still holds it. When the town of Shandon was laid out, Mr. Shaw moved the office over there, and Starkey became Shandon.
Mr. Worden put up the Shandon Hotel, the first building in the new town, and ran it until quite recently, when he turned the hotel over to his son, Guy T. Worden. Among the pioneer merchants were D. T. Smouse, Baxter Grainger and W. R. Post. The Methodists built the church, but it has always been used as a union church.
A fine class of people settled in and about Shandon. Orchards were early set out and now bear fine fruit. A few artesian wells have been sunk, and more probably could be. Considerable alfalfa is raised. The climate, though hot at times during the summer months, is exceedingly salubrious. The 14 !! Spring schoolhouse is now a thing of the past; for in 1915 a fine new mlern and well-equipped building was completed, and two teachers are Mm love 1. Mr -. ( lara F. Paulding taught the Spring school when she home- osdel a quarter section there many years ago. The writer has heard her I walk the moon-white nights when the air was sweet with the scent of th den inte villias that covered the hillsides.
160
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
CHAPTER XV Presidential Visits, and the G. A. R.
President McKinley's Visit
On May 11, 1901, President Mckinley, on his trip to the Pacific Coast, paid San Luis Obispo a visit. The G. A. R. of the county had charge of the arrangements, and were ably assisted by all patriotic citizens. F. E. Darke took an active part in the work of the committee. The Ramona Hotel's wide veranda was chosen for the speaker's stand, and it was decorated with flags and flowers. Seats were reserved for all members of the G. A. R. and Women's Relief Corps, and the President seemed pleased at the attention shown by all his old comrades in arms. His special train drew in from Los Angeles, and from the station to the hotel he was cheered and showered with flowers. Never shall we who saw him that day forget the glory of his countenance. A great soul shone from his eyes and seemed to radiate light. Mrs. McKinley was with him-so ill that all his later engagements, save two or three, were canceled. After his address he quietly slipped from the hotel to his train, which had been run up to the Ramona Hotel station, boarded it and was at once beside his beloved wife. There was the usual rush to say good-bye; and as the train pulled out, the President appeared on the rear platform smiling and waving his hand. Thus we saw the last of him, on May 11 ; for on September 6 of that year an assassin shot President McKinley at Buffalo, N. Y. September 14 news of his death plunged the nation into mourning. Memorial services were held for him in San Luis Obispo and in other towns in the county.
President Roosevelt's Visit
On May 9, 1903, we were again honored by a visit from the nation's chief executive. President Roosevelt was making a campaign tour of the Pacific Coast. He had made fame with his Rough Riders, cowboy friends of his from Texas and elsewhere, in the Spanish-American War. Ile had risen from the governor's chair in the Empire State to Vice-President of the United States; and now, through the act of an assassin's hand, the responsi- bilities of the nation's chief executive had fallen upon him. "Teddy" was a very popular man, and the population turned out to do him honor. As his special train pulled into the depot, the band played; but the memory of September 6, 1901, was still fresh in the minds of all, and no one cheered as the secret-service men, who had preceded him, swung onto his carriage and the horses were put to a swift. trot down Osos street. There was a tense silence until one little woman sprang to the curb, waved her arm and cried, "Hurrah for Roosevelt! Three cheers for Roosevelt!" Then the President stood straight up in his carriage, doffed his hat, showed his teeth in a royal smile, and bowed low to the lady from the lluasna hills. That started it, and Roosevelt got plenty of cheers thereafter.
A stand had been erected in the Mitchell block, covered with pepper boughs and flags, and there again the G. A. R. were seated upon the platform. We could not be proud of our city park-we had none-so borrowed the Mitchell block; but Roosevelt faced the mountains, bathed in their glowing
170
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
colors ; his face was fanned by the western breeze, and the fragrance of the pepper boughs and roses was distilled about him. He told us our duty, and drove it all home with both fists. Also he smiled; and if McKinley's face is remembered as that of a saint and martyr, Theodore Roosevelt's will always remind us of a big, strong man, full of zeal and purpose, afraid of nothing, bound for high places and sure to reach them.
