The Laguna de Tache Land Grant
The Grant Building ca 1899
HISTORY OF THE GRANT
High up in the snow-clad Sierras, where the tall pines shade the fern covered ground, King River has its course. From here it makes its way down the mountains and thru the fertile San Joaquin Valley to Tulare Lake. About 25 miles from its mouth, the river branches; the north fork flowing into the Summit Lake country and thence into the San Joaquin by way of Fish Slough.
The Laguna de Tache Grant lies on the northern bank of the Kings River, stretching for miles above and below its place of branching.
This old Mexican Grant originally contained about 58,000 acres, but has been added to since. It has a history of its own. Old Kingston station, just across the river, was, in the early history of California, the most important point in this part of the state. The name of the Grant is taken from the Spanish language, and is full of interest. "Rancho" means about the same as our word, "ranch" and Laguna is the Spanish word for Lake. The Taches was a name of an Indian tribe formerly living in the Tulare Lake country. So, translating literally the name reads, "The Lake Ranch of the Taches".
The first Grant was made to Manuel Castro by the Mexican government in 1844. It seems to have been given him for meritorious services rendered that government. While we not sure of this, we do know that his compensation was large, because he received an immense piece of territory in the heart of California. Like most Mexican Grants in this state, it was carelessly described, and it is said that the Grant to Manuel Castro covered certain lands lying east of the Grant made to another Castro in the Salinas Valley. The town of Castroville still stands in that valley as a monument to the Castros, a rich and powerful family in the early history of California.
Common tradition says that the Grant to Manuel Castro was "floated" over into the SanJoaquin Valley and located on Kings River thru intrigues of designing persons. However true this may be, the old record shows that the Grant was made as follows:
High up in the snow-clad Sierras, where the tall pines shade the fern covered ground, King River has its course. From here it makes its way down the mountains and thru the fertile San Joaquin Valley to Tulare Lake. About 25 miles from its mouth, the river branches; the north fork flowing into the Summit Lake country and thence into the San Joaquin by way of Fish Slough.
The Laguna de Tache Grant lies on the northern bank of the Kings River, stretching for miles above and below its place of branching.
This old Mexican Grant originally contained about 58,000 acres, but has been added to since. It has a history of its own. Old Kingston station, just across the river, was, in the early history of California, the most important point in this part of the state. The name of the Grant is taken from the Spanish language, and is full of interest. "Rancho" means about the same as our word, "ranch" and Laguna is the Spanish word for Lake. The Taches was a name of an Indian tribe formerly living in the Tulare Lake country. So, translating literally the name reads, "The Lake Ranch of the Taches".
The first Grant was made to Manuel Castro by the Mexican government in 1844. It seems to have been given him for meritorious services rendered that government. While we not sure of this, we do know that his compensation was large, because he received an immense piece of territory in the heart of California. Like most Mexican Grants in this state, it was carelessly described, and it is said that the Grant to Manuel Castro covered certain lands lying east of the Grant made to another Castro in the Salinas Valley. The town of Castroville still stands in that valley as a monument to the Castros, a rich and powerful family in the early history of California.
Common tradition says that the Grant to Manuel Castro was "floated" over into the SanJoaquin Valley and located on Kings River thru intrigues of designing persons. However true this may be, the old record shows that the Grant was made as follows:
"Beginning on the north margin of Summit Lake and running in a northeasterly direction so many varas (the vara is the Spanish unit of land measure, being a trifle less than a yard); then turning east and running about parallel to the river, up to where the Southern Pacific Railroad now crosses the river below Kingsburg; thence down the river about thirty miles to the San Jose Slough, a connecting channel between Summit Lake and the south fork of the river, and thence up the San Jose slough to the place beginning."
This description embraces practically all the land north of Kings River on which any oak timber was growing. It is likely that this idea of obtaining timber land prevailed in the minds of whoever located the property.
As to whether the Mexican title to the Laguna de Tache was sound or not, makes no difference, because in 1861 the United States issued a patent confirming Castro’s Grant as above described. After the close of the Mexican War, the land cessions to the United States included all the large Grants lying within the acquired territory. Many of these Grant holders were loyal to Mexico during the war and their lands were not recognized by the United States when peace was concluded. Some, like the Castros, the Vallejos and a number of others who had apparently succeeded in showing that they were good citizens, or "gringoes" as they were called, were permitted to retain their titles, and their Land Grants were afterwards confirmed by the United States Land Department. And this was the case of the Laguna de Tache. Previous to the issuing of the patent, many people tried to homestead the Laguna. A few settlers came in and held and farmed their lands for years, claiming that Castro’s title was invalid, and paying little or no attention to his protests. Old settlers, whose names would be recognized at once as prominent in the Fresno and Kings County history, tried to take up land on the Grant, but after the patent was issued, these settlers were driven off. So we see that in 1861 the title was grounded in that of the Mexican Grant and supported by the United States government.
