Whether or not you think that it was a good idea that California became part of the USA, it is now a foregone conclusion. It's journey from a being a part of Spain, and then Mexico and then an independent republic, to America's most populated state was done quite gracefully.
The unsung hero in this odyssey is someone who is quite beloved, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. He was a native born Californian who was the military commandant of California under Mexico and he commanded from downtown Sonoma.
It was to him that the huge land grants were awarded, and he decided for many years, even after California was part of the USA, who would get the large tracts of land that make up Sonoma and Napa. For instance the lovely valley that makes up the Benziger Estate in Glen Ellen was originally granted by Vallejo to a hard working carpenter who helped him on projects around the plaza.
The reason that he was an American hero is that he ignored Mexico City's orders to prevent the Americans from settling in their territory. Those wandering pilgrims from places like Ohio and Illinois were that time's illegal aliens and Mexico City was adamant, don't let them in. But Vallejo had a problem, he didn't have enough people to fill his land. Even Mexico suffered from this problem, so he thought outside the box.
How admittedly, most of the Americans he met initially were not impressive, mountain men dressed in skins and covered in unruly beards, not much interested in farming. But then he encountered hard working farmers, clean, upstanding, and he made an executive decision, give them land. Besides, he had a large family, lots of children, so it didn't hurt to expand the possible marriage pool.
By the time the first American military ship arrived in San Francisco to claim that city there were plenty of Americans to welcome them ashore. Napa was home to a large contingent of Americans, including a former mountain man named George Yount. He bought two thousand grape vines from the Sonoma Franciscan Mission and planted them on the hillsides in the heart of the Napa Valley, alongside one of the largest streams. Years later after the Second World War those vineyards would be flooded to build a reservoir to supply America's largest and most prestigious military retirement home, located in the town of Yountville.
When President Polk saw that the opportunity was ripe to add California to America's portfolio, he sent a military mapping party to Sacramento to raise a revolutionary force. They traveled to Napa where they picked up more combatants and then together they 'invaded' the Sonoma Plaza and raised the Bear Flag in front of the military barracks and down the way from the General's home. There was one fatality, although that one sounded like a private affair wrapped up in the moment for legal reasons.
It was all very civilized and I wouldn't be surprised if the General invited them back to his place for drinks. It seems impossible here for more than three people to have a meeting here and for wine not to be served. Vallejo was reportedly held for six months before returning to his home and continuing dispensing land to various worthies. Later on he was elected a State Senator, ran the water company and had a city named after him.
He was beloved. Of course one of the reasons why everyone seemed to like him is that he had his younger brother Salvador to do his dirty work. They were soldiers after all and there were some scuffles with the Native People's in the days before casinos. But the 'Indians' of Napa were known as the Wappo, a variation of the Spanish Guapo, for handsome and attractive. That's not the kind thing you call a tribe that you find scary and repulsive. Generally the history of this region is peaceful, prosperous and inclusive and in part we can thank Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo for that.
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