Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo facts for kids
Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo was a large piece of land, about 2,043-acre (8.27 km2), given by the Mexican government in 1845. This land, called a rancho, is now part of Los Angeles County, California, especially the area known as South El Monte. The name "Potrero de Felipe Lugo" means "Felipe Lugo's pasture." It was named after Felipe Lugo, whose family owned another famous rancho nearby. The rancho was located along the San Gabriel River.
History of the Rancho
The Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo was given to two people: Jorge Morillo and his son-in-law, Teodoro Romero. Jorge Morillo was married to Magdalena Vejar. Teodoro Romero was married to Juana Maria Verdugo, who was Magdalena Vejar's daughter from an earlier marriage. Interestingly, Magdalena Vejar's brother, Ricardo Vejar, also received a large land grant called Rancho San Jose in 1837.
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This change was agreed upon in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the land grants given by the Mexican government would still be recognized.
To make these land claims official under U.S. law, a special process was set up. In 1853, a claim for Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo was filed with the Public Land Commission. Finally, in 1871, the ownership of the rancho was officially confirmed, or "patented," to Jorge Morillo and Juana María Verdugo de Romero.
Later Owners and Challenges
In 1874, a man named F. P. F. Temple became the owner of Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo. He also owned half of a nearby rancho called Rancho La Merced.
However, in 1876, the bank that Temple was involved with, the Temple and Workman Bank, ran into serious financial trouble and failed. Because Temple had borrowed money using Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo as security, he lost the rancho when the lender, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, took ownership of the property. This process is called foreclosure. William Workman, Temple's business partner, faced great difficulties and died in 1876. Temple himself suffered health problems and passed away in 1880.
