Our Stories
Some of my family stories, reflect the divisions among Californio families during the Mexican-American War.
was one of those that lost his rancho. Leandro Serrano, filed his claim to Rancho El Temescal in 1852 but died before the claim was denied in 1855. His wife and minor children had to move to an in-law’s ranch. I continue to document the history of other, early Californio families through the Descendants of Early San Diego group in Old Town; we are an organization dedicated to San Diego’s beginnings. As I saw the elders passing, I thought, “Oh, my god, our history is being lost.” That’s why I got involved, to share and protect that history.
My great-great-grandaunt Maria Antonia, who as the U.S. Americans entered San Diego, rushed out of the Machado house, cut down the Mexican flag so the Americans would not desecrate it and stuffed it under her skirt to protect it. But the American flag was raised in Old Town. Josef’s son, Juan Machado, was prominent in San Diego during the Californio period. Juan was a ranchero who built an adobe home in Old Town (site of the former old Fandango Restaurant). During the Mexican-American War, Juan—who loved to organize horse races and was known for a certain white stallion—supported the Mexican side. At the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual (near present-day Escondido), Mexican soldiers were surprised to see Juan’s famous white stallion charging them from the American lines. But, as it turned out, a fellow townsman, Phillip Crosthwaite, had “borrowed” his horse to aid the Americans. But for Juan that wasn’t as bad as his younger brother, Jesus, volunteering to guide some of General Stockton’s soldiers to the battleground. Following the Mexican-American War all Californios had to defend their property rights by filing claims to their own ranchos with the United States Surveyor General’s Office. Many Californio grants were recognized but some families had lost their documents or had difficulty because they did not speak or write English and did not understand the process. In some cases, grants were recognized only to be lost in the process of paying lawyers. My great-grandmother Maria Fe Machado’s was Juan’s daughter. Her maternal grandfather
Georgia Callian’s great grandfather and grandmother Rafael Apolonio Serrano and Maria Fe Machado (Photos courtesy Callian family archives)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 1 – The Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo
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