Californio landholding families
The de la Guerra family
Patriarch: José de la Guerra y Noriega (1779 Novales, Santander, Spain – 1858 Santa Barbara)
The de la Guerras were the wealthiest and most socially prominent family of Santa Barbara, controlling a near-continuous belt of ranchos from San Luis Obispo to Ventura counties. Their power rested on the presidial command, a merchant fortune, and marriage into the Carrillo family.
Origin
Unlike the soldier-founders, de la Guerra came from Spain via a merchant uncle in Mexico City and entered the army as an officer, becoming comandante of the Santa Barbara presidio (1815–1842); he married Antonia Carrillo, daughter of José Raimundo Carrillo.
Members
| Name | Relation | Ranchos |
|---|---|---|
| José de la Guerra y Noriega | patriarch | acquired (by grant and purchase) Rancho Simi, Las Posas, El Conejo, San Julian, Los Alamos, over half a million acres |
| José Antonio de la Guerra | son | Rancho Los Álamos (1839) |
| Pablo de la Guerra | son | family ranchos; prominent Californio politician (state senator) |
Genealogical confidence: high
Sources
- https://www.militarymuseum.org/delaguerra2.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerra_family_of_California
- https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf487003ct/entire_text/ (Guerra Family Collection, OAC)