Camilo Ynitia facts for kids

Camilo Ynitia (also known as "Camillo" or by his native name "Hueñux") was born in 1803. He was from the Huiman tribe in Marin County, California. His family likely moved to Olompali, where his father had built a home. Camilo became an important leader of the Coast Miwok people. He was known as the last Hoipu, or headman, of the Miwok community at Olompali. He was also the only Native American leader in northern Alta California (which was then part of Mexico) to receive and keep a large land grant. In 1843, the governor of Alta California gave him the Rancho Olómpali, a big piece of land between what is now Novato and Petaluma, California. Today, part of this land is the Olompali State Historic Park.

Camilo's Early Life and Family

Camilo was born around 1803. His parents were Aurelio (also called Inutia) and Aurelia (Mineru). He was baptized with the Spanish name Camilo in 1819 at the Mission San Rafael Arcángel. His last name, Ynitia, was a Spanish version of his father's native name. Aurelio Inutia was also a Hoipu (headman) of the Caminpuxcui rancheria, a Coast Miwok village. His tribe, the Huimen, lived in much of today's Marin County, California.

In 1775, explorers from the Presidio of San Francisco visited the North Bay area. Camilo's father, who was a chief at Olompali, welcomed them. Camilo's father also built the very first adobe (a type of brick made from earth) home north of the San Francisco Bay at Olompali. The name "Olompali" comes from the Coast Miwok language. It likely means "southern village" or "southern people." Historians believe the Native Americans learned to make adobe bricks from the Mission San Francisco. Camilo later inherited this original home. He also built another adobe house for himself nearby. His birthplace was a protected valley with lots of animals, close to the Bay, which had many shellfish and fish.

Adult Life and Leadership

In 1835, the Mexican government sent General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo to Marin and Sonoma Counties. His job was to bring military control to the area. General Vallejo likely met Camilo Ynitia and the people of Olompali when he first arrived in June 1835. Vallejo sailed into the North Bay and first stopped in San Rafael. There, he formed an alliance with a Coast Miwok tribe. Then he moved towards Sonoma County to make alliances with other tribes.

In 1836, Camilo and Vallejo signed a peace treaty. This agreement meant the Olompali people would be allies with the Mexican-Americans.

In 1843, because of this treaty, Camilo was one of only two Native Americans to receive a large land grant from the Mexican-American Government. The other was Chief Solano, a friend of Vallejo. With Vallejo's help, Camilo asked the Mexican Governor for land for his people. He received the Rancho Olompali grant, which included Olompali and his birthplace. The American government later confirmed this land grant when California became part of the United States. The land grant was officially recorded as:

"Olompali #48, Marin Co., Grant of 2 sq. leagues made in 1843 by Gov. Micheltorena to Camillo Unitia [sic]. Patent for 8,877.48 acres (35.9259 km²) issued in 1862 to Camilo Unitia [sic] in T 3-4N, R 6-7W, MDM."

– California Ranchos: Patented Private Land Grants Listed by County, Shumway 1988:39

Camilo built his own home using some of the bricks his father had used. His adobe home had very thick walls (about 32 inches) and ceilings about 8 feet high. He was a successful farmer and rancher. He owned 600 cattle, and many horses and sheep. He also grew wheat. Some people think he sold his wheat to the Russians at Fort Ross.

The Battle of Olompali

During the Californian revolution, known as the Bear Flag Revolt, a fight happened at Camilo's adobe home. This was on June 24, 1846. It was called the Battle of Olompali. American "Bear Flaggers" from Sonoma fought against 50 Mexican soldiers from Monterey. Several people were hurt, and one person was reportedly killed. This was the only death linked to the short California revolution.

Camilo's Later Life

Camilo eventually sold most of his Rancho Olompali to James Black in 1852 for $5,200. But he kept about 1480 acres, which he called Apalacocha. Camilo died in 1856, possibly after a short illness.

Camilo's Family

Maxima Antonia Ynita, around 1865

Camilo was married four times. His first wife, Elena, died in 1830. He then married Candida, who died in 1835. His third wife was Cayetana. With Cayetana, he had a son, Juan Pablo, and two daughters, Maxima Antonia and Maria Antonia. Juan Pablo was born in 1839 but died in a boating accident in 1851. Maxima Antonia was born in 1841, and Maria Antonia was born in 1845. Maria Antonia's godfather was William A. Richardson, who has a bay named after him. Cayetana died in 1850. Camilo then married his fourth wife, Susanna Maria, in 1852.

Camilo also adopted another girl. She married John Pingston, a "free man of color." They had a son named Juan Jose Pingston. Camilo gave John about 20 acres of land in 1853.

Camilo's daughter, Maxima Antonia, married Henry Holden Bennett in 1854. After Bennett died in 1856, Maxima married Henry Harper Willard. Henry and Maxima had 13 children! After Henry's death, Maxima married Armstrong McCabe in 1891. Camilo's other daughter, Maria Antonia, married Joseph Knox and had two children.

After Camilo died, Maxima and Maria bought land in Mendocino County. They moved there with their husbands and helped start the town of Sanel, which was later named Hopland. In 1860, Maxima and Maria sold their remaining land, Apalacocha, for $3,693. With that sale, the last of the original Olompali land passed out of Native American ownership.

Legacy and Stories

Camilo Ynitia and his adobe house are still remembered today. In 1915, James and Josephine Burdell owned Camilo's adobe house. They built a large 26-room mansion around it. They used to give tours and show the original home. Much of the original Rancho Olompali, including the remains of Camilo Ynitia's adobe, is now protected within the Olompali State Historic Park.

People who knew Camilo described him as smart and capable. William Heath said Camilo was "fine, intelligent and shrewd." Stephen Richardson called him "clean-cut, capable, and all around."

There's a story that Camilo buried all the gold he got from selling his land on a mountainside. This is because when he died, he didn't have much money recorded. One idea is that his last wife or family knew where the gold was. They might have dug it up later to help them buy cattle and part of Rancho Sanel in Mendocino County.

Even today, there are still people who can say they are direct descendants of Camilo Ynitia.

Images for kids

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  Maxima Antonia Ynita, around 1865