Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/788

This page needs to be proofread.

770 PIONEER REGISTER AND INDEX. greatly improved his financial condition, ii. 186. In 1810 he was sent to Mex. as habilitado gen. of the Cals, but being arrested by insurgents at S. Bias, was unable to reach the capital, and returned to Cal. in 11, taking his position at Sta B., and continuing his commercial operations, though going to S. Diego again as habilitado in 13-15. ii. 98, 188-9, 197-8, 341, 419-21. From 15 he was com. at Sta B. , taking part in the arrest of foreign smugglers, in defen sive operations against Bouchard, having a quarrel with P. Sefian, and being promoted to Capt. iu 18. ii. 222-5, 235-42, 275, 284-5, 317, 332, 361, 382, 405, 416, 424. In 19 he was sent again to Mex. as repres. of the Cal. compa nies to obtain supplies, and prob. with a hope of getting an appointment as gov., returning in 20 after accomplishing very little, though all that was pos sible, ii. 260-2, 265, 354, 422. He was busied, besides his official duties, in 21-2 in obtaining ranches, quarrelling with the friars on the subject, and get ting a grant of Conejo in 22. ii. 441, 566, 569-70, 5SO/ In 22 he was a candi date for gov., and but for his Sp an. birth and Canonigo Fernandez conse quent opposition, would have been chosen; being alsofavofed by the friars for congressman, ii. 451, 453-4, 465-8. There is no truth in the statement of Wilkes, U.S. Explor. Exped., v. 173, on this matter, and but little in that of Petit-Thouars, Voy., ii. 90; though his disappointment may have had an in fluence on Don Joses later policy between Mexicans and natives. Mention in 23-5, including his acts in suppressing thelnd. revolt of 24. ii. 495, 510, 530, 533, 536-7, 561, 576; iii. 27. He was elected dip. to congress in 27, and against the advice of many went to Mex. in 28, but was not given his seat, returned in 29, and was for some time, as a Span., nominally suspended from _his command. ii. 570-1, 574-5, 676; iii. 33-4, 51-2, 61, 127; iv. 343. In 29- 30 he bought a schr, perhaps had another built, and bought the cargo of a wrecked vessel, iii. 140, 146. He did not join the movement against Victoria in 31. iii. 205, 210; controlled the policy of Carlos Carrillo in congress, iii. 214; and in all these years acted as a kind of treasurer and confidential ad viser of the friars sindico apost61ico; accused in 34 of being engaged in a conspiracy against the govt. iii. 250, 257-8. In the sectional troubles of 36-8 Capt. G. was a firm supporter of Alvarado s cause, though personally a friend of Carrillo. Alvarado wished to make him com. gen., and did grant him the S. Julian or Nacional rancho. iii. 436, 492, 510, 533, 550, 582, 650-1. In 39 he made vain attempts to collect his back pay, being still com. at Sta B. iii. 584, 651; and having to his credit, including extra allowances, 51 years, 9 months, and 1 day of mil. service on May 10th. In 40 he asked for retirement because he could not get the $12,000 due him, nor the promotion to which he was entitled, and because of his ailments and age of 62. He finally retired from the mil. service on April 1, 42. Ment. in 40-2. iii. 655; iv. 199, 632, 640-1; ment. [44-6. iv. 403, 408, 530; v. 282. Though not friendly to the U. S., he kept quiet for the most part, and did not indulge in any offensive parti sanship. In later years he was claimant for several ranches, iv. 643, 655-6; living quietly at Sta B., and being a man of great wealth, most of which hia sons managed to squander even before their father s death. He died in 58, leaving over 100 direct descendants. None of the pioneers here registered exerted for so long a period so wide and good an influence as Capt. de la Guerra. He was a man of excellent character and conduct throughout his career, though no great or brilliant achievements can be placed to his credit, though he had the advantage of rich and influential friends from the first, and though his Span, birth prevented his reaching the highest rank; yet his hon est and efficient performance of each duty, his well-balanced judgment, hia dignified conservatism, command admiration. At Sta B. he was known as the patriarch, to whom the people were wont to apply as a matter of course to settle their controversies; and he was famous for his charities. No man in Cal. ever came so near, by peaceful, legitimate means, absolute control of his dis trict. He did not purchase popularity at the cost of independence, for many were his controversies, even with the friars, though their life-long friend and a devout churchman. The Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., copies of which I was per mitted to make by the kindness of Mr Dibblee, executor of the estate, are the