Rancho Nicasio facts for kids
Rancho Nicasio was a huge piece of land in what is now Marin County, California. It was given as a land grant by the Mexican government in 1835. This grant covered about 56,807 acres (230 km2), stretching from San Geronimo all the way to Tomales Bay. Today, the town of Nicasio, California is right in the middle of where this historic ranch once was.
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History of Rancho Nicasio
Early Land Promises
In the mid-1830s, a Mexican general named Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo made a promise. He said he would give land to the Coast Miwok people, who were Native Americans living in the area. Their original lands had been taken over by the Mission San Rafael Arcángel.
When asked what land they wanted, the Coast Miwok chiefs chose a large area. It was about 80,000 acres (324 km2), ranging from Nicasio Valley to the area around Tomales. In 1835, Mexican Governor José Figueroa officially granted this land to the Coast Miwok people of Marin County. However, after California became part of the United States, the Miwok's claim to the land was unfortunately rejected by the Public Land Commission in 1855.
New Owners and Divisions
In 1844, another Mexican Governor, Manuel Micheltorena, granted a slightly smaller Rancho Nicasio. This grant was for about 56,621-acre (229.14 km2) and was given to Pablo de la Guerra and John B.R. Cooper.
By 1849, there were three owners of Rancho Nicasio: Pablo de la Guerra, John B.R. Cooper, and Jasper O'Farrell. These owners then started selling parts of their shares:
- In 1850, Pablo de la Guerra sold his share, which was about 30,848 acres (124.8 km2), to Henry Halleck. Halleck was an important figure who arrived in California in 1847. He later became a general in the United States Army during the Civil War, promoted by President Abraham Lincoln. Halleck enjoyed hunting and fishing at Rancho Nicasio and even built a house there. A creek near Nicasio is now called Halleck Creek.
- Also in 1850, John B.R. Cooper sold his share, about 16,293 acres (65.9 km2), to Benjamin Rush Buckelew. Buckelew also bought other ranches nearby.
- In 1851, Jasper O’Farrell sold his share, about 9,479 acres (38.4 km2), to James Black.
- In 1852, Benjamin Rush Buckelew sold about 7,598 acres (30.7 km2) to William Reynolds and Daniel Frink.
Rancho Nicasio Becomes U.S. Land
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the existing Mexican land grants would be respected.
Because of a new law called the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Nicasio was filed with the Public Land Commission in 1852. This commission was set up to confirm land ownership. Finally, in 1870, the grant for Rancho Nicasio was officially approved and given to the owners: James Black, Benjamin Rush Buckelew, Henry Halleck, and William Reynolds and Daniel Frink.
James Black later bought Henry Halleck’s share of Rancho Nicasio. Black also purchased Rancho Olómpali from Camilo Ynitia, who was the last chief of the Olompali Indian people, in 1852. James Black passed away in 1870.
