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Secularization, that
practically razed the missions, was closely followed in San Bernardino by an
epoch of speedier and more extensive advancement, in the opening of the section
to general development. This period began with the division of the country into
large ranchos, under the governorship of Juan B. Alvarado, who very practically
made to such as would agree to occupy and settle their possessions in so remote
and Indian-infested a district, the large grants of land necessary for the
raising of horses and cattle, then regarded as the only available industry.
The first of these grants in point of time was that of
the Jurupa Rancho, lying along the Santa Ana River, in the southwestern part of
San Bernardino valley. The extent of this grant is variously stated at from
seven to eleven leagues, and its date at either September 28, 1838, or May 22,
1840; the earlier is probably the correct date. " Jurupa" is said to have been
the first greeting of the old Indian chieftain to the Roman Catholic priest who
first appeared thereabouts, this word being said to mean, in the native dialect,
" Peace and Friend-ship;" and " Jurupa" the place was called in memory of that
kindly greeting.
Juan A. Bandini took possession of his grant, and stocked
it with cattle and horses. But the Indians proved very troublesome, and preyed
upon his stock. Therefore, about 1843 he induced about twenty families from New
Mexico to settle on the northern end of his property, and guard it against the
incursions of the Indians, in consideration of receiving land on which to build
and till the soil. Many of these families, among them the Trojillas, Moyas,
Garcias, Alvarados and others, are still represented at Spanish Town and Agua
Mansa. This was the first settlement in the county. These settlers were
presently joined by other colonists, among them the German, Louis Slover, from
whom was named the limestone ridge called Slover Mountain. From the smooth flow
of the Santa Ana and its tributary streams hereabouts, this settlement was
called "Agua Mansa," literally Gentle Water, idiomatically Still Water.
Don Juan Bandini sold a portion of the Jurupa Rancho to Benito D. Wilson, May 6,
1843. This lot, comprising one league and a half of land, cost Wilson $1,000.
The following year he conveyed it to Captain James Johnson and Colonel Isaac
Williams, and they, in 1847, sold it to Louis Rubideaux, it having been known
since as the Rubideaux rancho. Rubideaux was a Frenchman, who came to California
by way of New Mexico, whither, after his purchase of property, he returned,
bringing back to his rancho his family, a large stock of goods, and about
$30,000 in cash. During the war with Mexico, he sided staunchly with the United
States, and was made prisoner and jailed with Americans in Los Angeles. When the
war was over, Rubideaux devoted himself to improving his rancho, building walls
and dwellings, and planting orchards and vineyards. Before the floods of
1861-'62, he had under fence, 15,000 acres. He died September 23, 1868.
In 1842, Alvarado, as Governor of California, granted to Jose Maria Lugo, Jose
del Carmen Lugo, Vicente Lugo, and Diego Sepulveda, the Rancho de San
Bernardino, which gave its name to the county. The same year, Manuel Dominguez,
First Judge of the Peace in the District of Los Angeles, formally installed
these parties in possession of the rancho. This grant lay in the central part of
the valley, and it was thus the best-watered portion. The grant contained some
nine square leagues, or 37,700 acres. Its boundaries were: on the east, the "
Sierra del Yucaipa;" on the west, the Arroyo del Cajon; on the south, the "Lomerias,"
and on the north, the " Faldas de la Sierra" (skirts of the Sierra).
The Rancho Muscupiabe seems to have been granted in April 1843, to Michael
White, by Manuel Micheltorena, then Governor General Comandante and Inspector of
both Californias. In 1845 was granted Santa Ana del Chino, and an addition to
that grant, as well as those of San Jacinto, Sierra and San Gorgonio, were made
up to 1843.
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