Rancho San Ysidro facts for kids
Rancho San Ysidro was a large piece of land, about 13,066 acres, given by the Spanish government in 1809. It was a special type of land grant called a rancho. The land was given to a person named Ygnacio Ortega by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga. Today, the city of Gilroy in Santa Clara County, California is built on parts of this old rancho. A nearby area called Old Gilroy is also on these historic lands.
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The Story of Rancho San Ysidro
How the Rancho Began
The story of Rancho San Ysidro starts with Ygnacio Ortega. He was born in 1764 and became a soldier. He married Gertrudis Arce. In 1790, Ygnacio worked as a mayordomo, which means a foreman, at the Mission San Gabriel.
After Ygnacio Ortega passed away in 1833, the land was divided. At this time, California was under Mexican rule. Governor José Figueroa split Rancho San Ysidro among Ygnacio's three children and their spouses.
| Rancho Name | Person Who Received It | Spouse | Size of Land | Person Who Got the Official Title | Year of Official Title | Land Case Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho La Polka | Maria Ysabel Ortega | Julian Cantua | 4,167 acres | Martin Murphy | 1860 | 159 ND |
| Rancho San Ysidro (Ortega) | Jose Quintin Ortega | Vicenta Butron | 4,439 acres | Quintin Ortega | 1868 | 163 ND |
| Rancho San Ysidro (Gilroy) | Maria Clara Ortega | John Gilroy | 4,461 acres | John Gilroy | 1867 | 216 ND |
John Gilroy and the Rancho
John Gilroy (1794–1869) was born in Scotland. He was one of the first people from an English-speaking country to live in Alta California. He arrived in Monterey, California in 1814. He changed his name to John Gilroy, using his mother's maiden name. He was also baptized as "Juan Bautista Gilroy."
In 1821, John Gilroy married Clara Ortega, one of Ygnacio's daughters. John Gilroy, along with his brothers-in-law Quintin Ortega and Julian Cantua, made soap near San Felipe Lake. They also grew onions and made flour. They traded these goods with Thomas O. Larkin in Monterey.
Rancho San Ysidro During the Mexican-American War
In November 1846, during the Mexican–American War, Captain John C. Frémont and his soldiers traveled through Rancho San Ysidro. They took most of John Gilroy's horses for their journey.
John Gilroy later became an auxiliary alcalde, which was like a mayor or judge. He also served as a justice of the peace. When a new town was officially created in 1868, the citizens decided to name it Gilroy to honor him.
His old adobe house, built around 1825, was in the area now called "Old Gilroy" or "San Ysidro." This spot is about 2 and a half miles east of the current city of Gilroy. Sadly, John Gilroy lost his property later in life and died with very little money in 1869.
The Growth of Gilroy Town
The railroad arrived in 1869, which made the community an important center for the southern part of Santa Clara County. After the railroad was built and John Gilroy passed away, the main part of the San Ysidro community moved two miles to the west.
The new Town of Gilroy was officially formed in 1870. It quickly became the largest community in Santa Clara County. It had a brewery, a flour mill, and a distillery.
Historic Places in the Rancho Area
- Christian Church of Gilroy: This church was built in 1857. It is the oldest wooden church in Santa Clara County that has been used continuously.
- Gilroy Free Library: An important place for learning and books.
- Live Oak Creamery: A historic creamery.
- Old City Hall: This building was finished in 1906.