This description embraces practically all the land north of Kings River on which any oak timber was growing. It is likely that this idea of obtaining timber land prevailed in the minds of whoever located the property.
As to whether the Mexican title to the Laguna de Tache was sound or not, makes no difference, because in 1861 the United States issued a patent confirming Castro’s Grant as above described. After the close of the Mexican War, the land cessions to the United States included all the large Grants lying within the acquired territory. Many of these Grant holders were loyal to Mexico during the war and their lands were not recognized by the United States when peace was concluded. Some, like the Castros, the Vallejos and a number of others who had apparently succeeded in showing that they were good citizens, or "gringoes" as they were called, were permitted to retain their titles, and their Land Grants were afterwards confirmed by the United States Land Department. And this was the case of the Laguna de Tache. Previous to the issuing of the patent, many people tried to homestead the Laguna. A few settlers came in and held and farmed their lands for years, claiming that Castro’s title was invalid, and paying little or no attention to his protests. Old settlers, whose names would be recognized at once as prominent in the Fresno and Kings County history, tried to take up land on the Grant, but after the patent was issued, these settlers were driven off. So we see that in 1861 the title was grounded in that of the Mexican Grant and supported by the United States government.
Before the patent was granted, Castro conveyed the lands to others and the title has passed thru but two or three hands to the present holders. C.S. Lillis owned and managed the Grant for several years, using it as a cattle range. He made his headquarters at the Grant House, a magnificent old building about two miles west of Laton, and but a short distance from Lillis Station. Here in early days one could get a picturesque idea of life on the range, cattle raising being the chief occupation of the Californians who were no gold-seekers. Here the cowboys met after the fall round-up to receive their wages, to talk over their escapades and tell stories as they sat around the flickering campfire.
When Lillis came into possession of the Laguna, he found that the people living north of the Grant had been in the habit of coming into the river country for their winter’s wood. In order to stop this, he started to fence the northern boundary line of the Grant, but was opposed openly by the indignant people. They had been getting their wood for nothing, and it was hard to prevent them from continuing to do so. Nevertheless, Lillis completed the fence by arming his men and sending them back with instructions to "fence at any cost". It was finally completed and proved effective in making the people purchase their wood.
In 1892, the present owners, the Laguna Lands Limited, a corporation made up of English and American interests, came into possession of the Grant. About 10,000 acres outside of the original boundaries have been added. This company placed the land on sale May 1, 1899, under the management of Nares and Saunders. That same year the town of Laton was started with a land office, a store and a hotel. In the nine years that has passed, it has grown into a thriving little town. From an educational standpoint, Laton has reason to be proud, having a well-equipped library, a four-roomed grammar school and a thriving high school. Since the opening of the Grant, upwards of five thousand persons have been permanently located here, seven grammar schools have been built, several churches erected and, in general, the Laguna de Tache is everything that its abundant water supply, its delightful climate and its fertile soil can make it.
(This article was written by Thomas Leroy Woody, a 1908 graduate of Laton High School. It was copied from the first edition of the Laton High School Annual, which was printed in 1908. The first edition being entitled "Oak Leaves".)
When Lillis came into possession of the Laguna, he found that the people living north of the Grant had been in the habit of coming into the river country for their winter’s wood. In order to stop this, he started to fence the northern boundary line of the Grant, but was opposed openly by the indignant people. They had been getting their wood for nothing, and it was hard to prevent them from continuing to do so. Nevertheless, Lillis completed the fence by arming his men and sending them back with instructions to "fence at any cost". It was finally completed and proved effective in making the people purchase their wood.
In 1892, the present owners, the Laguna Lands Limited, a corporation made up of English and American interests, came into possession of the Grant. About 10,000 acres outside of the original boundaries have been added. This company placed the land on sale May 1, 1899, under the management of Nares and Saunders. That same year the town of Laton was started with a land office, a store and a hotel. In the nine years that has passed, it has grown into a thriving little town. From an educational standpoint, Laton has reason to be proud, having a well-equipped library, a four-roomed grammar school and a thriving high school. Since the opening of the Grant, upwards of five thousand persons have been permanently located here, seven grammar schools have been built, several churches erected and, in general, the Laguna de Tache is everything that its abundant water supply, its delightful climate and its fertile soil can make it.
(This article was written by Thomas Leroy Woody, a 1908 graduate of Laton High School. It was copied from the first edition of the Laton High School Annual, which was printed in 1908. The first edition being entitled "Oak Leaves".)