Rancho Pismo
Encyclopedia
Rancho Pismo was a 8839 acres (35.8 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1840 by Governor Pro Tem Manuel Jimeno to José Ortega
. The grant extended along the Pacific coast
and encompassed present day Pismo Beach
, Grover Beach
, Shell Beach and parts of Arroyo Grande
.
Isaac Sparks (1804–1867) was born in Maine
. He arrived in Los Angeles
in 1832, and by 1848, had established a large otter trapping and merchant business in Santa Barbara
. In 1836, he married Maria De Los Remedios Josefa Eayrs (1813-1893), daughter of a sea captain George Washington Eayrs (1775–1855). In 1843, Sparks was the grantee of Rancho Huasna
.
With the cession
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Pismo was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Isaac J. Sparks in 1866.
In 1850, Sparks resold Rancho Pismo. He sold the southern half (now Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande) to Francis Ziba Branch. He sold the northern half (now Shell Beach and Pismo Beach) to John Price and David P. Mallagh. The Englishman John Price operated Rancho Huasna
for Sparks, and it seems that Spark gave him part of Rancho Pismo instead of paying him wages. John Michael Price (1810–1902) came to California in 1830, and worked on Monterey
area ranchos then went to work on Rancho Huasna. Price lived and worked on his Rancho Pismo land until his death in 1902.
Irish sea captain David P.Mallagh, came to California in 1849, and soon afterward married Juana de Jesús Carrillo (1829–) of Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa
. In 1860 he built a small wharf on the adjacent Rancho San Miguelito
, which is now called Mallagh’s Landing.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1840 by Governor Pro Tem Manuel Jimeno to José Ortega
José Ortega (explorer)
José Ortega was a sergeant in the Spanish Army, and a member of Gaspar de Portolà exploration party , who is credited with discovering the entrance to San Francisco Bay, on November 1, 1769...
. The grant extended along the Pacific coast
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
and encompassed present day Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach, California
Pismo Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 7,655 at the 2010 census, down from 8,551 at the 2000 census...
, Grover Beach
Grover Beach, California
Grover Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 13,156 at the 2010 census, up from 13,067 at the 2000 census. This city was originally called, "Grover City". The name was changed by popular vote in 1992 to emphasize the seaside...
, Shell Beach and parts of Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande, California
Arroyo Grande is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 17,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Arroyo Grande is a small coastal town with historic, suburban, and rural elements located at...
.
History
José Ortega was granted the two square league rancho in 1840. José Ortega sold Rancho Pismo to Isaac Sparks in 1846.Isaac Sparks (1804–1867) was born in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. He arrived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1832, and by 1848, had established a large otter trapping and merchant business in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. In 1836, he married Maria De Los Remedios Josefa Eayrs (1813-1893), daughter of a sea captain George Washington Eayrs (1775–1855). In 1843, Sparks was the grantee of Rancho Huasna
Rancho Huasna
Rancho Huasna was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Isaac J. Sparks. The grant extended along the Huasna River and the western slope of the Santa Lucia Range, east of present day Arroyo Grande and encompassing...
.
With the cession
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession of 1848 is a historical name in the United States for the region of the present day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S...
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Pismo was filed with the Public Land Commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1852, and the grant was patented
Land patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
to Isaac J. Sparks in 1866.
In 1850, Sparks resold Rancho Pismo. He sold the southern half (now Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande) to Francis Ziba Branch. He sold the northern half (now Shell Beach and Pismo Beach) to John Price and David P. Mallagh. The Englishman John Price operated Rancho Huasna
Rancho Huasna
Rancho Huasna was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Isaac J. Sparks. The grant extended along the Huasna River and the western slope of the Santa Lucia Range, east of present day Arroyo Grande and encompassing...
for Sparks, and it seems that Spark gave him part of Rancho Pismo instead of paying him wages. John Michael Price (1810–1902) came to California in 1830, and worked on Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
area ranchos then went to work on Rancho Huasna. Price lived and worked on his Rancho Pismo land until his death in 1902.
Irish sea captain David P.Mallagh, came to California in 1849, and soon afterward married Juana de Jesús Carrillo (1829–) of Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa
Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa
Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa was an Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1841 by Governor pro tem Manuel Jimeno to María Ygnacia López. The grant was along Santa Rosa Creek, and encompassed present day Santa Rosa, California....
. In 1860 he built a small wharf on the adjacent Rancho San Miguelito
Rancho San Miguelito
Rancho San Miguelito was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Miguel Ávila, and an addition granted in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico...
, which is now called Mallagh’s Landing.