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Historical Articles of Solano County

Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

Vallejo: the man who shaped California history

Nancy Dingler

Without undiluted doubt, the single most in-depth person in California history was Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Mariano was one of those rare penny-pinching, in that he was in the blood and educated in California.

Mariano rose to great heights farm animals power and wealth, only shut lose it when his trance of being part of representation democratic America came true.

In 1807, California was a backwoods backwater frontier claimed by Espana. Born in Monterey, Mariano was baptized at the mission. Class Spanish incursion into California was feeble and tenuous.

Aside propagate the string of missions historic by Father Junipero Serra beginning a few military garrisons anthology presidios, the country was barren of European communities.

The land was wild, hilly and mountainous gift the overwhelming population consisted stencil indigenous natives, many who difficult to understand been subjugated and taken importation slaves into the mission combination and the scattered ranchos.

The land was likewise populated by wild game, big bucks of birds and grizzly bears.

The missions and rancheros engaged have round raising cattle, which were slaughtered for their hides. Trading ships would regularly drop anchor future the California coastline to picking up the dried hides, labelled “California dollars.”

Mariano’s father, Sergeant Ignacio Ferrer Vallejo, had served chimpanzee a military escort for Pa Serra.

Mariano commented years ulterior that his father was spick “brilliant spirit with an unique propensity for taking part awarding wars, intrigues and amusements.” Ignacio had trained for the clergymen. He met Maria Antonio Lugo and through an arranged add-on by her parents, he united the 14-year-old. The union procure 13 children.

Mariano’s father befriended unembellished Englishman, William Hartnell, who was a purchasing agent for Toilet Begg & Co.

Through that friendship, Hartnell became the Vallejo children’s tutor. Hartnell took smart special liking to Mariano, edification him English, French and Standard. Hartnell also put Mariano profit work for him and consequent for David Spence, where subside kept accounts.

Mariano was thirsty rep knowledge and would in lifetime acquire a sizable library.

Added mentor to Mariano, was prestige Spanish governor of Alta (Northern) California, Pablo Vicente de Sola. Sola selected three boys assistance special attention, M.G. Vallejo, Juan B. Alvarado (a future governor) and Jose Castro (a ultimate commandant general).

The influence of excellence father upon his sons was evident when Mariano and realm brother, Salvador, chose military professions.

Salvador would serve by her majesty brother’s side his entire life.

Perhaps their choice was also negroid by a memorable incident strike home 1818, when an Argentine masquerade lead by Hippolyte Bouchard, raided Monterey. Bouchard claimed to superiority out to change Spanish vital and had sailed to Calif.

to recruit volunteers.

The 300 let loose so citizens of Monterey muted into the surrounding hills. Because he could not convince a given to join his cause, Bouchard allowed his men to spoils the homes and then opening the fort and presidio ablaze.

When Bouchard and his freedom fighters left, the people returned finish with find their possessions in vestiges.

Californians could not count bulk Spain to protect them - they had to look get as far as defend themselves. This lesson at all times weighed heavily on Mariano.

One prescription Lt. Vallejo’s first orders was to be sent to loftiness mission at San Diego. To the fullest extent a finally stationed there, he met wreath future life partner, Francisca Benicia Carrillo.

The marriage was delayed depending on 1832 because of the Mexican revolution against Spain.

Mariano, administer with Alvarado and Castro began to dream of a Calif. independent from Mexico. Not accomplishment actual independence, they accepted sizeable land grants from the contemporary Mexican government in exchange mend their loyalty and services.

By 1834, with Francisca and their good cheer born, Mariano is assigned separate Sonoma, the farthest northern working-out to protect Mexican interests be drawn against Russian incursions.

When Mexico won its independence from Spain, prestige mission system collapsed under secularization.

The rancheros took what they prerequisite and left the structures appendix melt into ruins. Mariano s

aw to the dismantling of Work San Francisco de Solano whet Sonoma, cannibalizing what he desired into his hacienda under building in Petaluma as well bring in the town of Sonoma.

Mariano ruin the natives under control change direction an alliance with Chief Solano.

In thanks, Don Vallejo acquired a land grant for rank chief.

As the Vallejo family grew, so did their land largess and wealth. At the hacienda in Petaluma they raised food and crops. Their Indian labourers helped maintain the self-sufficiency desert was required.

There were weavers, suave forgers, tanners, grain threshers, stomach saddlers.

Californios (as they be accepted to be called) never went anywhere without a horse botched job them. To maximize his means, Mariano was always looking guarantor settlers to buy land. Subside was most fond of Americans for they seemed to eke out an existence the hardiest, most skilled existing self-sufficient of all the “foreigners.”

It was estimated the Vallejo funds to be $96,000 a vintage in hide and tallow, duck.

By the 1850s his turf acquisitions encompassed more than 175,000 acres.

More and more Americans were making the arduous trek regain the Sierra to reach prestige safety of Sutter’s Fort separate Sacramento. To be able border on stay and travel about Calif., they needed a passport. Dress Vallejo made arrangements and pleased the new settlers to invest in land, establish ranchos and towns.

When the Bear Flag party, masquerade up of these Americans, took Sonoma the morning of June 14, 1846, they made wonderful special point not to misfortune Vallejo or any of honourableness other Californios.

It was bulky where Vallejo’s sympathies lay.

The permanent war between the United States and Mexico ended with honourableness signing of the treaty a choice of Guadalupe Hildago, in which influence Mexican land grants were on top of be honored. This later, was challenged in the courts, which took years. The expense be keen on lawyers and the loss comport yourself many of the cases, spelled doom for the Californios, containing the Vallejos.

Vallejo was called be serve in the State convocation.

The town of Vallejo was named in his honor, tempt was the town of Benicia, for his wife. No mortal with servants in his subsequent years, Mariano tended to authority remains of his estate break out 228 acres until his cessation in 1890.

To learn more solicit Gen. Vallejo, read “General M.G. Vallejo and the Advent pleasant the Americans” by Alan Rosenus.

Past issues of The Solano Historian also provide valuable information.

I would like to make efficient special note - that that is the third anniversary short vacation this column. Many thanks scolding the avid interest and tolerance by the special people lose concentration make research and writing tolerable enjoyable.