Rancho Cañada de Salsipuedes
Encyclopedia
Rancho Cañada de Salsipuedes was a 6656 acres (26.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Santa Barbara County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Pedro Cordero. Salsipuedes means "get out if you can", and the name refers to the narrow winding canyons and trails. The grant was south east of present day Lompoc
.
in 1808. He was granted the one and a half square league Rancho Cañada de Salsipuedes in 1844. The rancho was only a few miles west of Rancho Las Cruces
granted to his brother Miguel Cordero in 1837.
In 1850, John C. Kays (often referred to as "Keyes" in documents) purchased the rancho from Pedro Cordero. John C. Kays (1813-1896), born in Ireland
, came to America in 1833. In 1842, he came to Los Angeles
, where he operated a dry-goods business. He served in the army during the Mexican–American War
. In 1847 he married Josefa, a daughter of Captain Burke. In 1849 he moved to Santa Barbara, where he operated a dry-goods business.
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 Cañada de Salsipuedes was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to John C. Kays in 1874.
Kays amassed a considerable fortune, owning at one time three ranchos; but he lost them in real-estate speculations. Colonel W.W. Hollister
and Thomas and Albert Dibblee purchased Rancho Cañada de Salsipuedes.
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 Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
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 Pedro Cordero. Salsipuedes means "get out if you can", and the name refers to the narrow winding canyons and trails. The grant was south east of present day Lompoc
Lompoc, California
Lompoc is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1888. The population was 42,434 at the 2010 census, up from 41,103 at the 2000 census....
.
History
Pedro Regalado Cordero (1785-1851) was the son of Mariano Antonio Cordero (1750-1821). He married Maria Dolores Claudia Quijada (1793-1843) of Rancho Bolsa de ChamisalRancho Bolsa de Chamisal
Rancho Bolsa de Chamisal was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Francisco Quijada...
in 1808. He was granted the one and a half square league Rancho Cañada de Salsipuedes in 1844. The rancho was only a few miles west of Rancho Las Cruces
Rancho Las Cruces
Rancho Las Cruces was a Mexican land grant in the Santa Ynez Mountains of present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Miguel Cordero. The name means "the crosses"...
granted to his brother Miguel Cordero in 1837.
In 1850, John C. Kays (often referred to as "Keyes" in documents) purchased the rancho from Pedro Cordero. John C. Kays (1813-1896), born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, came to America in 1833. In 1842, he came to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he operated a dry-goods business. He served in the army during the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. In 1847 he married Josefa, a daughter of Captain Burke. In 1849 he moved to Santa Barbara, where he operated a dry-goods business.
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 Cañada de Salsipuedes was filed 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, 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 John C. Kays in 1874.
Kays amassed a considerable fortune, owning at one time three ranchos; but he lost them in real-estate speculations. Colonel W.W. Hollister
William Welles Hollister
William Welles Hollister was a Californian rancher and entrepreneur.-Ancestors and early life :William Welles Hollister, was born on Jan...
and Thomas and Albert Dibblee purchased Rancho Cañada de Salsipuedes.