Rancho Huerhuero
Encyclopedia
Rancho Huerhuero was a 15685 acres (63.5 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Luis Obispo County, California
of one square league given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado and another three square leagues given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico
to José Mariano Bonilla. The grant extended along Huerhuero Creek and encompassed present day Creston
southeast of Paso Robles
.
land. José Mariano Bonilla (1807–1878), born in Mexico City
, came to California in 1834 with the Híjar-Padrés Colony. He married Maria Dolores Garcia (1822–1902)in 1838. He held various public offices in San Luis Obispo
, including alcalde
.
His managers suffered repeatedly from Indian raids, and he sold Rancho Huerhuero to Francis Branch in 1847. Francis Ziba Branch (1802–1874) was the grantee of Rancho Santa Manuela
and part owner of Rancho Arroyo Grande
, Rancho Pismo
and Rancho Bolsa de Chamisal
.
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 Huerhuero was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Branch in 1866.
In 1859 Branch sold Rancho Huerhuero to Irish sea captain David P.Mallagh. Mallagh came to California in 1849, and soon afterward married Juana de Jesús Carrillo (1829–) of Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa
. Mallagh owned part of Rancho Pismo, which he sold and bought Rancho Huerhuero. Two days later, Mallagh sold the rancho to Flint, Bixby & Co.
In the mid 1880s, Flint and Bixby sold Rancho Huerhuero to Amos Adams, Thomas Ambrose, Calvin J. Cressy, and J.V. Webster. The town of Creston, named for Cressy, was founded in 1884.
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 Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
of one square league given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado and another three square leagues given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
to José Mariano Bonilla. The grant extended along Huerhuero Creek and encompassed present day Creston
Creston, California
Creston is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. It is located about 15 miles southeast of the City of Paso Robles.-History:Creston Creston is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. It is located about 15 miles...
southeast of Paso Robles
Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
.
History
The Rancho Huer Huero grant was one square league by Governor Alvarado and three additional leagues by Governor Pio Pico of former Mission San Miguel ArcángelMission San Miguel Arcángel
Mission San Miguel Arcángel was founded on July 25, 1797 by the Franciscan order, on a site chosen specifically due to the large number of Salinan Indians that inhabited the area, whom the Spanish priests wanted to evangelize. It is located at 775 Mission Street, San Miguel, in San Luis Obispo...
land. José Mariano Bonilla (1807–1878), born in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, came to California in 1834 with the Híjar-Padrés Colony. He married Maria Dolores Garcia (1822–1902)in 1838. He held various public offices in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
, including alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
.
His managers suffered repeatedly from Indian raids, and he sold Rancho Huerhuero to Francis Branch in 1847. Francis Ziba Branch (1802–1874) was the grantee of Rancho Santa Manuela
Rancho Santa Manuela
Rancho Santa Manuela was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Francis Ziba Branch. The grant encompassed present day Arroyo Grande.-History:...
and part owner of Rancho Arroyo Grande
Rancho Arroyo Grande
Rancho Arroyo Grande was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Zeferino Carlón. The grant extended along Arroyo Grande Creek east of present day Arroyo Grande. Much of the grant is now covered by Lopez Lake.-History:José...
, Rancho Pismo
Rancho Pismo
Rancho Pismo was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1840 by Governor Pro Tem Manuel Jimeno to José Ortega. The grant extended along the Pacific coast and encompassed present day Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Shell Beach and parts of Arroyo...
and Rancho Bolsa de Chamisal
Rancho 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...
.
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 Huerhuero 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 Branch in 1866.
In 1859 Branch sold Rancho Huerhuero to Irish sea captain David P.Mallagh. Mallagh came to California in 1849, and soon afterward married Juana de Jesús Carrillo (1829–) of Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa
Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa
Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa was an Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1841 by Governor pro tem Manuel Jimeno to María Ygnacia López. The grant was along Santa Rosa Creek, and encompassed present day Santa Rosa, California....
. Mallagh owned part of Rancho Pismo, which he sold and bought Rancho Huerhuero. Two days later, Mallagh sold the rancho to Flint, Bixby & Co.
In the mid 1880s, Flint and Bixby sold Rancho Huerhuero to Amos Adams, Thomas Ambrose, Calvin J. Cressy, and J.V. Webster. The town of Creston, named for Cressy, was founded in 1884.