The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-31
LAST OF RACE DEAD
WITH THE PASSING OF DON MAJIN
CASTRO HISTORIC FAMILY
BECOMES ENTINtT
ONCE RICH AND NAUGHTY
Body of Former GrHndee Killed H.,
Train Lies in California
MOrgUe for Days Tn
identified.

OAKLAND, Cal, March 30-In the
death of Don Majin Castro. one ~ Cali
fornias historical families mas passeI
from view. The body of the aged Spar-
lard was found on the mud fiat under thu
railroad trestle which crosses the estuary.
at Seventh street and, Judging from THE
marks on the head, he was killed Ev ~
passing train.
For days the remains lay unidentified.
Then they were buried. Finally friends,
who grew concerned about the old mans
absence called at the mOrgue 10 see some
articles Of clothing and a cane which hJd
been left behind. They established the
identity of the dead man.
No man was better known in AIamrdl
and Contra Costa counties than Don
Majin Castro. For eight years he had
been the one surviving member Of the fa-
nous Castro family, the oldest of Cali
fornia. He died at the age off seventy
one, and was buried in the pauper's field.
But quarter of a century ago, with his
brother and his father Don Jose Castro
he owned vast tracts Of land throughout
the central part Of the state and thou
sands Of cattle. All this wealth, estimat-
ed in millions, was lost 10 the "Amert.S'
CanOs'
Proves Brave in War.
To Don Majin was left not even IL
years Of his life
1t is not known how long ago the Cas-
tro family first came To America. lt is
known, however, that the man who emil
grated from Spain to the Pacific coast
was the grandfather Of him whose body
was found under the trestle Don Main
was seventy-OEe years old. His father,
Don Jose died twenty-five years ago. at
the age Of 100 years, and he was born m
IN,
ing Of the grandfather must 80 back past
the century and quarter
Closely following the Castro family
came Juan CrisOstOmO Galindo and Do
mingo Peralta. These are the three old
est families Of the state and among them
Central California was divided. The Cas-
tro family seat was I'm what ls known ds
the PotretO, or Castro valley, reachiu"
from the hills to the bay at Point Rich
mond. IN the center Of this great tract
Of land still stands the old adobe home
now in the little town Of San Pablo. Con-
ira Costa county. The Galind0 family
took up land In the Santa Clara valley;
Domingo Peralta acquired the greater
part Of what is now Alameda county
In the early history Of the Pacific coast
Don Jose Castro was an important actor.
AS a boy he entered the Mexican army
and worked his way up from the ranks
Cen. Vallejo, and was with The MeNicans
at Monterey.
Sinks at Last Into Poverty.
When California became a state Don
Jose Castro was a very wealthy man.
His sons, Majin and Jose and daughter.
Maria, were brought up ON the San PAIL"
rancho The sons spent their boyhooa err
the vast cattle ranges.
Twenty-Five years ago the father oi'i-
To his children he left great wealth. G1i
year by year the estate dwindlcd Nhta
the younger son. Jose died ten years
ago. few Of the acres were left Tvs"
years later Maria Castro followed her ia-
Their and brother. From that time until
his tragic death Main Castro was tha
sole survivor.
Don Main Castro was a familiar figure
on the streets of Oakland He co1n
nearly always be seen riding spirited
horse On his fathers ranges he had be-
come an expert horseman. The aged
Spaniard was naughty. Even when lll he
refused to be taken to the county in
Urinary. During the last few years ne
lieved at the home Of friend, ID. A.
Haines.
The other two historical Spanish fami-
les Of Galindo and Peralta have lost tHelr
wealth. They, too, have all but dls'p-
reared