Rancho Santa Ysabel (Ortega) facts for kids

Rancho Santa Ysabel was a huge piece of land, about 17,719 acres (which is about 71.7 square kilometers). It was a Mexican land grant in what is now San Diego County, California. The Mexican government, led by Governor Manuel Micheltorena, gave this land in 1844 to two men: José Joaquín Ortega and Edward Stokes. This happened after the Mexican secularization act of 1833, which changed how land was owned in California. The Rancho was located in the Santa Ysabel Valley, near the northern Cuyamaca Mountains, and included the area where Santa Ysabel is today.

History of Rancho Santa Ysabel

How the Rancho Began

The land in the Santa Ysabel Valley used to belong to the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. In 1818, a smaller mission outpost, called the Santa Ysabel Asistencia, was built there. In 1844, the Mexican government officially gave this land to José Joaquin Ortega and his son-in-law, Edward Stokes. This was not their first land grant. Stokes and Ortega had also received another Mexican land grant, Rancho Valle de Pamo, in 1843. That rancho was located in the Santa María Valley.

Key People Behind the Rancho

José Joaquín Ortega's Story

José Joaquin Geronimo Ortega (1801–1865) was an important person in early California. He was the grandson of José Francisco Ortega, a famous explorer. In 1821, José Joaquin Ortega married Maria Casimira Pico (1804–1883). She was the sister of two well-known figures, Pío Pico and Andrés Pico.

Ortega had a lot of experience managing large properties. He worked as a majordomo (which is like a manager) for the San Diego Mission from 1835 to 1840. He also managed the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia between 1843 and 1845. Because of this experience, he knew which former mission lands were the best when he looked for land grants. He also served in government roles, including as a judge, an elector, and an alcalde (which was like a mayor) of San Diego.

Edward Stokes's Journey

Edward Stokes was an English sailor who came to California from Hawaii in 1840. In 1842, he married Maria del Refugio Ortega (1823–1918). She was the daughter of José Joaquin Ortega. Sadly, Stokes died not long after the Battle of San Pasqual, which was a battle during the Mexican-American War. His widow, Maria Ortega, later married Agustin Olvera in 1859. Agustin Olvera was also a land grant owner, of the Rancho Cuyamaca.

Becoming Part of the United States

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 U.S. government would respect the land grants that had been given by the Mexican government.

To make sure these land claims were official, the U.S. government passed the Land Act of 1851. Because of this law, a claim for Rancho Santa Ysabel was filed with the Public Land Commission in 1852. Finally, in 1872, the land grant was officially recognized, or patented, to José Joaquín Ortega and Eduardo Stokes. This meant their ownership was legally confirmed by the U.S. government.

Later Owners of the Rancho

In 1852, Ortega and Maria Stokes sold Rancho Santa Ysabel. Years later, in 1869, two new owners acquired the Rancho. They were Alfred H. Wilcox (1823–1883) and Benjamin M. Hartshorne (1826–1900). These two men were business partners in a successful company that operated steamboats on the Colorado River. Alfred H. Wilcox also owned another rancho called Rancho La Punta. He gained ownership of that land after he married Maria Antonia Argüello (1835–1909) in 1863.