The buildings and churches of the mission of Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara.

A HANDBOOK

AtiTHENTIC INFORMATION ON THE MISSION OF SANTA BARBARA,
FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT DAY.

Translated, written and coinpiled from the Register, reports, and other
documents in the Arcliives of the Mission.

BY REV. j. J. O'KEEFE, O. S. F.

Membor.ot' the ■Communi''y &• rhe Mission.

MANTA BARBARA, CAL.:
Independent Job PRrNTrxG House.

1886.

^G.

rT«H SEW ^ORK

IpOBLIC LIBRARY!

(581052

, 1913

Entered accorJirig to Act of Congress in the year 1885, by

REV. J. J. o'kEEFE, O. S. F.,

In the Offlce of the I^ibriirian of Congress, at Washington, D, C.

AI-I. RIGHTS KtXSEKVED.

Ciieeked
May 1913

INTRODUCTION.

Much has been written on California in general,
and not a little on this county in particular, but
very little, so far, that can be relied upon as au-
thentic, has been written on the Mission of Santa
Barbara. Now, therefore, I shall endeavor in
these few pages to give what authentic information
I possess regarding the founding, buildings, the
several churclies erected, and various other facts
connected with, and relating to this Mission, from
its foundation to the present day.

Joseph J. O'Keefe, 0. S. F.

imtm.

CHAPTER I.

The joy of the great Father Junipero Serra can-
not be described, when he saw that everything
was prepared at hist, to establish the projected
Missions of Santa Barbara Channel, an event for
which his soul had yearned so long. Accordingly
San Buenaventura, at the eastern extremity of the
channel, was founded on March 31, 1782. A short
time after, or about the middle of April, Governor
Felipe de Neve, accompanied by Father Junipero
Serra, set out with sixty soldiers and their respec-
tive officers, to establish the Presidio and Mission
oi Santa Barbara.

The party marched along the shore, observing
with all attention, compatible|with the distance, the
islands that form the channel. Arriving at a place
they considered about nine leagues from the Mis-

SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

sion of San Buenaventura, a halt was ordered by
the Governor, who, in company with Father Jun-
ipero and a few soldiers, reconnoitered the neigh-
borhood with the object of selecting a good location
for the Presidio. They found this on a large ran-
cheria of many Indians, a short distance from the
shore, where it gracefully curves and forms a sort
of small bay, in which they judged good anchorage
w^ould be found. Orders were immediately given
to march, occupy this place and encamp.

The Governor immediately began to make a
large cross, build a booth for a temporary chapel,
and a table for an altar; having finished these, the
place was blessed by Father Junipero, the cross
raised, Mass celebrated, at which the Governor
and troops assisted, Father Junipero preached, and
the ceremony concluded by taking possession of
the place, without the elightest contradiction or
opposition of the natives.

Thus the Presidio of Santa Barbara was found-
ed on the 2Sth of April, 1782.

CHAPTER II.

The founding of the Mission, it seems, should
have followed immediately, and progressed simul-
taneously with the Presidio. The venerable
Father Junipero, believing this would be the case.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

consented to remain in the meantime, with the
Governor at the Presidio, for the benefit of the
soldiers and their famihes (for nearly all were
married). Seeing the Governor remained silent
on a matter of such importance, he finally urged
him to lend assistance in founding the Mission.
The Governor replied that he did not intend to
consent to the founding of the Mission until he
should have finished the Presidio. "Then your
excellency," replied Father Junipero, "as there is
nothing more for me to do here at present, I shall
return to Monterey, and meet the vessels that are
expected, but that so many people may not be
without a priest, I shall call one from San Juan
Capistrano;" which he did immediately, and then
started for his Mission of San Carlos at Monterey,
where he allowed himself a little rest, (all his
journeys were invariably made on foot). Then he
began his visitation to the other Missions, confirm-
ing in each, all the Indians who had been instruct-
ed and baptized. He continued to work up to the
month of August, 1784, when he was completely
prostrated^ and immediately sent for Father Palou,
who left San Francisco and arrived at San Carlos
on the l8th of the same, remaining with Father
Junipero until his death, which occurred a little
before 2 o'clock p. m., on the 28th of August.
1784.

I do not intend to write the biography of the

8 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

venerable Juiiipero Serra, nor is it necessary, as,
I understand, this has been ably done by Very
Rev. Joachim Adan, Vicar General of this Diocese,
but I judged it would be well, if not entirely neces-
sary, to give the few incidents above recorded, in
order to show the extent of his connection with,
and relation to, the Channel Missions, (so called
at that time,) more especially this of Santa Bar-
bara, which he was on the point of actually found-
ing, when delayed by the circumstances above
related, and thereby deprived of the pleasure he
so ardentlv desired.

CHAPTER III.

On the death of' the venerable Father Junipero
Serra, Father Palou, his intimate friend, compan-
ion and biographer, was chosen President of the
Missions, although much against his will, because
he intended to depart shortly for Mexico, to super-
intend the publication of the "life and virtues"
of Father Junipero Serra, published in Mexico in
1787, and other works he had in print; but he
could not depart until August, 1785. During his
year of office his official acts were very few and of
little or no importance, and no 7nissio7i was found-
ed during his term. I make this statement
because ForbeSj in his ''California," page 80, men-

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 9

ttioiis that Father Palou's first act on becoming
President, was to found the Missions of Santa
Barbara and La Purisima, a manifest error, (which
lias been copied by John Gihnary Shea, in his
"'History of the Catholic Missions, among the
Indian Tribes of the United States,") as Father
Palou was 'not in California, when these Missions
were founded.

