José del Carmen Lugo
Encyclopedia
José del Carmen Lugo was a major Californio
landowner in the Los Angeles
area, who worked beginning in 1839 to develop the San Bernardino
and Yucaipa
valleys, an area of more than 250000 acres (1,012 km²). He made an alliance with the regional Cahuilla
Indians.
During the Mexican-American War, Lugo led a Californio
militia
. In December 1846 he was ordered to punish a band of Luiseño Indians in retaliation for the Pauma Massacre
. His militia forces, together with allied Cahuilla
, killed 33-40 Luiseño in the Temecula Massacre
to avenge the deaths of 11 Californio lancers. The latter were killed for stealing horses from the Luiseño.
After the United States won the Mexican-American War and annexed California, the military governor in May 1849 appointed Lugo as the first Californio alcalde
(mayor) of Los Angeles under US control.
s in Spanish land grants during the early nineteenth century. His oldest son José del Carmen Lugo was a leader of a Californio militia during the Mexican-American War, and appointed mayor of Los Angeles in 1849 under the United States military government.
. Francisco Lugo came to California in 1774, and was stationed in northern California until 1781. Next he was assigned to the Pueblo de Los Angeles
. Francisco Lugo was one of the soldiers who escorted the Los Angeles Pobladores
(farming families and colonists) from northern Mexico into California. His name is listed on the plaque of those present at the founding of Los Angeles on September 4, 1781. Lugo married Juana Maria Martinez y Vianazul. Together they had several children: Jose Ygnacio, Antonio Maria, Juan Maria Alejandro, Maria Antonia Ysabel, and Maria Ygnacia Lugo.
in Jolon, California
, the youngest son of Francisco Lugo. After 17 years of service at the Presidio of Santa Barbara
, in 1810 Corporal Lugo received his discharge and settled with his family in Los Angeles. Antonio Lugo was granted the Spanish concession Rancho San Antonio in 1810, which was confirmed in 1838 by Mexican governor Juan Alvarado. In 1816, he served as the alcalde (mayor) of Los Angeles. In 1841, Lugo was granted Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
by governor Alvarado.
Antonio and his wife Dolores Lugo had five sons: José del Carmen, José Maria, Felipe, José Antonio, and Vicente Lugo; and three daughters: Vicenta Perez, Maria Antonia Yorba
, and María Merced Lugo. Maria married Stephen Clark Foster, the first American mayor of Los Angeles after the Mexican-American War.
and Yucaipa
valleys. The land covered more than 250000 acres (1,012 km²). Their colony charter was approved by the Mexican government in 1839. The valley was constantly plagued by robberies and frequent raids by Indian horse thieves from the high desert area. Many would-be colonizers would stay for only short periods of time. The Lugo families became strong allies with the Mountain Band of Cahuilla
Indians led by Chief Juan Antonio
.
In 1842 the Lugo family bought the San Bernardino Asistencia
or estancia. The buildings were in disrepair. Lugo made repairs and soon he and his wife and two daughters moved into the asistencia. By 1842 the governorship of California was about to change. To protect their land, Lugo applied for and received the Rancho San Bernardino
land grant of 35509 acres (144 km²).
During the Mexican-American War, Lugo led a loosely outfitted Californio militia. He was the leader of Californio forces during the Battle of Chino
and the Temecula Massacre
. By January 1847 he was placed in charge of the Chino
prisoners by General José María Flores
. Lugo escorted the prisoners to the Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
and released them.
In March 1847 he met with the American John Charles Fremont in Los Angeles. Fremont requested that Lugo round up as many of Flores’s abandoned horses as possible. Lugo rounded up about 60 horses between Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
In 1849, after annexing California following the defeat of Mexico in the war, the United States governor appointed José del Carmen Lugo the first alcalde
of Los Angeles under the new rule. In August 1849 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Los Angeles and served until January 1850.
In 1852 Lugo sold Rancho San Bernardino
to Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich
, apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Lugo’s fortunes changed for the worse in later years. In 1854, he signed a note at five per cent interest per month, compounded monthly, and mortgaged all of his property including his home in Los Angeles. He lost his house and his land in Los Angeles to cover the note. He died a pauper.
Californio
Californio is a term used to identify a Spanish-speaking Catholic people, regardless of race, born in California before 1848...
landowner in the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
area, who worked beginning in 1839 to develop the San Bernardino
San Bernardino Valley
The San Bernardino Valley is a valley in Southern California. It lies at the south base of the Transverse Ranges. It is bordered on the north by the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains, on the east by the San Jacinto Mountains, and on the south and west by the Santa Ana...
and Yucaipa
Yucaipa, California
Yucaipa is a city located east of San Bernardino, in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 51,367 at the 2010 census, up from 41,207 at the 2000 census...
valleys, an area of more than 250000 acres (1,012 km²). He made an alliance with the regional Cahuilla
Cahuilla
The Cahuilla, Iviatim in their own language, are Indians with a common culture whose ancestors inhabited inland areas of southern California 2,000 years ago. Their original territory included an area of about . The traditional Cahuilla territory was near the geographic center of Southern California...
