Rancho Valle de Pamo facts for kids

Rancho Valle de Pamo, also known as Rancho Santa María, was a very large piece of land in what is now San Diego County, California. It was a Mexican land grant, which means the Mexican government gave it to private citizens. In 1843, Governor Manuel Micheltorena gave this land, about 17,709 acres (71.6 km²), to José Joaquín Ortega and Edward Stokes. The rancho was located in the Santa Maria Valley, right where the town of Ramona is today.

History of the Rancho

How the Land Was Granted

The land for Rancho Valle de Pamo used to belong to San Diego Mission. In 1843, the Mexican government granted this land to José Joaquín Ortega and his son-in-law, Edward Stokes. They also received another large land grant called Rancho Santa Ysabel in 1844.

Key People Involved

José Joaquín Ortega

José Joaquín Geronimo Ortega (1801–1865) was an important person in early California. He was the grandson of José Francisco Ortega, a famous explorer. José Joaquín Ortega married Maria Casimira Pico, who 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 San Diego Mission and San Luis Rey Mission. Because of this, he knew which mission lands were the best to ask for as grants. He also served in various government roles, including justice and mayor of San Diego.

Edward Stokes

Edward Stokes was an English sailor who came to California from Hawaii. In 1842, he married Maria del Refugio Ortega, who was José Joaquín Ortega's daughter. Edward Stokes died not long after a battle called the Battle of San Pasqual. Later, in 1859, his widow Maria Ortega married Agustin Olvera, who owned another rancho called Rancho Cuyamaca.

Changes After California Became Part of the U.S.

After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. The peace agreement, called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, said that the U.S. government would respect the land grants given by Mexico.

To make sure these land grants were official under U.S. law, a claim for Rancho Valle de Pamo was filed in 1852. This was done with the Public Land Commission, a group set up to check these claims. The grant was officially approved and given a "patent" (a legal document proving ownership) to José Joaquín Ortega and Edward Stokes in 1872.

Who Owned the Rancho Over Time

In 1852, José Joaquín Ortega and María del Refugio Stokes sold the rancho to Susan McKinstry. However, by 1856, they had bought it back. José Joaquín Ortega then used his half of the property as a loan guarantee to William C. Ferrell.

Edward Stokes and María del Refugio Ortega had three sons: Alfredo, Adolfo, and Eduardo. By 1870, Adolfo Stokes became the only owner of the rancho. In 1872, he sold it to Juan B. Arrambide.

Six years later, in 1878, Arrambide sold the rancho to Bernard Etcheverry (1836–1912). Etcheverry had come from France in 1856, hoping to find gold in California. After a few years, he went back to France, but then returned to San Diego County in 1872.

In 1886, Bernard Etcheverry sold 3,855 acres (15.6 km²) of the rancho to Milton Santee. Santee was a civil engineer and land developer from Los Angeles. He then started the Santa Maria Land and Water Company and divided the land into smaller pieces. This is how the town of Ramona started.