Yearly, on the fourth day of December, the
Holy Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Santa
Barbara, Virgin and Martyr. On this day A. D.
178G, the holy cross was raised, nearly one mile
from the Presidio, on the Mission site, called in
Spanish "el pedragoso," in the native tongue,
"Taynayam," and from this day dates the found-
ing of the Mission. Very Rev. Father Fermin
Francisco de Lasuen, President of the Missions,
on the 15th of the same month, in a hut or booth
made for the occasion, with the boughs or branches
of trees, on the above mentioned site, celebrated
Mass and preached, at which the Governor (Pedro
Fages) accompanied by a few soldiers, assisted.

Father President Lasuen, named as first Minis-
ter of this Mission, the Rev. Antonio Paterna,
and as his associate, Rev. F. Christobal Oramas.
No buildings could be erected during the remain-
der of this year, on account of the heavy and
continued rain.

lO SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

CHAPTER IV.

The work of building commenced in 1787. The
first in order being a house for the Priests which
was 16x5 varas, a kitchen 6x5 varas, then the first
church or chapel 14x5 varas, a servant's room 6x5
varas, a granary 21x5, another house for the un-
married women, 12x5 varas. For brevity's sake,
in giving the dimensions of all the buildings in
the order of erection, I shall use the measurement
of the vara, as above; this measure is a little less
than our yard, or about 34 inches, universally used
in Spain and Mexico, and still heard in California,
particularly in real estate business. A carpenter's
shop was erected, 10x5 varas, and served, ad
interim, as a lodge for unmarried men, also four
more rooms, respectively, two 6x6, 5x6, 8x6.
Owing to the rain these could not be roofed in.

All the above named buildings, rooms, etc,
were built of adobe walls one vara thick; the roof-
ing was of heavy rafters, across which long poles
or canes were tied, a layer of soft clay or mud was
spread over these, then finished or thatched with
straw. This style of roofing was simply provision-
al till they could begin manufacturing tiles.

The number of Indians existing at the end of
this year, in the Mission is given at 183.

From January until the month of July, 1788,
no farther progress was made in building, owing
to the scarcity of provisions for the support of the

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 11

Indians; during that month a supply was received
and work resumed. Tiles were now being manu-
factured and the work done from July till Decem-
ber oist of this year was as follows, viz: The
four rooms mentioned were finished with tile roof;
also the apartments used by the women and girls.
The apartments of the men were also tiled
and used after for a granary; a new house was
erected for them 12x5 varas, with tile roof. The
Church was extended a little and roofed with tiles,
the walls of the extension were (i) half vara thick.
Indians existing in the Mission at the end of
July, 260; to end of December, 307.

CHAPTER V.

The second Church of this Mission was erected
in 1789, adobe walls, dimensions 30x5 varas.
The first, considered much too small, was taken
down, A larger granary was also built 31x7;
adjoining this was erected an apartment 12x7, to
which the women were changed; also two rooms
5x4^, and one 11x5 for muleteers and their packs,
the walls of all the above were adobe, well plas-
tered '^nd roofed with tiles.

Indians existing in the Mission on the last of
December this year, 425.

The buildings erected in 1790 were, two houses

12 SANTA BARBARA MISSIOjST,

each 10x6 varas and divided into two rooms, for
the Priests' use; another house 00x6 varas, divided
into eight rooms, for dining room, kitchen, hall,
store room, fuel room, lockup, flour and meal rooni^
and a room for the women and girls; one 12x7
was built for a granary. All these were of adobe
walls, well plastered with mortar to better protect
them against the rain, and roof of tiles.

Number existing at the end of this year in
Mission, 407; plus from Presidio, 22.

A guard house was erected in 1791, 10x6; a
carpenter shop, and two other rooms, for housing
tools and agricultural implements.

Number of persons existing at the end of this
year, 499.

Two large corrals were made in 1792, with
stone walls, one for black cattle, the other for
^heep. The former 90x75 varas, the latter 75x50
varas.

Indians existing at Mission, 500.

The third Church of this Mission was commenc-
ed in 1798, of adobe, size 45x9i, Sacristy 9ix5
varas, a brick portico in front of Church, wall well
plastered with mortar and all roofed with tiles.

Number of Indians existing at the end of year,
541.

The large adobe Church, containing six chapels,
was finished in 1794. A granary 26x7 and a
weaving room 18x7 were built also.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. I3

The report of this year records the death of Rev.
Fr. Antonio Pateriia, the founder and first Minis-
ter of this Mission.

Indians existing at the end of this year, 549.

The principal branch of industry, is the carding
:and weaving of wool into bhankets and cloth for
the Indians. The crops of this year were a com-
plete failure, the Ministers had to have recourse
to the Missio8?s ol La Purisima and San Luis,
whence they received wheat and corn.

During .1795 the roof of two sides and one-
half of the square of this Mission was reno-
vated. The old beams and rafters of sycamore
and poplar, being completely rotten, were replaced
by teanLS and rafters of pine; and four small rooms
of stone, brick and mortar were added to the
Priests' dwelling.

Indians existing in Mission at the end of this
year, 569.

The remaining part of the square, was roofed
anew in 1796, So all the buildings were renovat-
ed, beams and rafters of good pine having been
used to replace the old of sycamore and poplar.

