Chief Solano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chief Solano
Sem-Yeto
Suisun leader
Personal details
Born	about 1798 Suisun Bay Area, California, USA
Died	about 1851 Yulyul village (near present-day Rockville), California, USA
Parent	Sulapy (father)

Sem-Yeto (born around 1798, died around 1851) was an important leader of the Suisunes. They were a Patwin tribe living near Suisun Bay in northern California. He was also known as Francisco Solano or Chief Solano after his baptism.

Chief Solano became a key Native American leader in Alta California (which was then part of Mexico). He formed a strong friendship and alliance with General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo of Sonoma. Chief Solano and his tribe helped Vallejo in military and political efforts around Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area. By working with Vallejo to stop Native American uprisings between 1836 and 1843, Sem-Yeto is seen as a complex historical figure. The California county of Solano is named after him.

Early Life and Baptism

Sem-Yeto was born around 1798–1800 in the Suisun Bay area. His name, Sem-Yeto, means "brave or fierce hand."

On July 24, 1810, he was baptized at the San Francisco Mission. There, he received the Christian name Francisco Solano, named after a Spanish saint. Records show he was about 10 to 12 years old and his native name was Sina. His father's name was Sulapy, and his mother had passed away. Both his parents were described as "gentiles," meaning they had not been baptized.

This baptism happened shortly after a sad event for his tribe. In 1810, a raid led by Gabriel Moraga caused the Suisunes to lose many men. Sem-Yeto might have been captured as a child during this raid. Or, his tribe might have brought him to the mission because they had lost so many adults. The raid had made the tribe feel defeated. Instead of fighting, many chose to join the mission and stop the conflict.

Sem-Yeto likely grew up at the San Francisco Mission, living there for about seven years. He learned to speak Spanish. In the 1820s, he became an adult and was recognized as a leader of his people, known as "Sem-Yeto" or "Chief Solano."

Life in Sonoma (1823–1846)

In 1823, Sem-Yeto moved to what is now Sonoma, California. He went there to help build and settle the Mission San Francisco de Solano. Many Suisunes who had grown up at the San Francisco Mission joined him. Mission Solano was the last Franciscan mission built north of San Francisco Bay, and it was built under Mexican rule. Moving to the Sonoma Mission was good for the Suisunes because it was much closer to their homeland.

By 1835, the Mexican government began to close down the missions. This process was called secularization, and it meant the mission lands and properties were given away. General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was sent to Sonoma. His job was to lead the new town project, manage the mission's closing, and keep military control in the area. Sem-Yeto and the Suisunes became allies of Vallejo. Vallejo also became a very important supporter and friend to Sem-Yeto.

General Vallejo later recalled their first meeting in June 1835. Vallejo had just arrived in Sonoma County. He was assigned by the Mexican military to expand Mexican control in the North Bay. This was to protect against the Russians at Fort Ross. Vallejo described sailing to San Rafael and forming an alliance with a Coast Miwok tribe. Then he went past Novato to a Native American village near Schellville. There, he found over 3,000 curious Native Americans, led by Sem-Yeto.

Vallejo set up tents and sent messages asking all Native Americans in the region to make treaties with the Mexican government. He claimed that within 48 hours, 11,000 natives had gathered. Only about a third of them seemed friendly. Vallejo remembered Sem-Yeto acting as his interpreter. Sem-Yeto strongly encouraged the crowds to be friendly to the Mexicans. He convinced them that an alliance would mean Mexican military help. He also suggested they could better deal with enemy tribes. So, Sem-Yeto not only allied with the Mexicans but also gained many followers from other tribes in the region, in addition to his own Suisunes.

After forming this alliance with General Vallejo, Sem-Yeto and the Suisunes led many trips. Their goal was to calm other tribes in the region. These included the Wappo, the Satisyomis, and the Cainameros (South Pomo Indians). These tribes were trying to resist Mexican rule. Sem-Yeto led both military trips against other tribes and some missions to make peace. He was mainly known as a man of peace. Sem-Yeto eventually helped keep peace between the region's Native Americans and the Mexicans. A peace treaty was signed in 1836.

To impress the Mexican government, Vallejo arranged for Sem-Yeto and 100 of his Suisun warriors to travel to Monterey, California. They went to seek military support from Juan Bautista Alvarado, who was the governor of Alta California. Sem-Yeto and his warriors made the long journey but did not meet Alvarado.

When the smallpox epidemic of 1837 greatly reduced the Native American population of the Sonoma-Marin region, Sem-Yeto was one of the few natives who had been vaccinated and survived.

Because of his friendship and support for General Vallejo, Sem-Yeto was one of only two Native Americans to receive a land grant from the Mexican government. (The other was Camilo Ynitia.) In 1842, he received a large area of land called Rancho Suisun. However, after his death, he could not keep the land for his people. Most of it went to Archibald A. Ritchie in 1857, and another part to J.H. Fine.

Sem-Yeto remained a leader of many regional tribes and an important ally and friend of General Vallejo. This lasted until the Mexicans lost control of California in 1846.

California Becomes a State (1846–1850s)

In 1846, after the Bear Flag Revolt, California became part of the United States. General Vallejo was captured by Americans and thought to be dead. Sem-Yeto believed he had lost his closest ally. So, he fled north and found safety with tribes as far away as Oregon, Washington, and possibly Alaska. He returned to California in 1850. He died soon after from pneumonia at the old Yulyul village site, near present-day Rockville.

Legends About Chief Solano

There are several stories and legends about Chief Solano:

Heir of Chief Malica

One unconfirmed legend says that Sem-Yeto was the chosen successor of Chief Malica. It is said he was present as a child when his tribe was captured. In this story, young Sem-Yeto was convinced by Chief Malica to escape and lead the remaining tribe members who fled into the hills. For six years, from 1817–1823, Sem-Yeto's location is not recorded. He might have lived freely in the hills, with another tribe, or been captured and Christianized. Then, he reappeared to bring his people to the Sonoma Mission. If this is true, Sem-Yeto was not living at the San Francisco Mission during that entire time.

First Baptism at Sonoma Mission

The Mission San Francisco de Solano in Sonoma records that a "Francisco Solano" was one of the first natives baptized there in 1823 or 1824. Some people believe this was Sem-Yeto. By most accounts, Sem-Yeto moved to the mission when it was founded with his people. However, if he was already baptized at the San Francisco Mission, he would not need to be baptized again. So, the first baptism at the Sonoma mission might have been another person named after the same Catholic saint. Some wonder if Chief Solano was baptized twice, perhaps as a sign to encourage his people to join him and be baptized.

Gravesite Legend

After dying from pneumonia, Chief Solano is said to have been buried under a buckeye tree near Rockville, California. He was also supposedly very tall, about 6 feet, 7 inches. However, searches of local Native American graves have not found any unusually tall remains. According to legend, his gravesite is on the campus of Solano Community College. There have been reports of sightings of a tall Native American ghost there.

Recognition and Legacy

In a speech on July 4, 1876, General Vallejo spoke about his deep friendship and respect for Sem-Yeto. He said Chief Solano should be called a prince. This speech was later printed in The Sonoma Index newspaper on December 4, 1880.

A statue of Chief Solano was created by Bill Huff in 1934. It was first placed on a rock above Cordelia. Later, it was moved to a library in Fairfield.

Solano County is directly named after Chief (Sem-Yeto) Solano.