Rancho San Marcos facts for kids
Rancho San Marcos was a very large piece of land, about 35,573 acres (144 square kilometers), in what is now Santa Barbara County, California. It was a Mexican land grant given out in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to two brothers, Nicolas A. Den and Richard S. Den. The ranch was located in the Santa Ynez Valley, between the San Rafael Mountains and the Santa Ynez River.
The Story of Rancho San Marcos
This land was once part of the Santa Barbara Mission. It was given to the Den brothers, who had moved to California from Ireland. Nicolas Den arrived in Santa Barbara in 1836. He also received another land grant called Rancho Dos Pueblos. His younger brother, Richard Den, came to Santa Barbara in 1843. Richard was a doctor who worked in the Pueblo de Los Angeles, which is now the city of Los Angeles.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be honored. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho San Marcos was filed with the Public Land Commission. The land was officially given to Nicolas A. Den and Richard S. Den in 1869.
Later, in 1868, a man named William Pierce bought Rancho San Marcos from the Den brothers' families. William Pierce also owned the nearby ranches, Rancho Tequepis and Rancho Nojoqui. These ranches were quite successful.
Nicolas A. Den: Doctor and Ranch Owner
Nicolas August Den (1812–1862) was an Irish immigrant. He moved to Santa Barbara in 1836. Nicolas had studied to be a medical doctor in Dublin, Ireland. Even though he hadn't fully graduated, he became the first doctor in the Santa Barbara area.
His brother, Richard, joined him in Santa Barbara in 1843. Both Den brothers were medical men. However, Nicolas Den stopped practicing medicine. He focused instead on managing his other ranch, Rancho Dos Pueblos. He also served as the alcalde (a type of mayor or judge) of Santa Barbara. Nicolas was also dedicated to helping the local mission and starting a Catholic school in Santa Barbara. Later in his life, Nicolas Den was one of the seven people who started the Society of California Pioneers. He married Rosa A. Hill, whose father was Daniel A. Hill. Nicolas passed away in 1862, leaving behind ten children.
Richard S. Den: The Doctor on Horseback
Richard Somerset Den (1821–1895) was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland. He followed his brother Nicolas to Santa Barbara in 1843. Richard Den practiced medicine in Los Angeles. He did take a short break from 1848 to 1850 to look for gold. He also spent ten years (1854–1866) managing Rancho San Marcos. He continued practicing medicine until 1895.
In his later years, Richard Den was quite a sight. He would ride his black horse, dressed all in black, with a black felt hat on his head. His wavy hair was as white as snow. Richard S. Den was also involved in the Mexican–American War. He served as the main doctor and surgeon for the Mexican forces. He treated both the Californio people and the American prisoners. This included Benjamin D. Wilson and his group, who were captured at the Battle of Chino in 1846.
