The herald., 1895-09-05
WHO GRAZED VAST HERDS
Of Cattle Over Leagues of Land, Includ-
ing the Site of the City
He Called an Empire In Extent His iwn
by Virtue of Mexican Graats
This Powerful Don Was Antonio Ygnacio
Avila-Ex-Mayor Rowan Points Out
Many Alleged Errors and Is In.
clined to Ridiculc tho
Dispatch

Thomas e. Rowan was seen at late
hour last night regarding the Avila Es-
tate company incorporation, an account
of which may be found in the subjoined
dispatch. The gentleman, after reading
its contents through, said:
''The affair is ridiculous on the face of
it. Don Antonio Avla is credited with
possessing the Sausal Redondo ranch and
the Rancho de la Cienega. Neither of
these properties were ever in his posses
sion, the former having been i'll the fam
lily of the late Mrs. Trudell for nearly 200
years. Don Antonio Avila is said to
have had nine Children, and one OF these,
his daugb ter Ascencion, married Tomasse
Sanchez. not Juan. as the dispatch says.
This union did not result In SIX children.
as is claimed in the telegram; but only
two heirs we're born TO tho parties inter-
ested. After the death of Tomasse San
chez. his widow did not marry Don Pho
Pico. No children were born to Don Pho
Pico by his former marriage except one
son. This dispatch claims that two
daughters were born of the alleged marri-
age between the widow of Sanchez and
Don Pho Pico. The Joaquina Pico men
toned in the telegram was not the daugh-
ter, hut was the niece of Don Pho Pico,
and the Griselda Pico also spoken of did
not exist at all. The entire dispatch, as
regards the names of persons and places
that but little can be made OF it but as
subject for :idicule."
Mr. Rowan spoke author1tatlvely, he
having been we'll acquainted with the
Tomasse Sanchez and mis- wife mentioned
in the dispatch, and also with many of
the other persons mentioned in the tsle
gram, notably Don Pic Pico, who, he de-
clares. never married Ascencion SANCHEZ
at ALL and had no issue by, hs. His
niece, JoaquIna. did marry John Moreno
fhRrnne
does not invalidate any of the titles re-
ferred to.
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 4.-There have
been filed in the Office of the county clerk
articles OF Incorporation of a com pany
recently formed in this city. the purposes
OF which will oubtedly prove mat
ter OF interest to many property owners
OF Los Angeles and Redondu.
The corporation is called the Ayjla
Estate company and it's directors are
Portirio Moreno. Alexandra Moreno
James L. Ball, D.Geary and Attorney r.
W. King. The articles of incorporation
simply set forth that the main object of
the new company is to acquire and deal
in lands AMI property of every descrip-
ton.
The corporation really represents the
interests of two descendants of one of the
old Spanish dons, who for years grazed
his cattle over leagues of land. including
part of the present site of Los Angeles
and other sections OF, the southern belts
of California and who called these lands
his own by virtue of grants accorded to
him in by the Mexican government long
before California became part of the
United States.
This powerful don was Anto nio Ygna-
clio Avila and the interests represente d
by the Avila Estate company are those of
the descendants of his daughter Ascen-
cion. who was the wife of Don Pho Pico.
the last Mexican governor of California.
Don Antonio Avila was born in Los
Angeles about thejyear 1765. He married
Don Ros Ruis. When Don Avila died in
1853 he left very valuable heritage OF
land andscattle to his children, Francisco,
Ascencion, Juan. Jose, Rafaela, Concep-
cion. Pedro, Pedro Antonio, Maria and
Pillar. Among the lands of which Don
Avila died possessed were included the
ranches known. on the records of the state
as the Guaspita ranch, the Salinas ranch
the Laguna Seoo rancn, the Coroas and
Piletas ranch, the Sausal Redondo ranch
and the Rancho de la Cienaga.
The Guaspita, Salna, Laguna Seco.
Coroas and Piletas ranches are all situat
ed in what is now known as the CITY OF
Los Angeles and part of them cover the
whole OF what is known as Spanish town.
The will OF Don Avila, after providing
that one-half of what he possessed should
be given to his widow. bequeathed the
remainder of his property to his children
share and share alike.
Ascencon, one of the daughters of
Don Avia, married Juan Sanchez,
prominent man in the so Lthern portion
OF the state. He held the position of
sheriff OF Los Angeles county for num-
ber OF years. and at the same time COL
lected the revenues of his wifes estate.
The union of Sanchez and Ascencion
resulted in the birth of six children.
Some time after Sanchez death the
widow married Don Pho Pico. ex-gover-
nor OF the state. Before their marriage
it was arranged that the portion of the
estate accum ulated by Juan Sanchez and
Ascencion properly belonged to the six
children Of Sanchez and should be dis
tributed to them.
Two daughters, Joaquina and Griselda,
blessed the union OF Pho PIco and Assem-
clon,and these are the persons who now
propose to assert tberir rights to share.
in the estate of Ascencion Avila, and so
dispossess many hundrds of people who
believe that they are the sole owners of