G. A. R. of San Luis Obispo County
Colonel Ilarper Post No. 126, G. A. R., was instituted at Arroyo Grande, June 25, 1880. Its roster contains the following names :
Henry Bakeman, Co. F. 2nd Iowa Infantry : James G. Stevenson, Co. C, 74th Ohio Infantry : John S. Rice, Co. F, 10th Minnesota Infantry : W. L. Carman, Co. A, 183rd Ohio Infantry ; Thomas E. Hodges, Co. A, 45th Mis- souri Infantry ; Edward S. Shaw, Co. B, 74th Illinois Infantry : Sergeant Nathan J. Keown, Co. B. 21st Missouri Infantry : John W. Spears, Co. MI, 3rd New York Cavalry : James Eddy, Co. E, 57th Illinois Infantry ; Sergeant K. M. Jersey, Co. K, 2nd California Infantry : Thomas Whiteley, Co. G. 4th Massachusetts Infantry : H. A. Sperry ; C. L. Turner, Co. D, 2nd U. S. In- fantry : S. H. Abbott, Co. E. 3rd Michigan Artillery ; Thomas J. Forkner, Co. I, 15th Kansas Cavalry ; B. C. Ide, Co. C. 24th Michigan Infantry ; Gran- ville Shinn, Co. C. 118th Illinois Infantry ; A. L. Turner, Co. D. 2nd U. S. Infantry ; H. H. Adams, Co. K, 12th Massachusetts Infantry ; Isaac Miller, Co. D. 24th Iowa Infantry; William Quimby. Co. B, 188th New York in- fantry ; Allen Colton, Co. B, 6th Michigan Infantry ; William J. Harr, Co. H, 1st New York Artillery ; E. L. Warner, Co. A, 193rd New York Infantry ; B. F. Hilliker, Co. A, 8th Wisconsin Infantry : Jefferson Wright, Co. A, 55th Ohio Infantry ; Fred Seaman, Co. E, 2nd California Infantry ; R. Dodge, Co. B, 47th Michigan Infantry : Edmond Waterman; William Lane, Co. C, 24th Iowa Infantry ; James Ferguson, 12th Illinois Regulars ; Erastus Fouch, Co. I, 75th Ohio Infantry ; Elisha J. Lucas, Co. F, 10th Wisconsin Infantry ; Thomas J. Jinks, Co. F, 12th Kansas Infantry ; Henry E. Hoskins, Co. K, 2nd Cali- fornia Cavalry ; George Van Order, Co. D. 143rd New York Infantry ; Charles Putnam, Ist Oregon Infantry ; J. N. Moses, Co. E, 1Ith Ohio Cavalry : John L. Lyon, Co. A, 1st Ohio Cavalry; John Finch, Co. L, 9th Minnesota In- laintry ; Paul Reil, Co. D. 6th U. S. Infantry ; George A. John, Co. H, 73rd Indiana Infantry : J. B. Eakman, Co. E, 11th Pennsylvania Infantry : Ray S. Potter, Co. D, 8th Minnesota Infantry ; Thomas H. Keown, Co. F. 12th Mis- souri Infantry ; C. C. Arlle, Co. D, 107th Ohio Infantry; C. H. Lockwood, Nagy. A. Adams, Co. D. 12th Maine Infantry; H. Bouchard, Co. A. 156th Whom- hoantry : Salathial Wheeler, Co. K. 27th Ohio; James A. Dowell, 1. 41. loth Kansas Cavalry : Charles N. Davis, Co. I, 66th Ohio Infantry ; Ihm Alit. Co. 6. 16th Wisconsin Infantry: Francis X. Belot, Co. K, 4th Wir th Infantry; Otis M. Keesey, Co. D. 08th Ohio Infantry ; Timothy ATMOU.r. Co. C. 44th Ohio Infantry : F. R. Baumgartner, Co. D. 144th Ohio Istenty - 1). Harling, Co. 1. 73rd Indiana Infantry: W. H. Hartwell, Co. I, For New Luffy Ture Infantry : C. F. Bristol, Co. D. 87th Ohio Infantry ; Magro @ Junlamy. Cn. \, 12th Wisconsin Infantry: S. H. Coomes, Co. C. 250 The fairy : Silvester Ullom, Co. B. 25th Ohio Infantry; W. W. Smu Os . Tit View-in Infantry : L. Wood, Co. I, 91st Indiana Infantry ; V. S Rimpels, Co. D. 136th Ohio Infantry; Bradford Johnson, Co. I, 3rd
171
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
New York Infantry; William H. Owen, Co. G, 42nd Missouri Iniantry : Joseph S. Brewer, Co. G, 42nd New Jersey Infantry ; Adam Bair, Co. D, 86th Ohio Infantry : Joseph M. Loveland, Co. H. 32nd Iowa Infantry ; C. C. Mar- tin, Co. G, 68th Illinois Infantry ; John M. Gorham, Co. K, 7th Missouri Cavalry : Joseph Quinn, Co. F, 12th Missouri Cavalry : Herman Beyer, Co. E, 8th N. Y. Infantry ; William Brassfield, Co. M. 11th Illinois Cavalry.
