Monterey-Santa Cruz County CA Archives Biographies.....Rodriguez, Jacinto 1815 - 1880
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Joy Fisher cagwarchives@gmail.com January 12, 2007, 11:48 pm

Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893)

DON JACINTO RODRIGUEZ was born January 12, 1815, in the Pajaro valley, Santa
Cruz county, on which place is now situated the prosperous city of Watsonville.
His father, Don Sebastian Rodriguez being then the owner of a vast tract of
lands consisting of thousands of acres about and in the immediate vicinity of
Watsonville.

  Our subject removed to Monterey soon after the death of his father and was
soon very prominent in the affairs of the capital of Alta California, Monterey.
It will be remembered that education was very limited in the early days in
California, but Jacinto applied himself, under the tuition of his father and was
soon able to master the Spanish language, in which he learned to read, write and
keep accounts. These accomplishments secured him a position in the customhouse,
under the Mexican Government, which position he retained until California became
a part of the Union. Don Rodriguez was a member of the first constitutional
convention, which convened in Monterey, July 3, 1850, and gave California her
first organic law under American rule.

  In 1847, he commenced the creation of a noble house on what is now the corner
of Alvarado and Franklin streets, and in one year succeeded in building one
story of the house and putting on a slight roof of shingles. The price of lumber
was so very high and wages demanded by carpenters so great that it was several
years before the house was completed. It was then considered one of the mansions
of the city, and unlike the others of its kind the rooms were large and light.

  In 1848, he married Miss Pergrina Pinto, daughter of Don Rafael and Donna Mana
Ygnacia Amador de Pinto, and they had five children, four sons and one daughter,
all of whom are dead excepting the second son, Charles H. Rodriguez; he and his
mother are the surviving members of the family. They are at present living in
the same adobe building that was built in 1848, the son having been employed as
bookkeeper for the Pacific Live Stock Mutual Protection Association of Monterey,
and at present clerk in the law office of Messrs. Parker & Nougues, Salinas
city, the county seat of Monterey county.

  In 1880, Don Jacinto Rodriguez died, leaving considerable property behind him,
on the principal business street in Monterey, he havin [sic] purchased the
property formerly belonging to Curtis & Conover, on which was built the first
brick store in the city, in 1857. He purchased this property at the time the
county-seat was removed to Salinas city, paying a small price for the same; but
to-day it is considerably enhanced in value, and it is all in the possession of
the family and there is no incumbrance on it, whatever. This is but a brief
history of one of the old families of California, who have ever proved
themselves brave and true citizens of one of the largest States in this glorious
Union.


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.


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