The Evening News. October 31, 1916

27. Original Spanish Grants Part II

In Hall's valley near Mount Hamilton was the grant, Los Huegos, originally owned by John Roland. Much of this ranch belongs to Robert Morrow of San Francisco.

On the way to Mount Hamilton is the Rancho Canada de Pala, first granted to Jose Jesus Bernal.

The Yerba Buena grant covered a great deal of Evergreen and beyond, and was made to Antonio Chaboya. Don Pedro Chaboya also had a great grant, a part of which is now in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Luisa Long. This is called the Rancho de la Posa San Juan Bautista. The Chaboyas were famous for the extremes in coloring. They were either very dark or very fair. The fair Chaboyas were so fair that they were almost like albinos. When they grew old their hair, instead of turning gray, became black.

The grant of San Juan Bautista was first given to Augustin Narvaez, an Alcalde, in the early 20's. It was extremely valuable, extending from Market street nearly to Edenvale, including the Willows, and stretching out from the Almaden road. Augustin Narvaez was a naval officer and the son of a member of the band of the king of Spain. In this generation Augustin Narvaez is a contractor and mender of stringed instruments. His daughter has much talent for music.

Near Los Gatos was the Rancho Rinconade de Los Gatos, owned by Sebastian Peralta.

To the northeast of San Jose were the three ranches, Rincon de los Esteros (the lowlands). They were granted to Ygnacio Alviso, who afterward sold it to Ellen White, daughter of an early Alcalde; Rafael Alviso, for whom Alviso was named, and Rafael Berryessa, for whom the town of Berryessa was named. Alviso, Agnews and Berryessa were located on these ranches. Don Jose Alviso had a great ranch called Las Milpitas (Little Gardens). The town of Milpitas is on the Alviso grant, where the old Alviso house still stands. It was built nearly a century ago, and it is the only well-preserved adobe on any of the great ranches near San Jose. It is occupied by some Portuguese fruit growers, but by a little care and expense it might be a most interesting landmark. It has survived without a crack nearly a century of earthquakes.

Near Santa Clara there was the Portrero (pasture) de Santa Clara. The grant was made to James Alexander Forbes, at one time British Consul, who sold it to Commodore Robert F. Stockton.

Another ranch near Santa Clara was the Quito grant made to H. S. Robles. Later it was the country home of the Arguellos. One of the Arguello boys is named Quito. A part of the ranch is owned by Mr. Goodrich, and it is one of the famous olive orchards in California.

On the sites of Mayfield and Palo Alto were three of the oldest Spanish grants. Their names are very similar. Mayfield stands on the Rincon (Corner) de San Francisquito. This grant was made to H. S. Robles.

Palo Alto occupies a very small part of the Rincon de Arroyo San Francisquito. The first owner of this grant was Maria Antonia Mesa.

Stanford University is built on the old San Francisquito grant, which was made to Maria Valencia de Rodriquez.

A part of the Stanford University property is on the Corte Madera grant, which was first given to Maximo Martinez. Part of this land was given by the United States Court to Domingo Peralta. Much of it is now the property of the Hotalings of San Francisco. Mr. Martinez's daughter is now living in San Jose. She is very old, but she has a clear memory of the Corte Madera days and of her father's was with squatters.

These are the most important Spanish grants but they do not by any means include all the land of Santa Clara County. There were always great tracts near Saratoga and Los Gatos where, until the American came, the only title was possessed by the coyotes, bear, antelope and elk.

Transcribed by Kitty LaFavor, for the Santa Clara Co. CAGenWeb Project. 2008