This shows the names of seventy-six veterans who have belonged to the Colonel Harper Post. Of these, sixteen were from Ohio, eight from Illinois, seven from New York, six from Missouri, five from Wisconsin, four from Minnesota, four from Michigan, four from Iowa, three from Indiana, three from Kansas, three from California, three from the U. S. Regulars, two from Massachusetts, one from Maine, one from New Hampshire, one from New Jersey, one from Pennsylvania, and one from Oregon. Sergeant Nathan J. Keown, Co. B, 21st Missouri, was a charter member and father of Thomas H. Keown, who served in Co. F. 12th Missouri. Father and son fought shoulder to shoulder to preserve intact their country and ours. Could we do less than give them brief notice in our history? Only a few old and bent gray-haired men survive of the seventy-six members of the post. Paul Reil, until his last Memorial Day, in spite of his ninety-one years, proudly carried the colors at the head of the little line of veterans who each year hold memorial services at Arroyo Grande. It was a sight to stir the heart to look upon this old man straighten his bent back, proudly lift his face and gaze upon Old Glory, then "fall in" and march the mile or more from head- quarters to the "bivouac of the dead." In homage we lift our hats and bow our heads in the presence of all members of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The charter members of Colonel Harper Post were Henry Bateman, James G. Stevenson, John S. Rice, W. S. Carman, Thomas S. Rodgers, Nathan J. Keown, James S. Eddy, T. W. Spears, R. N. Jersey and Stewart Shaw. This post was instituted June 25, 1880.
Fred Steele Post No. 70, G. A. R., named for Major General Fred Steele, a brother of E. W. and George Steele, was first instituted probably in the late seventies, but the fire that destroyed the Andrews Hotel and other build- ings destroyed the first charter, and no exact date for the organization of the first Fred Steele Post is available. The second post, bearing the same name as the first one, Department of California and Nevada, was organized July 1, 1886, with fourteen charter members, viz .: G. B. Staniford, R. B. Treat, J. E. Walker, W. G. Olmstead, George B. Woods, Charles Martin. N. R. Johnson, J. B. Seaton, Frank R. Dart, Frank Cannels, W. F. Canon, Levi Rackliffe, Frederick E. Darke, John Hamlin. About one hundred fifty veterans have at various times belonged to this post. At present there are only fifteen, for death is rapidly thinning their ranks. On January 11, 1917. James M. Brown answered the last roll call. The present officers are: David Thaler, commander; R. II. Seeber, senior vice; Charles Martin, junior vice; F. E. Darke, chaplain ; S. L. Nichols, adjutant; B. F. East- man, officer of the day ; Martin Polin, inside guard ; David Hough, outside guard. The other members are Peter Banks, Blanchard Kirchner, Thomas Preston, R. N. Truesdale, Comrade Shindler and J. k. Truesdale. This post owns a plot of ground in the Odd Fellows cemetery at San luis Obispo. where many old soldiers are buried. There is a soldiers' monument on the plot, and an old naval cannon, on its carriage, presented to the post through
172
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
the efforts of Senator George Perkins. Each year Memorial services are conducted there wider the auspices of the post. There used to be a goodly number of the Boys in Blue marching to martial music as the procession moved to this one of God's acres. Now only a dozen or so white-haired men ride in automobiles to Memorial services, and the flags above the mounds are many .
