Rancho Agua Caliente (Pina)
Encyclopedia
Rancho Agua Caliente was a 3219 acres (13 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Sonoma County, California
given in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Lázaro Piña (often misspelled as "Pena" in historical documents). The name means "warm water" and refers to the hot springs in the area. The grant extended two and one half leagues to the north of Sonoma
and was one quarter league wide, and included present day Glen Ellen
and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente
.
in Sonoma. By 1840, Vallejo's staff consisted of Colonel Victor Prudon, Major José de los Santos Berreyesa
, and Alfarez (second lieutenant) Lázaro Piña. Lázaro Piña and his wife, Maria Placida Villela (d.1844) were the parents of six sons (Jesus(b.1826), José German Pina (1829–1847), Francisco(b.1831), Antonio(1831–1853), Luis(b.1834)) and one daughter, Clara (b.1836). José German Pina was the grantee of Rancho Tzabaco
. When Villela died in 1844, Lázaro married , Maria Ignacia Pacheco. Lázaro left California soon after the beginning of the Mexican-American War and was killed fighting on the Mexican side at the Battle of Cerro Gordo
in 1847.
With the cession
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Agua Caliente was filed by Mariano G. Vallejo with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, but the Commission rejected the claim for lack of any proof, either of the original grant or of the alleged conveyance from Piña to Vallejo. On appeal in 1861, the US Supreme Court confirmed the grant to Vallejo and the grant was patented
at 1864 acres (7.5 km²) in 1880.
A claim was filed by C.P. Stone with the Land Commission in 1853 and was patented at 212 acre (0.85793432 km²) in 1880.
After the Mexican-American War Joseph Hooker
retired from the United States Army
and bought a part of the rancho in 1853. A claim was filed by Joseph Hooker with the Land Commission in 1853 and was patented at 551 acres (2.2 km²) in 1866.
Vallejo sold part of the rancho to Thaddeus M. Leavenworth, a Connecticut Episcopalian who was also a physician and druggist. Leavenworth arrived in San Francisco as chaplain of the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers
in March 1847. He was alcalde of San Francisco in 1848-49, but had difficulties with the military government and was removed from office. A claim was filed by Thaddeus M. Leavenworth with the Land Commission in 1853 and was patented at 592 acres (2.4 km²) in 1880.
In 1858, Colonel Charles V. Stuart
, purchased part of the rancho and named his ranch Glen Ellen in honor of his wife, Ellen.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
in present day Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
given in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Lázaro Piña (often misspelled as "Pena" in historical documents). The name means "warm water" and refers to the hot springs in the area. The grant extended two and one half leagues to the north of Sonoma
Sonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
and was one quarter league wide, and included present day Glen Ellen
Glen Ellen, California
Glen Ellen is a census-designated place in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA. The population was 784 at the 2010 census, down from 992 at the 2000 census. Glen Ellen is the location of Jack London State Historic Park , Sonoma Valley Regional Park, and a former home of Hunter S....
and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente
Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, California
Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente is a census-designated place in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 4,144....
.
History
Lázaro Piña (d.1847), a soldier who had come to California in 1819. In 1829, Lazaro joined the military revolt of Joaquín Solis. against Governor Echeandía. In 1838, Piña came under the command of General Mariano VallejoMariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state...
in Sonoma. By 1840, Vallejo's staff consisted of Colonel Victor Prudon, Major José de los Santos Berreyesa
José de los Santos Berreyesa
José de los Santos Berreyesa , a member of the Berreyesa family, was the last alcalde of Alta California...
, and Alfarez (second lieutenant) Lázaro Piña. Lázaro Piña and his wife, Maria Placida Villela (d.1844) were the parents of six sons (Jesus(b.1826), José German Pina (1829–1847), Francisco(b.1831), Antonio(1831–1853), Luis(b.1834)) and one daughter, Clara (b.1836). José German Pina was the grantee of Rancho Tzabaco
Rancho Tzabaco
Rancho Tzabaco was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José German Piña . The grant extended along Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River,north west of present day Healdsburg and encompassed present day Geyserville...
. When Villela died in 1844, Lázaro married , Maria Ignacia Pacheco. Lázaro left California soon after the beginning of the Mexican-American War and was killed fighting on the Mexican side at the Battle of Cerro Gordo
Battle of Cerro Gordo
The Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's United States troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.-Battle:...
in 1847.
With the cession
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession of 1848 is a historical name in the United States for the region of the present day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S...
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Agua Caliente was filed by Mariano G. Vallejo with the Public Land Commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1853, but the Commission rejected the claim for lack of any proof, either of the original grant or of the alleged conveyance from Piña to Vallejo. On appeal in 1861, the US Supreme Court confirmed the grant to Vallejo and the grant was patented
Land patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
at 1864 acres (7.5 km²) in 1880.
A claim was filed by C.P. Stone with the Land Commission in 1853 and was patented at 212 acre (0.85793432 km²) in 1880.
After the Mexican-American War Joseph Hooker
Joseph Hooker
Joseph Hooker was a career United States Army officer, achieving the rank of major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although he served throughout the war, usually with distinction, Hooker is best remembered for his stunning defeat by Confederate General Robert E...
retired from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and bought a part of the rancho in 1853. A claim was filed by Joseph Hooker with the Land Commission in 1853 and was patented at 551 acres (2.2 km²) in 1866.
Vallejo sold part of the rancho to Thaddeus M. Leavenworth, a Connecticut Episcopalian who was also a physician and druggist. Leavenworth arrived in San Francisco as chaplain of the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers
Jonathan D. Stevenson
Jonathan Drake Stevenson was born in New York; won a seat in the New York State Assembly ; was the commanding officer of the First Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Mexican-American War in California; entered California mining and real estate businesses; and died in San Francisco on...
in March 1847. He was alcalde of San Francisco in 1848-49, but had difficulties with the military government and was removed from office. A claim was filed by Thaddeus M. Leavenworth with the Land Commission in 1853 and was patented at 592 acres (2.4 km²) in 1880.
In 1858, Colonel Charles V. Stuart
Charles V. Stuart
Charles V. Stuart was a California pioneer and delegate to the California Constitutional Convention of 1878-79, where he distinguished himself as the only delegate to speak out in defense of the rights of Chinese immigrants....
, purchased part of the rancho and named his ranch Glen Ellen in honor of his wife, Ellen.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Lachryma Montis. M. G. Vallejo moved from his Casa Grande to this estate on the edge of Sonoma in the early 1850s. He named it "Lachryma Montis" (weeping mountain) after a spring on the property.