Rancho Tepusquet facts for kids
Rancho Tepusquet was a large piece of land, about 8,901 acres (36 km²), in what is now northern Santa Barbara County, California. It was given as a Mexican land grant in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Tomás Olivera. The rancho stretched along the Sisquoc River and included areas like Sisquoc and Garey today. These places are northeast of Los Alamos.
History of Rancho Tepusquet
Tomás Olivera (1787–1848) was an important person in the area. He was in charge of three mission ranches: La Purisima, Santa Ines, and Santa Barbara. In 1837, the Mexican government gave him Rancho Tepusquet. He passed away in 1848.
Tomás Olivera was married to María Antonia Cota. Her daughter from a previous marriage, María Martina Osuna, later became very important to the rancho's story.
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, which said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid.
The United States government then created a new law called the Land Act of 1851. This law required people to prove they owned their land grants. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho Tepusquet was filed. The land was officially given to Tomás Olivera's family in 1871.
The Ontiveros Family and the Rancho
In 1855, Tomás Olivera's family sold Rancho Tepusquet. They sold it to María Martina Osuna, who was Tomás Olivera's stepdaughter. Her husband, Juan Pacifico Ontiveros (1795–1877), also became an owner.
Juan Pacifico Ontiveros moved to Rancho Tepusquet in 1856. He built a special adobe house on the property. He lived there until he passed away. Today, this adobe house is the center of Bien Nacido Vineyards. The Ontiveros family has continued to be a well-known family in the Tepusquet area of Santa Barbara County for many years.