. Too much honor cannot be shown this remnant of the gallant Union Army, and we are proud to embody in our history this brief review of Fred Steele Post No. 70 and Colonel Harper Post No. 126 of San Luis Obispo county.
A very efficient Woman's Relief Corps is connected with each of these posts. The one at Arroyo Grande was organized in 1883 with eighteen charter members, viz .: Eliza Bakeman, Hattie F. Turner, Lucy S. Spears, Harriet B. Abbott, Martha Eldridge, Hattie Lewis, Rilla Young, Mahelda Keown, Maira F. Peterson, Mary F. Meyers, Sallie F. Findley, Georgia Eddy, Carrie Barker, Annie Shinn, Sarah Love, Nellie G. Abbott, Rosa Love, Missouri Eldridge.
The Fred Steele Relief Corps was instituted July 9, 1910, with forty charter members. The roll call increased to seventy-eight, but has now dropped to twenty-six in good standing. Two other corps had been organ- ized here in earlier years, but had ceased to be when the present corps was organized. This one takes an active part in charitable work and provides several socials each year for members of the G. A. R. This last year it helped pay the taxes on the soldiers' burial plot in San Luis Obispo, sent money to the Evergreen Home for old ladies, and assisted other worthy ob- jects. The past presidents are Mrs. Leonora Hardy, Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. Callie M. John, Mrs. Ethel Long, Mrs. Kitty Turney. Mrs. Corra Eastman is now president : Cora Evans, senior vice : Lily Smith, junior vice ; Rachel Martin, chaplain ; Charlotte Miller, treasurer ; Mrs. Annie Berry, secretary ; Lena Spence, conductor: Sadie Smith, guard; Mrs. Eastman, patriotic in- structor : Gertie Tilsley, press correspondent ; Jennette Taylor, assistant con- ductor : Kitty Turney, assistant guard ; Mrs. Long, Catherine Taylor, Rosana Taylor and Ida Daugherty, color bearers.
It has already been stated that Major General Steele was a brother of E. W. and George Steele, both very prominent pioneer men of the county; so when a post was to be organized at San Luis Obispo it seemed fitting to name it for their illustrious brother. He was graduated from West Point in 1843, served in the Mexican War and through the Civil War, and was with his regiment at the battle of Vicksburg and with Sherman in his march to the s a. In 1912 a life-size bronze statue of Major General Steele was set up no Vicksburg National Park. It was erected to his memory by his niece and wilier members of the Proctor family. In recognition of the honor shown chie'r Toother, the Steele brothers presented the post with a fine silk flag.
173
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
CHAPTER XVI
A Celebrated Land Case, and Old County Documents
When in 1851 a land commission was established to settle the titles to the Spanish land grants, many of the Spanish and Mexican grantees scorned the "Gringo law," believing they could not be ousted from their lands. Those who complied fully with the law obtained patents, but those who refused became involved later in expensive litigation. Sometimes they lost the land entirely. Often they spent the price of it in lawsuits. As a sample case in this county we give the story of the Cuesta rancho.
In 1841, Mariano Bonilla petitioned Governor AAlvarado to grant him a tract of land which should be known as la Cuesta. He described it quite minutely. It is the land lying in Cuesta cañion extending back along a little stream, the stream flowing into San Luis creek. The new city reservoir is near this stream, and the land is perhaps better known now as the Goldtree ranch. Bonilla's petition was referred to the priest in charge of the Mission, as la Cuesta was a part of the old Mission lands. The priest reported favor- ably, and Governor Alvarado granted the land. April 16, 1842, Manuel Jimeno, member of the departmental junta, made an informal grant of the land, specifying that within one year a house be built and occupied, and that not over six or seven cows and horses, sufficient for family use, be pastured on the grazing lands which belonged to the Mission. The land granted Bonilla was to be for agricultural use and an orchard. Also, he was not to "divert or diminish" the water supply of San Luis creek, which fur- nished water for the Mission. He might fence it, but the road must not be enclosed.
