Juan María Osuna
Encyclopedia
Juan María Osuna was an early settler of San Diego, California
After retiring as a corporal, Osuna and his family were the first to build on the plain outside the Presidio of San Diego
. He built a three-room adobe with his sons and a dispensary.
In 1833, with five other male citizens, Osuna urged the governor to establish a pueblo (town) government for San Diego, to replace 60-some years of military rule. On January 1, 1835, this came to reality and Osuna was elected the first Alcade of San Diego pueblo. Lt. Santiago Argüello
, the last Commandant of San Diego Presidio
gave Osuna his staff of office, symbolizing the transfer of government from the military to civilian self-rule. He defeated Pío Pico
by 13 votes. Pico later became the last Mexican governor of Alta California. Osuna also served as juez de pas (justice of the peace) 1839–40 and 1846.
On February 15, 1806 Juan María Osuna married María Juliana Josepha Lopez, who was born March 16, 1791 to Juan Francisco Lopez, of the Portolà
Expedition) and María Feliciana Arballo de Gutierrez. Their daughter Felipa married Juan María Marrón
, their daughter Luguarda married José María Alvarado
, and their two sons were Leandro and Ramon.
Juan María Osuna was granted Rancho San Dieguito
, 25 miles (40 km.) north of San Diego along the coast, during 1836–1845. He raised cattle and horses on the ranch. Osuna had a weakness in gambling and had to sell some of his land to pay off his debts. Today Rancho San Dieguito is known as Rancho Santa Fe
, an exclusive residential area. Juan María Osuna'S adobe, overlooking the San Dieguito River Valley, has been restored and is part of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.
During the Mexican-American War Juan María Osuna remained loyal to Mexico. In 1846, U.S. troops occupied his San Diego home and his youngest son Santiago was killed. His last years were difficult under U.S. rule as he didn't speak English and was unfamiliar with U.S. law and customs.
Osuna died 1851, and is buried in El Campo Santo Catholic Cemetery in Old Town San Diego. A modern headstone reads "Juan Maria Osuna Died 1851 First Alcalde Of San Diego". His wife died December 22, 1871 and was buried next to him.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
Life
Juan María Osuna was born 1785 in California to Juan Hismerio Osuna and Maria Alvarado. He was a soldier and corporal of the San Diego Company and settled in San Diego. Juan María Osuna was District elector in 1830 and took part in the Mexican Revolution of 1831.After retiring as a corporal, Osuna and his family were the first to build on the plain outside the Presidio of San Diego
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Reál de San Diego is an historical fort established on May 14, 1769, by Commandant Pedro Fages for Spain. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. As the first of the presidios and Spanish missions in California, it was the base of...
. He built a three-room adobe with his sons and a dispensary.
In 1833, with five other male citizens, Osuna urged the governor to establish a pueblo (town) government for San Diego, to replace 60-some years of military rule. On January 1, 1835, this came to reality and Osuna was elected the first Alcade of San Diego pueblo. Lt. Santiago Argüello
Santiago Argüello
-Life:Santiago Argüello was born in Monterey, California, the son of José Darío Argüello, a soldier, and María Ignacia Moraga, a niece of the acting governor of Alta California. Argüello was tall and stout. His fair complexion and black hair, along with his reserved manner gave him a regal...
, the last Commandant of San Diego Presidio
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Reál de San Diego is an historical fort established on May 14, 1769, by Commandant Pedro Fages for Spain. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. As the first of the presidios and Spanish missions in California, it was the base of...
gave Osuna his staff of office, symbolizing the transfer of government from the military to civilian self-rule. He defeated Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
by 13 votes. Pico later became the last Mexican governor of Alta California. Osuna also served as juez de pas (justice of the peace) 1839–40 and 1846.
On February 15, 1806 Juan María Osuna married María Juliana Josepha Lopez, who was born March 16, 1791 to Juan Francisco Lopez, of the Portolà
Gaspar de Portolà
Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira was a soldier, governor of Baja and Alta California , explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey. He was born in Os de Balaguer, province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain, of Catalan nobility. Don Gaspar served as a soldier in the Spanish army in Italy and Portugal...
Expedition) and María Feliciana Arballo de Gutierrez. Their daughter Felipa married Juan María Marrón
Juan María Marrón
Juan María Marrón was an early settler of San Diego, California.-Life:Marrón was a ship's captain before settling San Diego in the early 1820s. In 1834 Marrón, married Felipa Osuna , the daughter of Juan María Osuna...
, their daughter Luguarda married José María Alvarado
José María Alvarado
José María Alvarado was the son of Juan Bautista Alvarado and María Raimunda Yorba.-Life:...
, and their two sons were Leandro and Ramon.
Juan María Osuna was granted Rancho San Dieguito
Rancho San Dieguito
Rancho San Dieguito was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Juan María Osuna. The rancho was renamed Rancho Santa Fe.-History:...
, 25 miles (40 km.) north of San Diego along the coast, during 1836–1845. He raised cattle and horses on the ranch. Osuna had a weakness in gambling and had to sell some of his land to pay off his debts. Today Rancho San Dieguito is known as Rancho Santa Fe
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
, an exclusive residential area. Juan María Osuna'S adobe, overlooking the San Dieguito River Valley, has been restored and is part of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.
During the Mexican-American War Juan María Osuna remained loyal to Mexico. In 1846, U.S. troops occupied his San Diego home and his youngest son Santiago was killed. His last years were difficult under U.S. rule as he didn't speak English and was unfamiliar with U.S. law and customs.
Osuna died 1851, and is buried in El Campo Santo Catholic Cemetery in Old Town San Diego. A modern headstone reads "Juan Maria Osuna Died 1851 First Alcalde Of San Diego". His wife died December 22, 1871 and was buried next to him.
See also
- "San Dieguito Rancho", Historic Ranchos of San Diego by Cecil C. Moyer, Richard F. Pourade, ed. (1960)
- Biography (San Diego Historical Society) from Smythe's History of San Diego (1907), p. 171.
- "A Political History of a Mexican Pueblo: San Diego from 1825 to 1845 Part I", The Journal of San Diego History 12:3 (Fall 1966) by Lucy Killea
- Family History for Juan Maria Osuna Family
- "Tradition and Today: The Osuna Story" The Journal of San Diego History 14:2 (1968)
- 1850 Census, San Diego, California, p. 278A
- Early California Population Project, www.huntington.org, Mission San Juan Capistrano baptismal record #03846 of daughter shows his parents' names.