Rancho Los Méganos facts for kids

Don José Noriega received Rancho Los Méganos in 1835.

Rancho Los Méganos was a large piece of land, about 13,316 acres (53.89 km2), given out by the Mexican government. These land grants were called ranchos. This rancho was located in the southwestern part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area. Today, this land is in Contra Costa County, California.

The rancho was given in 1835 by Governor José Castro to José Noriega. A governor is a leader of a state or territory. The name "Méganos" means "sand dunes" in Spanish.

Rancho Los Méganos stretched east from what is now Antioch. It followed the San Joaquin River all the way to the Old River. The land of this rancho included areas that are now the towns of Oakley, Knightsen, and Brentwood.

The Story of Rancho Los Méganos

John Marsh in 1852

José Noriega came to California in 1834. He was given the Los Méganos rancho in 1835. Later, in 1837, a man named John Marsh bought the rancho from Jose Noriega. After that, Rancho Los Méganos was also known as the Marsh Ranch.

In 1851, John Marsh married Abbie Tuck. They began building a new house in 1854. This house is known as the stone house. Sadly, Abbie Marsh passed away in 1855 before the house was finished. She left behind John Marsh and their young daughter, Alice. In 1856, John Marsh died due to a conflict with some people who worked for him.

Changes After the Mexican-American War

After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty promised that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid.

Because of a new law called the Land Act of 1851, John Marsh had to file a claim for Rancho Los Méganos. He did this in 1852 with the Public Land Commission. This commission helped decide who owned land. The rancho was officially given to his daughter, Alice Marsh, in 1867.

Alice Marsh married William Walker Camron in 1871. They later lived in a house in Oakland called the Camron-Stanford House. In 1871, Alice's brother, Charles P. Marsh, used the rancho as a loan. He lost it to a company called the Savings and Loan Society. This company then sold the land to James T. Sanford. In 1878, the Savings and Loan Society took the rancho back from Sanford. They held onto the rancho until 1900. Then, a company called Balfour Guthrie Investment purchased it.

Important Places on the Rancho

The John Marsh stone house on Rancho Los Méganos. This house still stands and is being cared for while waiting for full restoration.

• The Stone House of John Marsh: This house was finished in 1856.
• The location where Dr. John Marsh passed away.