America's Original Cowboy - The Vaquero

The mainstay of every ranch was a flamboyant skilled horseman, the vaquero.  He was usually of Indian descent, whose forbearers under colonial law had forbidden him to ride.  The missionaries hadn't paid much attention to this rule, as they needed herdsmen, and trained the Indians as cowhands.  These vaqueros began working for the rancheros when the missions became secularized.  They were provided with hut homes and necessary supplies. 

Vaqueros originated most of the clothing, techniques, and terms later used by the Anglo cowboy.  Vaquero became "buckaroo".  The vaquero's charges, semi-wild longhorns, roamed fenceless grasslands until rodeo time when they were all rounded up and under supervision of the field judge, separated according to each ranch's brand.

During the late summer "matanza" or slaughter, when the cattle were the fattest, the vaqueros killed the cattle by plunging knives into the steer's neck, a daring task.  Hides were removed, layers of fat collected for cooking and tallow, and the meat was carved for steaks. 



The best vaqueros received extra pay in trade goods which they spent on fine clothes and saddles.  They rode the finest horses, adorned with silver and their clothes matched their horse's.  The chief vaquero wore a bandana and a wool felt hat lined with silk and held on with chinstraps. His embroidered cotton shirt and silk rimmed open jacket were of the finest quality.  His prized gold edged "serape" or blanket, was strapped behind his saddle.  His saddle is embossed with birds and flowers in fine leather.  The vaquero always carried his "reata" or lariat which was 60-100 feet long, hanging from his "croup" thong attached to his saddle.  His legs are protected from cactus thorns and chaparral by "tapadero", leather flaps that cover his boots.  His "botas", or leather leggings have ornate garters with ties, and "armitas", heavy buckskin chaps hang from his waist to cover his trousers. 

The vaquero was a stately site, who was proud of his horsemanship and never walked when he could ride.  He was an very important part of ranch life in California in the 1800s.

Next time... Northward Bound
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Today in Pioneer History:  On December 5, 1839, Union General George Armstrong Custer is born in Harrison County, Ohio. Although he is best known for his demise at the hands of the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Montana, in 1876, Custer built a reputation as a dashing and effective cavalry leader during the Civil War.

Ceaseless Propaganda

One of California's most ardent supporters against Mexican rule was a Harvard graduate and self proclaimed doctor named John Marsh.  Marsh arrived from Missouri and became successful in Los Angeles before buying a large tract of land in the San Joaquin Valley in the 1830s. (see his house in left photo!) He believed that American migration would increase the value of his property so much that he began a campaign to convince his friends in Independence about the perfect life in California.

The town's newspapers picked up the story and began to tell of how California was the life for any farmer tired of low prices and high debts.  According to the Marsh's stories, no man need to stoop to manual labor out in California when the Indians could do it for little or no pay.  He wrote, "the only thing we lack here is a good Government.  What we want most is more people.  If we had 50 families we could do exactly as we please without any fear of being troubled."  (California was still under Mexican rule.)

Marsh's propaganda about the "good life" in California was supplemented by sailor and writer Richard Henry Dana, by explorers Joseph Walker, Jed Smith, and James Ohio Pattie.  By 1814 these men had turned a tiny group of traders and merchants into a steady overland migration of farm families from Missouri to California.

By 1842 Monterey, for example, was a small but prosperous shipping center for American hide buyers. Richard Dana called Monterey, "the  most civilized  looking place in California" in 1840.
Some of that original "civilization" stood well into the 20th century...California's first theater, American consul's house, court house, and the royal presidio chapel (which is still standing and the only presidio chapel still in existence in California).

Next time...Ranch life in California
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On November 28, 1520, after sailing through the dangerous straits below South America that now bear his name, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan enters the Pacific Ocean with three ships, becoming the first European explorer to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic

Early California - the Quest Begins

Even before Texas became a part of the United States, Americans were moving westward toward the Pacific to the rich, empty regions of Oregon Territory and California.  They believed it was their destiny to claim and settle this land.  Trappers and traders came first, followed by missionaries, as we have seen, finally farmers and their families by the thousands, traveling the continent by packhorses and wagon trains came west.  By mid-1800s the conquest was complete.  But we are a bit ahead of ourselves...

