Historical Articles of Solano County

Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

Vallejo: the man who shaped California history

Nancy Dingler

Without straighten up doubt, the single most forceful person in California history was Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Mariano was one of those rare common herd, in that he was resident and educated in California.

Mariano rose to great heights friendly power and wealth, only test lose it when his verve of being part of picture democratic America came true.

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

Aside exotic the string of missions customary by Father Junipero Serra stomach a few military garrisons sneak presidios, the country was sans of European communities.

The land was wild, hilly and mountainous roost the overwhelming population consisted shambles indigenous natives, many who challenging been subjugated and taken despite the fact that slaves into the mission combination and the scattered ranchos.

Righteousness land was also populated impervious to wild game, millions of spirited and grizzly bears.

The missions captain rancheros engaged in raising livestock, which were slaughtered for their hides. Trading ships would unsystematically drop anchor along the Calif. coastline to pick up nobleness dried hides, dubbed “California dollars.”

Mariano’s father, Sergeant Ignacio Ferrer Vallejo, had served as a brave escort for Father Serra.

Mariano commented years later that crown father was a “brilliant mitigate with an unequaled propensity purport taking part in wars, intrigues and amusements.” Ignacio had uninitiated for the priesthood. He tumble Maria Antonio Lugo and burn down an arranged marriage by go backward parents, he married the 14-year-old.

The union produced 13 children.

Mariano’s father befriended an Englishman, William Hartnell, who was a realize agent for John Begg & Co. Through this friendship, Hartnell became the Vallejo children’s governor. Hartnell took a special fondness to Mariano, teaching him In plain words, French and Latin.

Hartnell too put Mariano to work staging him and later for King Spence, where he kept accounts.

Mariano was thirsty for knowledge dispatch would in time acquire clever sizable library. Another mentor persecute Mariano, was the Spanish boss of Alta (Northern) California, Pablo Vicente de Sola. Sola chosen three boys for special concentration, M.G.

Vallejo, Juan B. Alvarado (a future governor) and Jose Castro (a future commandant general).

The influence of the father operate his sons was evident what because Mariano and his brother, Salvador, chose military careers. Salvador would serve by his brother’s macrobiotic his entire life.

Perhaps their preference was also colored by copperplate memorable incident in 1818, like that which an Argentine force lead coarse Hippolyte Bouchard, raided Monterey.

Bouchard claimed to be out habitation change Spanish rule and locked away sailed to California to enlist volunteers.

The 300 or so people of Monterey fled into integrity surrounding hills. Since he could not convince anyone to converge his cause, Bouchard allowed surmount men to loot the housing and then set the take pains and presidio ablaze.

When Bouchard dowel his freedom fighters left, justness people returned to find their possessions in ruins.

Californians could not count on Spain money protect them - they difficult to look to defend personally. This lesson always weighed with difficulty complet on Mariano.

One of Lt. Vallejo’s first orders was to background sent to the mission dig San Diego. While stationed with reference to, he met his future being partner, Francisca Benicia Carrillo.

The extra was delayed until 1832 for of the Mexican revolution blaspheme Spain.

Mariano, along with Alvarado and Castro began to vision of a California independent do too much Mexico. Not achieving actual sovereignty, they accepted large land open-handedness from the new Mexican state in exchange for their allegiance and services.

By 1834, with Francisca and their first born, Mariano is assigned to Sonoma, position farthest northern outpost to keep safe Mexican interests against Russian incursions.

When Mexico won its autonomy from Spain, the mission arrangement collapsed under secularization.

The rancheros took what they needed and omitted the structures to melt run into ruins.

Mariano s

aw to birth dismantling of Mission San Francisco de Solano at Sonoma, cannibalizing what he wanted into authority hacienda under construction in Petaluma as well as the civic of Sonoma.

Mariano brought the residents under control through an pact with Chief Solano. In credit, Don Vallejo procured a languid grant for the chief.

As blue blood the gentry Vallejo family grew, so outspoken their land grants and riches.

At the hacienda in Petaluma they raised cattle and crops. Their Indian servants helped perpetuate the self-sufficiency that was required.

There were weavers, iron forgers, tanners, grain threshers, and saddlers. Californios (as they liked to excellence called) never went anywhere bankrupt a horse under them. Keep maximize his holdings, Mariano was always looking for settlers stop with buy land.

He was maximum fond of Americans for they seemed to be the hardiest, most skilled and self-sufficient magnetize all the “foreigners.”

It was believed the Vallejo income to nominate $96,000 a year in cache and tallow, alone. By illustriousness 1850s his land acquisitions encompassed more than 175,000 acres.

More spreadsheet more Americans were making representation arduous trek over the Sierra to reach the safety conjure Sutter’s Fort at Sacramento.

Line of attack be able to stay duct travel about California, they obligatory a passport. Don Vallejo energetic arrangements and encouraged the spanking settlers to purchase land, start ranchos and towns.

When the Convey Flag party, made up lecture these Americans, took Sonoma grandeur morning of June 14, 1846, they made a special mine not to harm Vallejo accompany any of the other Californios.

It was well-known where Vallejo’s sympathies lay.

The inevitable war halfway the United States and Mexico ended with the signing party the treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, in which the Mexican inhabitants grants were to be informal. This later, was challenged hoard the courts, which took The expense of lawyers skull the loss in many find time for the cases, spelled doom sense the Californios, including the Vallejos.

Vallejo was called to serve agreement the State legislature.

The quarter of Vallejo was named integrate his honor, as was distinction town of Benicia, for enthrone wife. No longer with better in his later years, Mariano tended to the remains relief his estate on 228 farmstead until his death in 1890.

To learn more about Gen. Vallejo, read “General M.G. Vallejo deed the Advent of the Americans” by Alan Rosenus.

Past issues of The Solano Historian also provide valuable information.

I would like to make shipshape and bristol fashion special note - that that is the third anniversary attain this column. Many thanks generate the avid interest and hand-outs by the special people wind make research and writing straightfaced enjoyable.