Rancho Aguas Frias
Encyclopedia
Rancho Aguas Frias was a 26761 acres (108.3 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Butte County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Antonio Maria Osio and his son Salvador Osio. Aguas Frias means "cold water" in Spanish. The grant, located south of present day Chico
, extended along the west bank of Butte Creek, and was bounded on the west by Rancho Llano Seco
. Rancho Esquon
was directly across Butte Creek.
given by Governor Micheltorena in 1843. Osio's son Salvador settled on the six square league Rancho Aguas Frias.
Osio sold Rancho Aguas Frias to Andrew Randall. Andrew Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island
, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of Sciences
. In addition to Rancho Aguas Frias, he was the claimant for Rancho Punta de los Reyes
and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante in Marin County
; and Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
and Rancho San Lorenzo
in Monterey County
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However Randall had stretched his credit to the limit, and he could not or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington, a creditor, undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington July 29, 1856.
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 Aguas Frias was filed by Andrew Randall with the Public Land Commission
in 1852. After the death of Randall, Samuel Todd substituted for Andrew Randall, and the grant was patented
to Samuel Todd in 1860.
In 1859, Orville C. Pratt
(1819-1891) purchased of the Rancho Aguas Frias. In 1849, Pratt was the first judicial appointee to Oregon's new Territorial Supreme Court. When Franklin Pierce
was elected president, Pratt was removed as a federal judge. Pratt moved to San Francisco in 1856.
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 Butte County, California
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
to Antonio Maria Osio and his son Salvador Osio. Aguas Frias means "cold water" in Spanish. The grant, located south of present day Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, extended along the west bank of Butte Creek, and was bounded on the west by Rancho Llano Seco
Rancho Llano Seco
Rancho Llano Seco was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pio Pico to Sebastian Keyser . Llano Seco means "dry plains" in Spanish...
. Rancho Esquon
Rancho Esquon
Rancho Esquon was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Samuel Neal. The grant, located south of present day Chico, extended on the east bank of Butte Creek, and encompassed present day Durham, Esquon, Gridley, and Nelson...
was directly across Butte Creek.
History
Antonio M. Osio (1800–1878) was also the grantee of the eleven square league Rancho Punta de los Reyes SobranteRancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given by Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1843 to Antonio Maria Osio. The name means "Leftover of Point Reyes Ranch"...
given by Governor Micheltorena in 1843. Osio's son Salvador settled on the six square league Rancho Aguas Frias.
Osio sold Rancho Aguas Frias to Andrew Randall. Andrew Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
. In addition to Rancho Aguas Frias, he was the claimant for Rancho Punta de los Reyes
Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Randall)
Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to James Richard Berry, and re-granted in 1838 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joseph Snook...
and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante in Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
; and Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1839 by Governor José Castro to Lazaro Soto...
and Rancho San Lorenzo
Rancho San Lorenzo (Randall)
Rancho San Lorenzo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Rico. The grant extended along San Lorenzo Creek in Peach Tree Valley.-History:...
in Monterey County
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However Randall had stretched his credit to the limit, and he could not or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington, a creditor, undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington July 29, 1856.
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 Aguas Frias was filed by Andrew Randall 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 1852. After the death of Randall, Samuel Todd substituted for Andrew Randall, 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...
to Samuel Todd in 1860.
In 1859, Orville C. Pratt
Orville C. Pratt
Orville C. Pratt was an American jurist and attorney. He served as the 2nd Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1848 to 1852. He wrote the lone dissenting opinion in the controversy over the Oregon Territory’s capital between Oregon City and Salem.-Early life:Pratt was born...
(1819-1891) purchased of the Rancho Aguas Frias. In 1849, Pratt was the first judicial appointee to Oregon's new Territorial Supreme Court. When Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
was elected president, Pratt was removed as a federal judge. Pratt moved to San Francisco in 1856.