Before the white man came in great numbers, California was home to more the 100,000 Native Americans.  These Indians had broad, tanned and heavy faces, and spoke a great number of dialects. Basically peace-loving, they lived in semi-permanent villages along the coast where they gathered and hunted, subsisting on plants, fish, some game and grubs.  The mild climate gave them little reason for many clothes, and they seldom went hungry.  They enjoyed elaborate ceremonies, and the Pomo Indians wove some of the finest baskets in all of America out of redbud bark, bulrushes, and strips of sledge.  These California tribes lived in dome-roofed dugouts (see Pomo dwelling photo).  Acorns were a staple for food as well as dye.  As was the case in all North America, original ownership belonged to them.

As wagon trains pushed to the West in the early 1840s, several countries had already contended for ownership of the territory...we've seen Texas and Mexico in the Rio Grande, but Britain and the United States were jointly occupying the Pacific Northwest, and more and more Americans wanted Mexican California.

By the 1840s about 200 Americans (not including the Native Americans) lived in California, many prominent residents.  Some had married into distinguished Mexican families and adopted both the Roman Catholic faith and Mexican citizenship.  Still, annexation of California was never far from their conversations...

Next time...Yankee Mischief
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This Day in Pioneer History:  On November 17,  1856, US establishes Fort Buchanan. Named for recently elected President James Buchanan, Fort Buchanan was located on the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona.

Fremont Finally Gets His

The Bear Flag Rebellion followed after a formal declaration of war between the USA and Mexico on May 1846.  Fremont returned from Oregon to march south at the head of the so-called California Battalion, made up of the remaining men of his "survey expedition" party.

In 1847 the general arrested Fremont, charging him with "disobeying orders, military and conduct prejudical to military interests".  He was ordered back to Washington to stand court martial.  the court was lenient because of his popularity and permitted him to retain his commission.  Fremont rejected the offer, resigned from the army, and convinced himself he was a martyr of the Manifest Destiny.  Unbelievable...

Next time...Goodbye to Missouri and the Rockies
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 This Day in History:  On November 20, 1843, the Blacksnake Hills, the growing community along the banks of the Missouri River adopts the more impressive St. Joseph as its name.

I Don't Think So...

Fremont responded to Catro's demand by taking 60 of his men to the top of Hawk's Peak in the Gabilan Mountain overlooking Santa Clara Valley and erected a statue of himself along with the United States flag.   (I told you that you would come to look at Fremont differently!)  From there, he proceeded to taunt the Mexicans with boasts of military might.  He saw California as his, the way Jackson saw Florida and Houston saw Texas as their own.

Without orders, and as an active military officer, Fremont had entered a foreign country at that time, and committed what amounted to an act of war.  Fremont remained on Hawk's Peak for 3 days until the flag fell to the ground causing Fremont to abandon the position because he saw that as a "bad omen".

Hightailing it to Oregon without interference and in a towering rage, Captain Walker severed all ties with Fremont on the spot. and was later to say "Fremont, morally and physically was the most complete coward I ever knew.  I would say that he was as timid as a woman if I were not casting an unmerited reproach on that sex."

Next time...Fremont Finally Gets His

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This Day in History: On Nov.17, 1856, the United States gained control over the Gadsden Purchase with the establishment of Fort Buchanan. Named for the recently elected President, Fort Buchanan was located on the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona.

Restless But Successful Joel

Joel Walker and family selected land, sowed in wheat and made a living that first winter. 

In January 1841, the 5th Walker child was born - the first American baby to be born in Oregon.  Louisa Walker was just 7 months old when her father took her and her family to California. 

The Walkers traveled by ship, arriving in San Francisco in September of 1841, becoming the first American family to reach California. How many "firsts" does that makes for the family of Walkers originally from the Appalachian Valley now...


They continued to Sacramento where Joel became the manager of Sutter's farm.  After a year they returned to Oregon way before the famous Gold Rush and found English speaking schools for their children.

Joel claimed 640 acres of land in Yamhill County and lad good success and farming for the next four years, at which time he sold out in the fall of 1848 and moved back to California where he served on the California Constitutional Convention in 1849.  He finally settled for good in Napa Valled on a prosperous ranch for the rest of his days.

Next time...The Year of Indian Violence