Rancho Cucamonga
Encyclopedia
Rancho Cucamonga was a 13045 acres (52.8 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Bernardino County, California
given in 1839 to dedicated soldier, smuggler and politician, Tiburcio Tapia by Mexican governor Juan Bautista Alvarado
. The grant encompassed present day Rancho Cucamonga
. The rancho extended easterly from San Antonio Creek to what is now Turner Avenue (Hermosa), and from today's Eighth Street to the mountains.
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 Cucamonga was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented to Leon V. Prudhomme in 1872.
Rancho Cucamonga was sold in 1858 to John Rains. Rains in 1856 married Maria Merced Williams, the daughter of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino
owner Isaac Williams and granddaughter of Antonio Maria Lugo, owner of Rancho San Bernardino
. Maria was thus a wealthy heiress, and Rains invested in three ranchos and the Bella Union Hotel in Los Angeles. John Rains was murdered on November 17, 1862. Three men including Tomas Procopio Bustamante
were accused but only Manuel Cerrada was caught. Cerrada claimed he, Precopio and four others were paid $500 by Ramon Carrillo, another ranchero and political opponent, to kill Rains. Cerrada was soon lynched and Carrillo, examined in court was released, no envidence having been found against him. Ramon Carrillo always claimed his innocence of the crime, but was shot from ambush in the back and killed on the Los Angeles road west of Cucamonga on May 21, 1864 in another unsolved murder.
Maria Merced married José Carrillo in 1864. She had nine children in all: five with Rains, and four with Carrillo. Isaias W. Hellman, a Los Angeles banker, acquired Rancho Cucamonga at a sheriff’s sale in 1871.
In 1977 three, unincorporated communities that had emerged on the old ranch lands — Alta Loma
, Cucamonga and Etiwanda
— became the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
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 San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
given in 1839 to dedicated soldier, smuggler and politician, Tiburcio Tapia by Mexican governor Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:...
. The grant encompassed present day Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rancho Cucamonga is a suburban city in San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,269, up from 127,743 at the 2000 census. L. Dennis Michael was elected as Mayor on November 2, 2010. Jack Lam is the City Manager...
. The rancho extended easterly from San Antonio Creek to what is now Turner Avenue (Hermosa), and from today's Eighth Street to the mountains.
History
The Mission Gabriel established the Rancho Cucamonga as a site for grazing their cattle. In 1839, the rancho was granted by the Mexican governor of California to Tiburcio Tapia, a wealthy Los Angeles merchant. Tapia transferred his cattle to Cucamonga and built a fort-like adobe house on Red Hill. The Rancho was inherited by Tapia's daughter, Maria Merced Tapia de Prudhomme, and her husband Leon Victor Prudhomme.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 Cucamonga 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 to Leon V. Prudhomme in 1872.
Rancho Cucamonga was sold in 1858 to John Rains. Rains in 1856 married Maria Merced Williams, the daughter of 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...
owner Isaac Williams and granddaughter of Antonio Maria Lugo, owner of 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...
. Maria was thus a wealthy heiress, and Rains invested in three ranchos and the Bella Union Hotel in Los Angeles. John Rains was murdered on November 17, 1862. Three men including Tomas Procopio Bustamante
Procopio
Procopio , also known as Red-Handed Dick and Red Dick was one of the most well-known bandits in California history. His nickname was reportedly given due either to his red hair, or his violent nature and bloodthirstiness...
were accused but only Manuel Cerrada was caught. Cerrada claimed he, Precopio and four others were paid $500 by Ramon Carrillo, another ranchero and political opponent, to kill Rains. Cerrada was soon lynched and Carrillo, examined in court was released, no envidence having been found against him. Ramon Carrillo always claimed his innocence of the crime, but was shot from ambush in the back and killed on the Los Angeles road west of Cucamonga on May 21, 1864 in another unsolved murder.
Maria Merced married José Carrillo in 1864. She had nine children in all: five with Rains, and four with Carrillo. Isaias W. Hellman, a Los Angeles banker, acquired Rancho Cucamonga at a sheriff’s sale in 1871.
In 1977 three, unincorporated communities that had emerged on the old ranch lands — Alta Loma
Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Alta Loma is one of three formerly unincorporated areas that became part of the city of Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States in 1977. The community is located in the foothills of the south face of the San Gabriel Mountain range, near Cucamonga Peak and Mount Baldy. It is located in the...
, Cucamonga and Etiwanda
Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Etiwanda is the easternmost of three formerly unincorporated communities that became part of Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States in 1977.-History:...
— became the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Casa de Rancho Cucamonga (John Rains House) (California Historical Landmark #360.
- Cucamonga Rancho Winery (California Historical Landmark #490)