March 14, 1846, judicial possession was given Bonilla by the alcalde of San Luis Obispo, Jose de Jesus Pico, who directed two plainsmen, Don Manuel Garcia and Don Vicente Bonilla, in default of a regular surveyor, to make a cord one hundred Castilian varas long and, "in company with witnesses and spectators," measure off the land. They promised to do it "fair and justly." The party proceeded to La Cañada Honda, on the range of mountains, and, beginning there, measured off the land, setting suitable marks to indicate the bounds. After the land was legally surveyed by the plainsmen with their "cordel," Bonilla, to show that he was now sole "lord and owner," pulled up herbs and scattered them about ; also he "hurled stones" over his domain. The official witnesses were Vicente Garcia and Jose Ortega. Bonilla planted an orchard, built a house, which he lived in, and also put up a "molino," or grist-mill, and ground wheat for all who would bring it. This old mill, the first one at San Luis Obispo, is mentioned elsewhere.
March 22, 1869, Bonilla sold to P. W. Murphy all his land, save the portion already sold to Sumner. Meantime a United States Government survey had been made: and Bonilla having refused to comply with "Gringo law," his land was surveyed with the rest and the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections declared school lands. February 3, 1871, the United States Land Office issued to Leonardo Lopez a patent covering Bonilla's land, which Lopez got as school land or government land, and transferred to Isaac and Nathan Goldtree, who proceeded to take possession. Beyond question, this was an underhanded trick. Probably Goldtree instigated Lopez to take the land and
174
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
furnished the funds, though this is only a supposition. Had Bonilla complied with the Mexican law, and later the "Gringo" law, he would have been pro- tected, and so would Murphy ; but now there was trouble. March 7, 1872, Murphy filed complaint for the recovery of his land and asked that defendant, Goldtree Bros., pay him $640 rent per year since the time they "forcibly, and without complainant's consent," took possession of la Cuesta. May 6. 1873, the answer was filed ; and the suit was tried at the May term of court, 1874, without a jury. Walter Murray represented the defendants ; C. WV. Dana was clerk. The Goldtrees were given judgment, and Murphy had to pay costs of suit.
When the suit was instituted, all the old records had to be hunted up. As they were recorded in Spanish, they were translated into English. Bonilla's petition, the priest's opinion and Alvarado's consent to it were found in the old custom-house at Monterey. As often as this land changes hands, the Bonilla heirs put in a claim for recognition and compensation, but so far to no avail. These old documents are so interesting that we give them in full, with peculiarities of style and punctuation retained.
Copy of Old Documents Found in County Clerk's Office
This cause came on to be tried at the May Term of this Court, 1874, and by consent of parties was tried to the Court without a Jury. The Court having heard the testimony and argument of Counsel now finds the facts to be :
I
On the 4th day of January, 1841, Jose Mariano Bonilla, a Mexican Citizen, and a resident of California, addressed to Juan B. Alvarado then Gov- ernor of California, the following petition :
(Translation)
"To His Excellency the Governor-
I, Mariano Bonilla, a native of the Department of Mexico and a resi- dent of the Ex Mission of San Miguel before your Excellency respectfully and in the form of law, represent: That in the Cañada known by the name of San Luis Obispo, there is a small plain, on which, with industry and labor, an orchard might be planted and mill built without disturbing the course of the water, and since the Mission of San Luis makes no use of said place, and does not need the same, and since the temperature of Wat place is very beneficial to my health, I ask your Excellency to be pleased to grant me in said place, a solar of three hundred varas square, and Lo permit me to use the water of the Arroyo which runs to San Luis Obispo, wilfout disturbing the course of the same or diminishing its quantity. I wily place thereon a mill, plant an orchard and build a house, all of which will la or die public benefit. The said place is well known, however, I furnish a cafe ive your better information.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.