Rancho Cañada de los Capitancillos facts for kids
Rancho Cañada de los Capitancillos was a large piece of land in what is now Santa Clara County, California. It covered about 1,110 acres (4.5 square kilometers). This land was given out by the Mexican government in 1842. The governor, Juan B. Alvarado, gave it to a person named Justo Larios. The name "Cañada de los Capitancillos" means "Valley of the Little Captains." This ranch was located south of today's San Jose city. The Guadalupe River formed its western border.
History of the Rancho
Original Grant and Owners
Justo Larios was born in 1808. He was the son of Jose Larios. Justo worked as a military artilleryman. He served at the Presidio of San Francisco, which was an important military fort. In 1842, Governor Juan B. Alvarado gave Justo Larios a large piece of land. This land was called Rancho Los Capitancillos.
In 1845, Justo Larios sold his entire land grant. He sold it to a man named Grove C. Cook. Grove Cook later sold part of this land. In 1848, he sold the northern part of the grant to a company. This part was named Rancho Cañada de los Capitancillos. The company that bought it was the Guadalupe Mining Company. Grove Cook passed away in 1852. After his death, Charles Fossat bought the remaining three-quarters of the land. He bought it in a special sale.
Land Changes After the War
California became part of the United States after the Mexican–American War. This happened in 1848. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the United States would respect the land grants given by Mexico.
To make sure these land claims were official, the U.S. government created a new law. This was the Land Act of 1851. It required people to file claims for their land. So, in 1853, a claim for Rancho Cañada de los Capitancillos was filed. It was sent to the Public Land Commission. This commission checked all the old land grants. After many years, the land was officially recognized. In 1871, the grant was patented. This meant the Guadalupe Mining Company officially owned the land.