A corridor was built in front of the side flicing
the Presidio, roof of tiles and pillars of brick and
mortar, dimensions 45x3 varas. This is a great
protection to the walls, from the rain which beats
in from the south and southeast. In the weavers'
courtyard a corridor was also made, pillars of

14 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

adobe, dimensions 18x3, two small rooms, one at
each end, 6x3 varas,

Indians existing at end of this year, 646.

A new square and courtyard was marked i^
1797, and three granaries built, each 25x6 varas^
a room 6x6, another 10x6 for leather, and one of
9x6 for a blacksmith^s forge, another of same size
for general use or tor lovvls. All these are adobe
walls, well plastered inside and outside with mor-
tar. Although they form a distinct courtyard jet,
there is an entrance to it, from the old one of the
Mission.

Total of existing Indians at the Mission at the
end of this year, 782.

CHAPTER VI.

As the Indians were now increasing rapidly, it
became necessary to form a village, and give to
each family a separate house; land was then set
aside adjoining the Mission, and in 1798 nineteen
houses were erected to contain that number of
families; the rooms were 6Lx4 varas, roofed with
tile, plastered and whitewashed, both inside and
out. Moreover a piece of land was inclosed by a
wall 1200 varas long by 3 varas high, to be culti-
vated as a kitchen garden, vineyard and orchard,
the wall was adobe capped with tile to throw off

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. I5

the rain. During this year the Church was adorn-
ed with six large oil paintings, one in each chapel.
At the end of this year the Indians existing at
this Mission were 796.

A granary 45x6^ vara.s was built in 1799,
plastered in and outside and tile roof. Tliis was
uU the building done this year. Thirtj'-two new
houses were erected in 1800 to accommodate that
number of families, making with those erected in
""98. in 9,11 fifty-one. These houses are being built
to form streets, crossing at right angles, when the
required number shall have been erected. Corri-
dors were built inside the courtyard, on three
«ides of the Mission square, flooring and pillars of
brick and mortar, roof of tile.

Number of Indians actually in the Mission, 864.

Thirty-one houses for the same number of

families were built in 1801, equal in every respect

to the fifty-one already reported. Another house

21x6 varas was built, divided into bedroom, hall,

and kitchen; a corridor was built with it. This

house for the use of head gardener and family.

Number actually existing in Mission, 1022.

Thirty-one houses were built in 1802, for that

number of families, similar to the 82 built during

the preceding years, making a total of Hi! houses.

A wall three varas high has been made on three

sides of this square, leaving plenty of space for the

houses yet to be erected. A house of adobe 20x6

i6

SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

varas, and three tanks of brick and mortar, were
built for a tannery. Adjoining the tannery, a
house was built for the Majordomo 18x6 varas,
with corridor, kitchen, hall, and bedrooms. More-
over, five other rooms were erected, for various
uses, m the Mission, the whole length 40x6 varas.
This year Dec. 31st, a tabular statement of all the
Missions was made by the President, Fr. Lasuen,
from the time of each foundation to date, when he
gave up charge.

Statement both spiritual and temporal of the
Mission of Santa Barbara, from its foundmg Dec.
4th, 17cS6, to Dec. 31st, 1802:

No. Baptisms.

No. Marriages.

Deaths.

Kxistin.?.

2,251

494

• 989

1,093

Cattle incl.
8S yk. Oxen.

2,100

No.

Head Sheep.

9,082

No. of Mares No. of

and Foals. Tame Horses,

427

215

No. of
Mules Tarae-

58

AVheat.

Barley.

Com.

Bean.«.

9 ctls.

Spanish
Peas.

For
thisy'r

113 ctls.

2 Ctls.

90 lbs.

25 ft)s.

Sowed.

This
Year's.

2876 ctls

40 ctls.

40 ctls.

000

10 ctls.

Har-
vest.

Forty-eight new houses were erected in 1803,
for same number of families, making in all 161.
In order to attend better to the necessities of the
Indians, and facilitate their attendance at Mass

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 1 7

and instructions, a station was selected and a
Clinrcb built on a large rancheria called "Sagsh-
pileel," ever after called San Miguel, under whose
patronage the Church was dedicated, about two
leagues west of this Mission, near a laguna (the
ruins of this chapel may yet be seen, near the old
house ot Daniel Hill, at tlie "Patera"). The di-
mensions of this Church, 22x9, including walls.

Number of Indians existing at the end of this
year, 1,792.

Thirty seven new houses were erected in 1804,
to acconnnodate that number of families. A mud
wall was also built making a large yard for the
use of the Indians. The number of Indians exist-
ing at the end of this year were 178.3. The reason
for the decrease in the number, was the founding
on Sept. 17, of the Mission of Santa Ynez, which
was nearer to the rancherias of several families
baptized fiom Santa Barbara, who were enrolled
in that Mission after above date; the number thus
enrolled in Santa Ynez was 112 persons, 27 fam-
ilies, who otherwise would have been counted with
the above.

This year a new corral was made at Tecolote,
on the 28th, 29th and 30th of July, 1084 head of
sheep were marked and exchanged at the Mission
of San Buenaventura, for another band of same
number, this band was sent to stock Tecolote.
San Miguel ranch had 2710 hea'd sheep, Caiiada

l8 SANTA BARBARA MISSIOX.

de las Annas 22S0, and 2520 head black cattle
divided among these places. The Mission owned
this year 11,500 head sheep and 3500 head biiick
cattle, mares and foals 540, tame hoi-ses 238 head.
The ranch of "Mistwaghehewaug," or San Marcos,
was stocked this year from tlie above, besides a
large vineyard was planted, and several houses
built, one for Majordomo, the others for various
uses of the ranch, and particularly as store room>
for vineyard. (The ruins of these houses can yet
be seen on the ranch.)

