Rancho Potrero Grande facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Potrero Grande |
|
|---|---|
| Land grant of Mexico | |
| 1845–1876 | |
| • Type | Mexican land grant |
| History | |
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• Established
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1845 |
|
• Disestablished
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1876 |
| Today part of | The United States of America |
Rancho Potrero Grande was a large piece of land, about 4,432 acres (or 17.94 square kilometers), given out as a Mexican land grant. This happened in 1845 in what is now Los Angeles County, California. The land was granted by Governor Pío Pico to a person named Manuel Antonio. The name "Potrero Grande" means "Large Pasture" in Spanish. Today, this area includes parts of Rosemead and South El Monte.
Contents
History of Rancho Potrero Grande
Early Days of the Rancho
Manuel Antonio, who worked at the Mission San Gabriel, received this land grant. Rancho Potrero Grande was once grazing land for the Mission's animals. It was about one square league in size.
New Owners and Changes
Later, a man named Juan Matias Sanchez bought Rancho Potrero Grande from Manuel Antonio. This new land was right next to Sanchez's own property, Rancho La Merced.
California Becomes Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. A special agreement called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo said that the U.S. would respect the land grants given by Mexico.
To make sure land ownership was clear, the U.S. government passed the Land Act of 1851. This law required people to prove they owned their land. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho Potrero Grande was filed with the Public Land Commission. Juan M. Sanchez was officially given the land title, called a patent, in 1859.
Losing the Rancho
In 1876, a bank called the Temple and Workman Bank had serious problems and failed. Juan Matias Sanchez had helped his friend William Workman by putting up Rancho Potrero Grande as a guarantee for a loan. This loan was from a wealthy man named Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin.
When the bank failed, Sanchez lost Rancho Potrero Grande because Baldwin took over the property to get his money back. This process is called foreclosure. William Workman, who was very upset and had no money, died in 1876. Francisco P. Temple, another person involved, had a stroke and died without money in 1880. Juan Matias Sanchez also died in poverty in 1885.