Indians.
During the Mexican-American War, Lugo led a Californio
Californio
Californio is a term used to identify a Spanish-speaking Catholic people, regardless of race, born in California before 1848...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. In December 1846 he was ordered to punish a band of Luiseño Indians in retaliation for the Pauma Massacre
Pauma Massacre
The Pauma Massacre occurred in December 1846, north of Escondido, California. Luiseño Indians killed eleven Mexicans, Californio lancers who had stolen horses from them...
. His militia forces, together with allied Cahuilla
Cahuilla
The Cahuilla, Iviatim in their own language, are Indians with a common culture whose ancestors inhabited inland areas of southern California 2,000 years ago. Their original territory included an area of about . The traditional Cahuilla territory was near the geographic center of Southern California...
, killed 33-40 Luiseño in the Temecula Massacre
Temecula Massacre
The Temecula Massacre took place in December 1846 east of present-day Temecula, California. It was part of a series of related events in the Mexican-American War. A combined force of Californio militia and Cahuilla Indians attacked and killed an estimated 33-40 Luiseño Indians...
to avenge the deaths of 11 Californio lancers. The latter were killed for stealing horses from the Luiseño.
After the United States won the Mexican-American War and annexed California, the military governor in May 1849 appointed Lugo as the first Californio alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
(mayor) of Los Angeles under US control.
Lugo family
The Lugos were a prominent early family in California during the periods of Spanish and Mexican rule. They were among the colonists who became known as Californios. Francisco Salvador Lugo (1740–1805) arrived there as a soldier in the late eighteenth century. His son Antonio Maria Lugo (1775–1860), who also served as a soldier, received several large ranchoRancho
Rancho may refer to:*Alta California land grants in the 19th century; see Ranchos of California*Rancho High School, a North Las Vegas high school*Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center**Rancho Los Amigos Scale...
s in Spanish land grants during the early nineteenth century. His oldest son José del Carmen Lugo was a leader of a Californio militia during the Mexican-American War, and appointed mayor of Los Angeles in 1849 under the United States military government.
Francisco Salvador Lugo
Francisco Salvador Lugo (1740–1805), born in Sinaloa, Mexico, was a soldier in Alta CaliforniaAlta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
. Francisco Lugo came to California in 1774, and was stationed in northern California until 1781. Next he was assigned to the Pueblo de Los Angeles
Pueblo de Los Angeles
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles was the Spanish civilian pueblo founded in 1781, which by the 20th century became the American metropolis of Los Angeles....
. Francisco Lugo was one of the soldiers who escorted the Los Angeles Pobladores
Los Angeles Pobladores
The Pobladores of Los Angeles refers to the 44 original settlers and 4 soldiers who founded city of Los Angeles, California in 1781....
(farming families and colonists) from northern Mexico into California. His name is listed on the plaque of those present at the founding of Los Angeles on September 4, 1781. Lugo married Juana Maria Martinez y Vianazul. Together they had several children: Jose Ygnacio, Antonio Maria, Juan Maria Alejandro, Maria Antonia Ysabel, and Maria Ygnacia Lugo.
Antonio Maria Lugo
Antonio Maria Lugo (1775–1860) was born at Mission San Antonio de PaduaMission San Antonio de Padua
Mission San Antonio de Padua was founded on July 14, 1771, the third mission founded in Alta California by Father Presidente Junípero Serra, and site of the first Christian marriage and first use of fired-tile roofing in Upper California.-History:...
in Jolon, California
Jolon, California
Jolon is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It is located south of King City, at an elevation of 971 feet . Jolon is located in the Salinas Valley in a rural area located about 6 miles from Mission San Antonio de Padua, and is part of Fort Hunter Liggett.The town was...
, the youngest son of Francisco Lugo. After 17 years of service at the Presidio of Santa Barbara
Presidio of Santa Barbara
The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California...
, in 1810 Corporal Lugo received his discharge and settled with his family in Los Angeles. Antonio Lugo was granted the Spanish concession Rancho San Antonio in 1810, which was confirmed in 1838 by Mexican governor Juan Alvarado. In 1816, he served as the alcalde (mayor) of Los Angeles. In 1841, Lugo was granted Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino was a Mexican land grant in the Chino Hills of present day San Bernardino County, California given to Antonio Maria Lugo in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado...
by governor Alvarado.