All the ranchos east of Santa Ynez river, includ-
ing San Marcos, belonged to the Mission of Santa
Barbara, and the property extended to the ''Rin-
con.'' All, or nearly all had now been stocked
with various kinds of animals, such as black cattle,
horses, sheep, goats, e^c, and the best of the arable
land was sown to wheat, corn, barley and various
kinds of beans, peas, etc. The principal ranchos,
for wheat and corn, were:

San Pedro y San Pablo or Dos Pueblos, called
b}^ the Indians ^-Mekeguwe."'

San Estevan. in the native tongue, "Tokeene."
and San Miguel, in the native tongue ••SagspileeF"
or -'Mescaltitan/"

Corn, beans, etc., were sown also in San Jose or
Abajo, in San Juan Bautista or the Sauzal, this is
at present a part of the Hope ranch, its location is
east of and borderino- on the Arrovo del Burro.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. ly

■die Modoc road absorbs a part of it nd runs
through it as far as the bridge.

Tokeene or San Estevan is all that land north
■of the present stage road, begini;ing west of the
Ari-ovo "Pedragoso" at the new bridge, and con-
tinuing to the Arroyo del Burro This plain was
veiv fertile. The ioundation of a large stone wall
may yet be seen a little l:>eyond the bridge west of
Pedragoso. This was a large corral for various
purposes, principally for tame horses. A spring
of splendid water flows near Mr. Dixie Thompson's
house.

Thiity-six houses, for that number of families,
were built in 1805. Two large granaries and a
house of the same size as granaries for lumber.
The entire number of famil}- houses for Indians
was now 28-1.

A reservoir of stone and mortar was built in
180G, to collect water for the gardens, orchard, etc.
Dimensions 40 varas square by 2i varas deep.
This reservoir exists in a perfect state and is used
by the water company to collect water to supply
the City of Santa Barbara.

In 1S07 a xery strong dam w^as built across the
"Pedragoso" creek, about a mile and one-half
from the Mission, at a point high enough to allow
water to flow in an open aqueduct into the mill
reservoir. This mill an.d reservoir were built at
the same time, behind the one used at present by

20 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

the City Water Co. The mill is in ruins, und a
small part of its reservoir near the hill has fallen
in, but could be of service with a little repairing.
The Indian village was enlarged this year by 18
more houses for families, total 252. Four more
houses were erected for the soldiers, in front of the
Church, distant in a straight line 150 varas.

In 1808 buildings were erected for manufactur-
ing and baking pottery, water pipes, etc. An
ornamental stone fountain and lavatory were built
in front of the Mission. In 1809 the Priests'
dwelling facing the Presidio, was enlarged by
erecting another building of stone and mortar in
front, with flat polished concrete roof. This work
was continued through 1810 to 1811, when the
new' house was finished oft with a heavy stone
arched corridor, after which work commenced on
the frontispiece of the Church, intending to im-
prove and embellish it as much as possible, con-
cerning which Jin account will be given when
finished. (There was never any account given, as
this Church building had to be taken down a few
years after.) On the 21st, 22d, and several days
after, of December, 1812, several severe earthquake
shocks were felt; these shocks were so severe, that
all the Mission buildings were badly injured, the
Church in particular was so badly damaged that
it was judged more expedient to take it down and
build a new one, than to repair it.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 21

The yeavs 1813-14 were spent in repairing
some of the buildings and taking down the old
Church. The new stone Church was commenced
in 1815, the work was pushed rapidly while the
Mission buildings were being repaired at the same
time. In 1817 the flat roof was removed from
tlie principal house of the Mission, all the wood
work completely renovated, then covered with a
tiled oable roof.

The dimensions of the new Church are: Length,
including walls, 60 varas; width, including walls,
14 varas; from floor to ceiling, 10 varas. Work
was carried on during the years 1818 and 19 with
such effect that on the tenth day of Sept., 1820,
the Church was finished and blessed. The walls
are of large cubes of cut sandstone, and nearly six
feet through, nevertheless they w^ere further
strengthened hy heavy solid stone buttresses at
each ande, and at sections along; the sides. With-
out doubt it is the strongest Mission Church build-
ing in California. One tower of two stories held
six bells, three of which were stationary, the others
with yoke. In a niche in the frontispiece, sup-
ported by six columns, is a statue of our Patroness
Santa Bai'bara, cut from the best stone found here
and painted. The apex and angles of the frontis-
piece are adorned with stone statues, representing
respectively the three theological virtues. Faith,
Hope and Charity. The interior is neatly finished,

