RANCHO LAS CRUCES
Miguel Cordero occupied what became Rancho Las Cruces in the early 1830s after retiring from military service. His family remained in the property through the early 1900s and built a number of adobe houses, one of which still stands and is a California State Historical Landmark (# 36). Las Cruces became an important stage coach stop over the years and was the home of the famous Chumash man, Fernando Librado (pictured below).
The Las Cruces Adobe about 1904 with Fernando Librado (Chumash) standing in the center of the group sporting overalls and a white beard.
Fernando lived at Las Cruces on and off for at least 35 years prior to his death in 1915.
*Special thanks to Suzi Calderon Bellman for acquiring an excellent copy of the photograph!*
Fernando lived at Las Cruces on and off for at least 35 years prior to his death in 1915.
*Special thanks to Suzi Calderon Bellman for acquiring an excellent copy of the photograph!*
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DOCUMENTS
Historical Documents
The first article is from the San Francisco Bulletin (24 June 1856); it describes violent acts at Rancho Las Cruces and the arrest of two of the perpetrators.
The second article (in Spanish), from Los Angeles newspaper Clamor Publico (12 July 1856), describes a series of crimes at Rancho Las Cruces in Santa Barbara. See the 1856 Census extraction at the bottom of this webpage for more information about who lived at Rancho Las Cruces in 1856. Modern Documents
Maps
Cattle Brand
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IMAGES
Las Cruces School
Las Cruces School, unknown date
Las Cruces School in 1900
Las Cruces School in 1900 with Names
Back of above photograph
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Rancho Las Cruces, 1856 Census