Antonio and his wife Dolores Lugo had five sons: José del Carmen, José Maria, Felipe, José Antonio, and Vicente Lugo; and three daughters: Vicenta Perez, Maria Antonia Yorba
José Antonio Yorba
José Antonio Yorba , also known as Don José Antonio Yorba I, was a Spanish soldier and early settler of Spanish California.-Spanish Soldier:...
, and María Merced Lugo. Maria married Stephen Clark Foster, the first American mayor of Los Angeles after the Mexican-American War.
José del Carmen Lugo
José del Carmen Lugo (1813 - c. 1870 ), in a joint venture with his brothers José María and Vicente Lugo and cousin Diego Sepúlveda, began colonizing the San BernardinoSan Bernardino Valley
The San Bernardino Valley is a valley in Southern California. It lies at the south base of the Transverse Ranges. It is bordered on the north by the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains, on the east by the San Jacinto Mountains, and on the south and west by the Santa Ana...
and Yucaipa
Yucaipa, California
Yucaipa is a city located east of San Bernardino, in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 51,367 at the 2010 census, up from 41,207 at the 2000 census...
valleys. The land covered more than 250000 acres (1,012 km²). Their colony charter was approved by the Mexican government in 1839. The valley was constantly plagued by robberies and frequent raids by Indian horse thieves from the high desert area. Many would-be colonizers would stay for only short periods of time. The Lugo families became strong allies with the Mountain Band of Cahuilla
Cahuilla
The Cahuilla, Iviatim in their own language, are Indians with a common culture whose ancestors inhabited inland areas of southern California 2,000 years ago. Their original territory included an area of about . The traditional Cahuilla territory was near the geographic center of Southern California...
Indians led by Chief Juan Antonio
Juan Antonio
Juan Antonio is an Argentine football forward who currently plays for Italian club Brescia Calcio.-External links:...
.
In 1842 the Lugo family bought the San Bernardino Asistencia
San Bernardino Asistencia
The San Bernardino de Sena Estancia was established in 1819 as a ranch outpost of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in Redlands, California. It was built to graze cattle...
or estancia. The buildings were in disrepair. Lugo made repairs and soon he and his wife and two daughters moved into the asistencia. By 1842 the governorship of California was about to change. To protect their land, Lugo applied for and received the Rancho San Bernardino
Rancho San Bernardino
Rancho San Bernardino was a Mexican land grant in present day San Bernardino County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José del Carmen Lugo, José María Lugo, Vicente Lugo, and Diego Sepulveda...
land grant of 35509 acres (144 km²).
During the Mexican-American War, Lugo led a loosely outfitted Californio militia. He was the leader of Californio forces during the Battle of Chino
Battle of Chino
The Battle of Chino, a skirmish of the Mexican-American War occurred on September 26–27, 1846, during which 24 Americans led by Benjamin D. Wilson, who were hiding in the adobe house of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino, were captured by a group of about 50 Californios.-Background:In late September 1846,...
and the Temecula Massacre
Temecula Massacre
The Temecula Massacre took place in December 1846 east of present-day Temecula, California. It was part of a series of related events in the Mexican-American War. A combined force of Californio militia and Cahuilla Indians attacked and killed an estimated 33-40 Luiseño Indians...
. By January 1847 he was placed in charge of the Chino
Chino
Chino is a Spanish proper word for "Chinese", also used informally to refer to people with Asian features who may not be actually Asian. Chino, in Spanish can colloquially refer to curly hair....
prisoners by General José María Flores
José Mariá Flores
General José María Flores was an officer in the Mexican Army and was a member of la otra banda. He was appointed Governor and Comandante General pro tem of Alta California from 1846 to 1847.-Mexican-America War:...
. Lugo escorted the prisoners to the Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino was a Mexican land grant in the Chino Hills of present day San Bernardino County, California given to Antonio Maria Lugo in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado...
and released them.
In March 1847 he met with the American John Charles Fremont in Los Angeles. Fremont requested that Lugo round up as many of Flores’s abandoned horses as possible. Lugo rounded up about 60 horses between Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
In 1849, after annexing California following the defeat of Mexico in the war, the United States governor appointed José del Carmen Lugo the first alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
of Los Angeles under the new rule. In August 1849 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Los Angeles and served until January 1850.
In 1852 Lugo sold Rancho San Bernardino
Rancho San Bernardino
Rancho San Bernardino was a Mexican land grant in present day San Bernardino County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José del Carmen Lugo, José María Lugo, Vicente Lugo, and Diego Sepulveda...
to Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich
Charles C. Rich
Charles Coulson Rich was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Lugo’s fortunes changed for the worse in later years. In 1854, he signed a note at five per cent interest per month, compounded monthly, and mortgaged all of his property including his home in Los Angeles. He lost his house and his land in Los Angeles to cover the note. He died a pauper.