22 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

the walls all plastered, the columns and cornice
IVescoed, the ceiling lathed, hard finished, and
ornamented with designs iVoni Vitruvius, cut from
cedar and painted. The floor of red cement made
from oil and lime, is hard and finely [K)lished.
The altars are neatly ornamented with fine cruci-
fixes and statues in wood. Over the high altar
on a bracket in the wall, stands a statue in wood
of Santa Barbara; on each side of Santa Barbara
is a painting on the canvas wall piece of St.
Joachim and St. Ann. Directh' under these are
the statues in wood of the Blessed Virgin and St.
Joseph on brackets. Small wooden statues of St.
Dominic and St. Francis, may I)e seen, one on
each side of the high altar on pillars. The walls
of the sanctuary are adorned, one side with a paint-
ing of the "Tnfierno" and Day of Judgment, a poor
copy of Murillo in the -'Escorial" in Spain.
Facing this is a good painting of Our Lady of the
Scapular. Outside the sanctuary, on the wall,
hangs a large painting of the Assumption and
Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, and facing it
one of the same size of the Crucifixion. All the
above works of art were brought from Mexico for
this Mission in 1798, together with the fourteen
stations which are hung along the walls at equal
distances. During the last twentj' years the
Church has been adorned with several paintings,
St. Francis Solano, called the Apostle of Peru, on

SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

a column; over a side altar bangs one of the
Blessed Virgin of the seven Dolors; below this is
a'good one of Our Lady of Guadalupe; in front of
this is a very good picture of St. Joseph and the
Child Jesus; in the small chapels can be seen St.
Anthony oi Padua and St. Catherine of Alexan-
dria. Over the door of the Sacristy hangs a
splendid copy of iiuben^.' Descent from the Cross.
Inside the Sacristy, over the vestment drawers,
can be seen a splendid painting, which represents,
according to St. Anselm, the dress worn by Our
Lord, and Savior, as painted by St. Luke; another
represents the baptism of Our Lord by St. John.
The Ambulatory is hung with several old and very
good paintings; on one canvas are seen the three
x\rchangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St.
Raphael, on another of the same size are St. Clare,
St. Rose and St. Agnes. Three represent respect-
ively, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bonaventure and
St. Peter Nolascus. and one beautiful painting of
our Lady, under the appellation of Refuge of
Sinners.

CHAPTER VIL

Had I not promised information down to the
present day, my work should have finished with
the preceding chapter; because, the principal

24 SANTA BARBARA MISSIOX.

buildings being repaired, and this Church finished,
dedicated and blessed, the Mission was considered
complete; so much so, that, excepting the Indian
family houses, no other buildings of an}^ import-
ance were erected after this.

The District Governors, even under the rule of
Spain, taxed the Missions to support what they
called the government of the King, and often im-
posed excessive contributions, even to the detri-
ment of the Indians of the Missions. Santa Bar-
bara suffered in this respect in proportion to the
others, if not more. In those daj'S money was
very scarce, and cattle, sheep, wool, etc., very low
in price, so to meet any heav}' "contribution," so
called, a large number of cattle, etc., should be
disposed of in some way. Extra demands were
made amounting to' as much as four thousand
dollars; these demands were considered very un-
just, being made without authority of the King.
Still, all this was wevy moderate compared with
what the Missions had to suffer shortly after the
independence of Mexico.

Information was received in 1833 that the
Missions had been deprived of all their property;
but the Congress of 1835 revoked the decree of
spoliation, by another, restoring to the Church the
property of which it had been deprived.

This district which comprised upper and lower
California, or as it was called at that time both

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 2^

Californias, ''Ambas Californias," was under the
spiritual jurisdiction of tlie Bishop of Sonora. In
1835 the same Con^res.'- that had restored the
Church property, determined that the Californias
should have a Bishop proper; who would naturally
be more interested in the growth and advance-
ment, both spiritual and temporal, of the country.
In accordance with this resolution the Government
decreed, and published on the 19th of Sept., 1836,
-'That one of the three persons named by the
Metropolitan Chapter, should be selected and pro-
posed to the Holy See, for Bishop of both Califor-
nias;" also that the Bishop elect should receive
from the public Treasury, the sum of six thousand
dollars a year, until such time as the Diocese
would have rents or income sufficient for the sup-
port becoming his dignitj'; also, that for the jour-
ney to his Diocese and other immediate necessarj^
expenses, he should receive three thousand dollars,
and finall}', that all the propertv pertaining to the
Pious Fund of California should be placed at the
disposal of him and his successors, to be by them
administered, according to the will of its founders-
The desired object was not obtained until 1840,
when Fr. Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno was
elected first Bishop of California by Pope Gregory
XVI, and consecrated with august solemnity by
three Bishops, in the Church of his College of Our
Lady of Guadalupe Zacatecas, on the 4th of October.

>6 SANTA BARBARA MISSION",

Shortly after, he issued his first Pastoral to the
clergy and laity of his Diocese. He arrived in
California December, 1841, landing at San Diegor,
and at Santa Barbara on the 11th of Januarj-.
1842, when he took lorinal possession of the
Diocese amidst the greatest rejoicing. This
Mission was selected as his ordinary residence,
and Santa Barbara was looked upon as the Epis-
copal City. He died at the Mission April 30,
1846. A tablet over his tomb at the right, or
epistle side, of the high altar, beare the following
inscription:

Hie jacet iir"^'\ ac Rev""'\ D, D. Fr.
Fran. Garcia Diego et Moreno^

Primus Ep"*" hujus Dioecesis
Californ. Qui pridie Kalendas
Maii, Anni Domini MDCCCXLVI. ex
hac vita Migravit.
It may not be out of place to state here that
the Missions of California w^ere offered to the Col-
lege of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1832, to divide
the work with San Fernando, and replace those
wdio had acquired a riglit to leave. The College
accepted the charge, and elected Fr. Garcia Diego
Commissary Prefect, who came to California and
received the Missions in 1833 from Fr. Duran.
Fr. Gonzales Rubio received the Mission of San
Jose at that time and made an inventory and
report of that Mission up to 1840. In the follow-

15ANTA BARBARA MISSION. 27

ing list are the names of those who came from the
College of Guadalupe, between 1833 and '42.

