Monterey County CA Archives Biographies.....Gomez, Felipe N. 1832 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher cagwarchives@gmail.com January 13, 2007, 4:13 pm

Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893)

FELIPE N. GOMEZ, ESQ., is a well-known citizen of Monterey, because of the
active part he has taken in its business and civil development and of the
historic prominence of his family in the State.

  His father, Rafael Gomez, was one of the conspicuous figures in California's
Mexican history; coming to California from Mexico in 1830. Being an able and
eminent lawyer he was sent as an advisor of Governor Manuel Victoria,
Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican forces, and Mexican Governor of California
during the year 1831.

  Victoria was an honest and an energetic officer, as well as aggressive, yet
well meaning in the enforcement of the rules of good government. Disregarding
the counsel of his friends, he made frequent short-cuts to justice by military
methods, thereby exciting the people to revolution. His rule was therefore
decisive and brief, and, in 1832, he left the country in evident disgust. Gomez,
however, had the respect and confidence of all law-abiding people and he
remained in the State.

  His official acts were later passed upon and approved by the then home
government at the city of Mexico.

  In 1831 he was grantee of the ranche Santa Rosa. He was a supporter of
Figueroa's government, but resigned this position; and, in 1834, he was granted
the Tularcitos ranche, and held local offices in Monterey in 1835 and '36. He
was also appointed Government Agent to Mexico, which honor he declined.

  He married, March 7,1831, Josefa Estrada, to whom were born Felipe, the
subject of this sketch; a daughter, Ysibela; and Juan, a prominent business man
of San Francisco.

  Mr. Gomez lost his life in 1838, by an accidents being entangled in a lareta
while looking after his stock on the Tularcitos ranche in Monterey county. He
was born in the State of Jalisco, Mexico; was of Spanish decent, and a man of
broad intelligence, a lawyer of fine legal ability, and possessed of a kind
heart. His wife, Josefa Estrada, was a daughter of Mariano Estrada, a Lieutenant
of Mexican Artillery, who was born at Loreto, Mexico, 1784, and came to
California in 1797 with Arrillaga as Allerez of Monterey, which position he held
for ten years, being Habilitado most of the time. He was granted the Buena Vista
ranche for his efficient services as a soldier, military and civil officer,
retiring from the public service in 1829. He was one of the most respected and
influential men in northern California.

  Felipe Gomez is a prominent citizen of Monterey, and inherits many of the
excellent traits of his illustrious father's character. He was born at Monterey,
California, May 25, 1832, and was educated at a Latin college in Guadalajara,
Mexico, taking a classical and physiological course of study, receiving his
diploma in 1848. He then returned to Monterey, where he has ever since resided.
On December 12, 1870, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Monterey from
Postmaster-General Creswell. He was again appointed to the same office, January
2, by President Chester A. Arthur, and held this position until the expiration
of the term, April 4, 1887, when he turned it over to Ed Ingraham, Esq. Mr.
Gomez was appointed Notary Public in and for the county of Monterey, by Governor
Newton Booth, May 20, 1874. He was married February 5, 1860, at Monterey, to
Refugio, daughter of H. Sanchez, Esq., and they are the parents of the following
children:

  Josefa, married in Santa Cruz; Concepcion and Alex, (deceased), Mariana,
Adelaida, Martha, Mary Y., Amelia (deceased), Charles, (married), Frank and Julio
M.

  Mr. Gomez is an active man of affairs, strictly honorable and just in all his
business dealings, and owns a tine ranche near Pacific Grove, besides his city
property in Monterey.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/bios/gomez431gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/

File size: 5.1 Kb