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SOUTH BAY HISTORY TIDBITS
The Partitioning of Rancho Los Palos Verdes CONTENTS By Maureen Megowan / RE/Max Palos Verdes Execs
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Beginning in 1840, the Sepulveda family (consisting of Juan Capistrano Sepulveda and Jose Loreto Sepulveda ( the two oldest surviving sons of Jose Diego Sepulveda who had grazed cattle on the Rancho Los Palos Verdes since 1809 and had won a Spanish land
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grant for the Rancho), two younger brothers Jose Diego Sepulveda and Ygnacio Rafael
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Sepulveda, and their sister Maria Teresa Sepulveda), began to sell or mortgage a large
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portion of their interest in the Rancho. In July 1840, Ygnacio Sepulveda surrendered his
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financial difficulties, including a severe drought in 1862-1864 which wiped out most of
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their cattle herd. During this time, the family began to incur significant debt.
We regret to inform you that we inadvertently listed the incorrect contributing writer for our feature article on Uncle Bill’s Pancake House the correct writer was Quinn Roberts. Additionally, our front cover photo was taken by Paul Jonason. Thank you.
then went into foreclosure, but it was then purchased for $3,000 in 1858 by Jose Diego
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20% interest to his brother-in-law Nathaniel Pryor for $50. During the ten year period from 1855 to 1865, the Sepulvedas incurred significant
In 1855, Juan Capistrano Sepulveda mortgaged his 20% share of the Rancho which Sepulveda, Juan’s younger brother, who had previously sold his 20% interest in the Rancho in 1849 to a man named Santiego Johnson. In 1855, Jose then deeded 12 acres of land back to his older brother. In 1869, Jose Diego Sepulveda died, and left his 20% interest in the Rancho to his sons. Narbonne & Weston, two sheep herders, bought a 10% interest in the Rancho from Jose Loreto Sepulveda for $4,000 in 1872.
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In December 1872, Jotham Bixby bought the 20% interest in the Rancho claimed by Maria Sepulveda. In August 1874, Jose Loreto Sepulveda mortgaged his remaining 15%
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interest in the Rancho which was foreclosed on in 1879, and then purchased by Jotham Bixby. In 1874, Bixby purchased the 20% interest in the Rancho claimed by Santiego Johnson’s heirs at a public auction. This brought Bixby’s total interest in the Rancho to approx. 45%. During these years, Bixby made additional purchases of a portion of the Rancho. Numerous additional lawsuits were filed in the mid-1870’s disputing ownership of the land making up the Rancho, due to parties sometimes buying or selling the same claimed interest, and requesting partitioning of the land. During the period from 1865 to 1880, the Sepulvedas were engaged in 78 lawsuits, six land partitions suits, and 12 suits over eviction of squatters. From 1878-1882 the land was held in receivership. Sadly, Jose Loreto Sepulveda (who had sold or mortgaged his entire interest in the Rancho) died in 1881, a broken man.
Contributing Photographer PAUL JONASON
Partition Map of the
Contributing Writers pamela Corante-Hansen Quinn Roberts editorial@southbaydigs.cOM South Bay Digs, 2554 Via Tejon, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 Office: 310-373-0142 • Fax: 310-373-3493 www.SouthBayDigs.com • Twitter: @SouthBayDigs South Bay Digs magazine is published every other Friday by m3 Media, LLC. Reproduction in any form or by any means is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent from m3 Media LLC. The Publisher and advertisers are not responsible or liable forvvhdrawal without notice. Real estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act. M3 Media will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any and all submissions to this publication become the property of m3 Media, LLC and may be used in any media. To Our Readers: South Bay Digs Magazine welcomes your feedback and encourages reader response to our editorial features. Please send your letters to the Publisher at 2554 Via Tejon, Palos Verdes Estates, CA. 90274 or via email to wdow@southbaydigs.com. Please include your name and contact information. Letters may be published and we reserve the right to edit.
Rancho Los Palos Verdes, September 25, 1882--Courtesy of John G. Nordin
At of
the
these
conclusion complicated
law suits on September 25, 1882, the Rancho was partitioned into 17 portions.
The largest
share of 17,085 acres (approx
53%
of
the
31,629 acre Rancho), which included the Palos Verdes Peninsula, was awarded to Jotham Bixby, with only 12 remaining acres to Juan Capistrano Sepulveda (who died in
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1896), and approx. 4,399 acres (most of the town of San Pedro) awarded to the family
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of Jose Diego Sepulveda (A.W. Sepulveda), his younger brother.
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