Fr. Garcia Diego, afterwards Bishop in '40.

Fr. Bernardino Perez.

Fr. Rafael Moreno,

Fr. J. N. Anzar.

Fr. Jose M. Gutierrez.

Fr. Juan Mercado.

Fr. Jose M. Gonzalez Rubio,

Fr. Lorenzo Quijas.

Fr. Antonio Real.

Fr. Jose M. Real.

Fr. Miguel Muro.

Fr. Franciso de J. Sanchez,

Fr, Trinidad Macias.

Fr. Marcelo Velasco.

Fr, N. Pedrosa.

Fr. N, Acosta.
Frs. Francisco and Jose Flores also came, but
unly as visitors.

Santa Barbara is the only Mission in California
<jf which may be truly said, it was never without
a Franciscan, from its lounding to the present day.
Below are the names of the irrincipal Ministers
from 1786 to 1836.

Fr. Antonio Paterna, founder and first Minister.

Fr. Christobal Oramas.

Fr. Jose de Miguel.

Fr, Estevan Tapis.

28 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

Fr. Juan Cortes.

Fr, Marcos Ainestoy.

Fr. Marcos Vtoria.

Fr, Luis Gilde Taboada.

Fr. Ramon Olbis.

Fr. Antonio Ripoll.

Fr. Francisco Suner.

Fr. Antonio Jajme.

Fr. Juan Moreno.
Fr. Antonio Jimeno, who signed the report of
1836, which was the last rendered to the Goveru-
ment of Mexico concerning this Mission and copied
in the register. The Ministers, however, contin-
ued to report the state of the Missions to their
Prefects, up to the arrival of the Bishop. These
reports were ordinarily made in letter form and
sent by the Prefects to the Colleges of San Fer-
nando and Guadalupe. In proof of this I have a
part of the original document from which Father
Gonzales Rubio made his report of the Mission of
San Jose up to the year 1841. After the arrival
of the Bishop a report should be made to him also,
consequently we see that what Bancroft asserts,
viz.: "After 1836 no further repoits were made" is
not quite correct. Mr, Bancrott also states, that
after this year "the ^Community'" was broken up,
and it appears he refers particularly to Santa Bar-
bara. I do not pretend to know what Mr. Ban-
croft means by the "Community," but I do know

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 29

that more Franciscan Priests resided togetliei- at
this Mission from 1836 to 1845, and after than
ever before, Fr. Antonio Jimeno continued h^re
in companj' with Fr. Jose Jimeno, his brother, and
Fr. Diiran, Fr. Gonzales resided here in 1842, the
Bishop, Fr. Sanchez, etc., yet what tee understand
hy -A "• Community ' strictly did not exist in any
Mission, even from their commencement. The re-
ports above referred to and many other valuable
documents sent to San Fernando for safety, were
preserved with all possible care. In 1860, as soon
as the expulsion of the Religious Orders became
general, all these documents relating to California
and its Missions, together with a vast number of
priceless historical MSS., and other valuable
papers were bo.xed up and taken to the private
dwelling of the Syndic of San Feiriando for safe
keeping. Such was the demoniacal hatred excited
against the Religion, however, that nothing the}'
possessed was safe. Even these documents and
MSS., that one would imagine the Government
would use all its endeavors to preserve, when
found by officers of the Governmetd were taken by
their orders from the private house of the Syndic
and burned publicly on the streets of the City of
Mexico. This informatioi I have on the testi-
mony of an eye witness. Very Rev. Fr. Isidore
Camacho^ present Guardian of San Fernando.
Moreover, during the chaos and confusion of

30

SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

Alvarado's rule, from IS 36 to 1842, and the war
between the United »States and Mexico, it seemed
thai: soldiers arrogated to themselves an unbridled
license, to do and act as they pleased. Man}'
Missions were comple-telj- gutted, no regard was
had for books, papers, reports, MSS., or documents
of any kind. Instances are reported where valua-
ble documents and MSS., were used for gun wads
and cigarette paper. In viewing these facts it is
surprising, but Providential, that even the few
documents we have at the present day, should
have been saved front the general ruin.

In April 1845, the Congress of Mexico decreed
that all the unsold property of the Pious Fund,
quasi confiscated in 1842. should be restored to
the administration of Bishop Garcia Diego, who
had gone there to protest against its confiscation
and having obtained the aljove decree returned to
Santa ]5arbara the same year.

The following facts cannot fail to interest per-
sons doing business in this county, as it shows the
great difference in the value of property and real
estate between that lime and now.

