The Placer herald., 1856-06-21
An Old California Family.


ing the land titles of one of the most distinc-
lished of the old families of California, was
commenced Oh Monday in the Supreme court
The real character and merits of those old
families-the pioneers, as they were, of the
white race and of civilization on the California
coast-have hardy been appreciated on this
side ofthe continent. OF the particular fami-
ly whose cause is now adiudicatng some par
ticulars were stated yesterday in the discussion
which are historically interesting, and may
serve to give better idea of the people who
preceded the United States in the possession
of the Western El Dorado.
! Don JOSE DARIo ARGUELLo went to Califor-
main 1775-the year before our declaration
of independence--a lieutenant in the Spanish
army, and one of the chiefs chosen by the vi
ceroy Of Mexico for the purpose Of reducing
the Indian territory to the Spanish Crown and
protecting the missionary establishment to be
found there for the conversion and civilization
Of the Indians, The port Of San Francisco
the most exposed of all the localities, the out
post, in fact, Of the Spanish dimnions in
America-was his destination. He establish
ed, as its commandant, the first military,
post, and hence the first settlement of white
people that was founded on the waters of that
bay. In this capacity he served forty gears;
during which time the country bordering on
the bay, and for a considerable distance to the
north of it, was reduced to tranquil possession;
and the great mission of San Francisco, San
ia Clara, San Jose, and San Juan Batista, and
the pueblo of San Jose were established with
i'll his jurisdiction, and rose to high state
IF ,roolt tb nd Tho or,bixync ND
the traditions of California bear witness to his
wisdom in government-for the military
commanders ofdistant Spanish posts were also
charged with civil functions-to his bravery
in the field, and the paternal care which he
regarded those who were under him him. In
1915 he was transferred to Lower California,
as general commandant and governor of that
provence, in which he continued till his death,
about 1928.
His son, Don LUIS ANTONIO ARGuELLo, sue
ceeded in the command of the Preside of San
Francisco. This gentleman was born at that
post, and was Injured to arms, under the disci-
pline of his father. He entered the army as
a cadet in 1899; in 1905 he was promoted to
lieutenancy, and afterwards to a captaincy.
He served as commander at San Francisco
VII lC--; bui MY NuCD tIiliC HC lSA liidllN GA
peditons against the savage tribes, and pene-
trated futherinto the valleys ofthe Sacramento
and San Joaquin than the Spanish soldiers
had heretofore gone. He also effected an ar
rangement by which the Russian settlements
i'll the North of California were checked and
the upper side of the Bay of San Francisco
saved from falling into their hands. In 1922
a delegate from the new Empire of Mexico
arrived in California to demand the formal
transfer of the allegiance of the inhabitants.
Arguelo had early declared in favor of the
revolution, and through his infence the Gov
ernor, Don Pablo de Sola, had also done so.
The allegiance Of the whole province was con-
sequenty declared transferred from Spain to
the Mexican Empire; Sola was elected a dele
gate to the Congress which was called to meet
in Mexico and Arguello was made Governor
and commander of the province in his stead.
In S25 Don Luis had distinction which has
not happened, either before or since, to an
officer commanding on the California coast,
namely, to receive the capitulation of vessels
Of war.-On the 27th of April 1925, the
Spanish line-of battle ship Asia, of "a guns,
and the brig Constante were driven into Mon
terey 10y stress Of weather, and there capitula-
ted to Gov. Argueo-an event which conclu-
ded the Spanish war on that coast. Don Luis
died at San Francisco in $50, leaving his wi
dow, Dona Soedad Argucllo and an infant
family, who are the claimants in the present
case. The property in question is alleged to
have come into the family in the time of the
founder. Don Jose Dario Arguello.
Washinqton National Mtlhgencer.
Plco CLA1M-The settlers upon this claim
in Amador county, held a meeting at Sutter
Creek on Wednesday, June 4th, at which re-
solutions were passed declaring that they pos
itivey forbid Pico, his surveyors, aders or
abetters, from extending their survey over the
Sutter Creek or Amador mines They also,
while deprecating violent measures, will, if
driven to the wall, protect their claims by
such means rs may be necessary. The rea-
son of this action is contained in the following
preamble:
WHEREAS, we know of our own knowledge
that the said Pico, contrary to all equity, is
now seeking to float this grant over and upon
valuable farms and mines, including whole
villages, and lands wholly untitled for agri-
culture and grazing purposes.
SENATOR SHAw-It will be remembered by
our citizens, that the gentleman whose name
heads this paragraph, was sent to the last leg
islature by the Democratic party. That par
ty claims to be the especial representative Of
the people, and we are pleased to state, as
we are enabled to do On the best authority,
that Senator Shaw is willing at any moment
to surrender the honorable position he holds
into the hands of the people. He is now tho
roughly convinced that great frands were
practiced at the Fall election in this city, and
will resign at any moment that the rest of the
county officers elected at the same time will
throw up their commissions.