In 1845 Father Duran prepared to leave and
was very anxious to resign the administration of
all the property of this Mission. He wrote to
Pico and was told he could deliver the administra-
tion to any person in wliom he had sufficient con-
fidence, or lease the property for the benefit of the

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 3 1

Bishop, Ministers and Indians. Consequently in
July, 1845, an inventory was taken and the prop-
erty of the Mission jippraised by J. Manso, Andres
Pico and Fr. Duran, Having reserved this church
and the princi[)al house for the use of the Bishop
and Priests the remainder v^^as appraised a.s
follows:

Valuation of Santa Barbara Mission property:

Thirty-three rooms $1,500

Store house and good.s 1,552

Cellars and contents 7G8

Soap factory, etc 398

Tannery, etc 250

Blacksmith shop, tools, etc 160

Weavers' rooms, looms, etc 1 2G

Carpenters' shop, etc 34

Majordomo's house 385

Saddles and vaquero's outfit 24

Orchard of 512 fruit trees 1,500

Two vineyards, one with 1,295 vines, the

other 2,400 vines 1,720

Cattle, 816 head; horses, oi'S head; mules,

9 head 3,545

Corrals 265

San Jose Vineyard, containing 2,262 vines

and 100 trees 1,335

Cieneguita with crops 300

San Antonio (a corral at Cieneguita) 25

Rancho of San Marcos, with vineyard,

32 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

baildiMos, grain and live stock on it, viz:
cattle, 140 head; horses, 90 head; sheep,

1,730 head 0,956

All the above property was leased in December,
1845, to N. A. Den and Daniel Hill, at a yearly
rental of $1,200, for the benefit as already stated .
In the lease it was stipulated that the Indians
should be entirely Iree to work lor the lessees, or
for themselves.

At the death of Bishop Garcia Die<2,o, Very liev.
Fr, Jose M. Gonzalez Rubio became Administrator
of the whole Diocese. His administration was
noted for singular ability, prudence, and foresight.
As the Diocese was vei'y large and clei'gy few. Fr.
Langlois received from him in 1849 faculties of
Vicar ior the northern part, with instructions to
purchase some pieces of land for ecclesiastical pur-
poses in San Francisco, before it should become
too valuable by the great influx of population.
The property on which St. Francis church now
stands was purchased at that time.

In the latter j-art of 1850, Fr. Gonzalez surren-
dered his administration to the Rt. Rev. J. S.
Alemany, who had been consecrated in Jime of
the same year at Rome, Bishop of Monterey, but
at the earnest recpiest of the Bishop he retained
the office of Vicar General.

In February, 1852, a petition, to establish a
Franciscan Convent or College, with a Novitiate

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 33

lor tbo education of young men in the Sacred Min-
istry for California, was sent to Rome, and
iiranU'd.

liishop Alemany by his letter of Jan. 6th, 1853,
assigned this Mission for the objects stated in the
jH'tition. and stated, in c.'rs(' this Mission should
not be adapted for a College or Convent he would
assign another place in his Diocese.

A meeting of the Franciscan Fathers was held
Jan. 7, 1853. Present: Bishop Alemany, Fr. J.
M. Gonzalez, V. G., J. J. Orruiio, Guardian of
San Fernando, Jose Jimeno, Prefect of Missions,
Fr. Antonio Jimeno, Fr. Francisco Sanchez, and
by unanimous consent this Mission was considered
ei-ected into a Hospice, as the beginning of what
was to be an Apostolic College of Propaganda
Fidei, and Fr. Jose Jimeno, of the College of San
Fernando, was the first President.

Fr. Jose Jimeno did not consider these buildings
fit for a College of Propaganda, he therefore
selected a place in the City of Santa Barbara, the
Bishop approving, and purchased the site of the
present new parish church and residence. The
church was commenced immediately, the house
fitted up for occupation and on Sunday, July 23,
1854, it was solemnly declared, and announced
in the presence of a very large congregation, that
the Apostolic College, the titular of which was the
Blessed Virijin of the Seven Dolors, was then and

34 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

there founded and established. The novitiate
was then opened by giving the Habit to five
novices, viz.: Jose Godayol, Francisco Codina,
Jose Alcina, Geroninio Lopez and Jose Hermene-
guil(io, these two lay brothers.

Bishop Alemany was elected or appointed Arch-
bishop of San Francisco, and took possession of
that See, Jidy 29, 1853. His successor in the Dio-
cese of Monterey was Rt. Rev. Thaddeus Ainat, a
man eminently versed in the science of Theology
and ecclesiastical lore, who had been called hy the
Bishop of Philadelphia as his Theologian to the
Seventh Provincial Council of l^altimore held in
1849. Arriving at Santa Barbara the Bishop pre-
ferred to have the Parish Church and residence in
the City, rather than at the Mission, where it was
at that time. He concluded arrangements with
the Franciscan Fathers in Santa Barbara, and
having obtained the approbation of the authorities
at Rome by letters dated Jul\- 6, 1856, the trans-
fer and exchange so much desired hy the Rt. Rev.
Bishop was eflfected the same year. By this
change the Franciscan Fathers, received the per-
petual use of these Mission buildings, Church,
two orchards and vineyard, while their church
^nd residence in the City of Santa Barbara passed
into and became property of the Diocese.

Before the above said transfer took place the
President of the College, Fr. Jose Jimeno, died.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION, 35

His brother Fr. Antonio Jimeno succeeded him,
pro tempore, in virtue of the Constitutions of the
Order.

In 1859, Very Rev. Fr. Gonzalez Rubio was
appointed President of the College, and in conse-
quence resigned the office of Vicar General, which
he had held u[) to that time under each Bishop of
the Diocese. During his term of President of the
College, seven voung men were ordained Priests,
viz.: In Aug., 1860, Jose Godaj^ol, Fr. Francisco
Codina and Jose Alcina; in Dec, 1864, Fr. B.
Sheehan and B. Fox; in Sept., 1868, Fr. J. J.
O'Keefe and Fr. P. Wade. Father Gonzalez be-
came very much discouraged at the turn things
liad t;d<eii, so different from what he could have
reasonably expected. His health began to fail,
on which account he wrote several times to the
General of the Order asking to be relieved of his
responsibility as President. His petition was not
granted until 1871, when Very Rev. J. M. Romo,
who six years before had been commissioned by
the ill-fated Maximilian to establish a Franciscan
hospice for Mexicans in the Holy Land, which
was never effected owing to the Emperor's death,
was sent by the General to relieve Father
Gonzalez,

Father Romo arrived in California, January,
1872. received letters patent from the General in
May, by virtue of which, he became Guardian of

^6 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

the College, and took formal possession of the
office in June.

Perceiving that this ('oUege was too far removed
from other houses of tlie Onier and that in a com-
paratively new country like California, there
would necessarily be a lack of vocations to the
Sacred Ministry^ he resolved to visit his native
country Mexico, believing he could obtain a num-
ber of Priests and novices there, to increase the
working staH of this house. With the General's
permission he started on hisjourney in May, 1879,
and after a lapse of three years he returned in
1882, undeceived, and somewhat discouraged at
his failure.

Under these circumstances, having consulted
with a member of the house, he reported minutely
to the General all he had endeavored to accom-
plish, showing the difficulties under which this
house labored and giving as his opinion that it
could not progress, isolated as it was and independ-
ent of every other house and province of the
Order; praying at the same time that it might be
annexed to some province in the East, firmly
established, and from whicli it would receive the
aid and assistance of additional members. The
General on receiving the reports stated, judged it
more prudent before deciding, to delegate a mem-
ber of the Order, to make an official visitation and
final report.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 37

The visitation was made in August, 1884, by
Very Rev. Ferdinand Bergmeyer, whose report
being made, the following decree was issued in
conformity with the de«ire of all conceriied.

DECREE.

As the most Rev. Minister General of the Regu-
lar Observance of the Order of St. Francis, has
earnestl}' requested that the College of Our Lady
of Seven Dolors of Santa Barbara, in the Diocese
of Monterey and Los Angeles, both for the greater
increase of the same College and for the greater
extension of the Order of St. Francis in California,
be changed (from its independent state) and an-
nexed to the Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
of the United States of North America. His
Holiness Pope Leo XHI, in an audience on the
I9th of April, 1885, having heard the report of
Archbishop Jacobini, Secretary of Propaganda,
kindly consented that the aforesaid College should
be incorporated with the Province of the most
Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Given at Rome from the Chambers of the Sacred
Congregation of Propaganda. Fidei, May 5tli, 1885.

JoANES Card. Simeoni,

Prefectus.
f D. Archief. Tyrensis,

Secret.

38 SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

The above decree was executed as soon as pos-
sible. On Jul}' 15th, Very Eev. Fr. Ferdinand
Bergmeyer, 0. S. F., was elected in Provincial
Chapter, Guardian of this College, and received
commission and letters patent dated Aug. 6th,
1885, to take formal possession of said College
with all and everything belonging to it, in the
name of the Province, which has been done to
the great benefit of this College, which now forms
an integral part of the Province of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. The Provincial house is in the
City of St. Louis, Mo. As it seems incumbent on
me to say a few words regarding the aforesaid
Province, to which this Mission and College now
belono', I will state for the information of the
public in general that this Province of the Sacred
Heart was established in the United States by
Franciscan Priests who came here on a Mission in
1858, from the old Province of the Holy Cross
in Saxony, established m 1223; tliree years before
the death of St. Francis, Founder of the Order.
In 1879 being well provided with Priests, lay
Brothers, Scolastics, houses for studies, etc , it
separated from the old Province, and is now on a
firm basis; haying the -novitiate, and house lor the
study of humanities, at Teutopolis. 111.; higher
studies including Mental Philosophy, at St. Fran-
cis College, Quincy, 111., and Theology at St.
Louis, Mo.

SANTA BARBARA MISSION. 39

It numbers, houses, 26; Priests, 130; Scolastics,
•50; Lay Brothers, 200, nearly all these skilled in
some branch of mechanical art. Any of the
above members may be sent on Missions or to
supply any house of the Province, as necessity
may require.

FINIS,

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

It milst not be supposed that the Churches
enumerated in the preceding pages, exist at pres-
ent. The gradual and continued increase of the
baptized Indians made it necessary either to en-
large the church or build a new one, the latter was
preferred, and the serviceable material of the
former was ui-ed in constructing the latter.

The Indians commenced the day with morning
prayer, then a part of the catechism, after the
work. In the evening short catechetical instruc-
tions and prayer; on Sundays and Holy days of
obligation, after the ordinary devotions, they re-
ceived a more thorough explanation of the Chris-
tian doctrine.

The most intelligent were taught reading, writ-
ing, and to sing by note, also arithmetic, while
many showed a partiality for the various mechan-

6;]1052

40

SANTA BARBARA MISSION.

ical arts, and even a talent for sculpture, all which
was encouraged by the fathers.

All the Indians of Santa Barbara Channel spoke
the same language and learned Spanish very easily.

The secularization of the Missions, the confisca-
tion and spoliation of their propertj^ by the Mexi-
can government or its agents, and the leasing or
renting of what little remained to parties who gen-
erally seldom or ever paid the Indians the part to
which they were entitled, are the principal causes
of the dispersion of the Mission Indians of Cali-
fornia.

^>f

APR -l 4: 1939

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