Background History of the Sunol/Pleasanton Region

(partially excerpted from Pleasanton General Plan 2012)

Pleasanton is located in the Amador Valley in eastern Alameda County, California, bounded by
the Diablo Range foothills on the north and south, the coastal Pleasanton Ridge on the west, and
the adjacent Livermore Valley on the east. Major water courses consist of the Arroyo del Valle
and Arroyo de la Laguna, both are tributaries of Alameda Creek.

Pleasanton proved attractive for settlement in prehistoric and historic times because of its
abundant artesian water supply. Historically, a large portion of the valley northeast of downtown
Pleasanton along the Arroyo de la Laguna was a seasonally flooding area known as Tulare Lake.
However, in the late nineteenth century this area was largely drained with the use of a series of
canal for agricultural interests.

Before the permanent settlement of Europeans in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late
eighteenth century, members of the ancestral Ohlone tribal groups inhabited the Amador Valley
and vicinity of Pleasanton and Sunol. The Amador and Livermore valleys were important travel
routes for trade between coastal and interior Native California tribes, and during exploratory
travels of the San Francisco Bay area, Fray Juan Crespi noted two Ohlone villages near the site
of Pleasanton in 1772.

Milliken in his published dissertational study suggested that the Causen Ohlone Tribal group
resided in:

the Sunol Valley area to the north of Mission San Jose, also known as Patlans, after the
name of one of their older male members (SJO-B 35, 108, 111, 442, and 462). They
were intermarried with the Pelnens of the Livermore Valley and with the Tuibuns of the
Fremont Plain. Only eleven people specifically identified as Causens and another seven
identified as Patlans were baptized at Mission San Jose between 1803 and 1808
(1995:238).

The earliest European presence in the vicinity of Pleasanton occurred in conjunction with the
establishment of the Spanish Mission San Jose in present-day Fremont in 1797. Mission San Jose
lands included the Amador Valley, and though there were no permanent settlements left in the
area during the Mission period, Native Californian neophytes and others associated with the
mission grazed cattle on nearby hillsides.

With American annexation of California and the onset of the Gold Rush in the late 1840s,
members of the Bernal family established permanent homes on their rancho, both to capitalize on
the proximity to travel routes from the coast to inland mines through the Altamont Pass and
protect their land claims. Augustn Bernal, Juan Bernal, and Juan Bernals son-in-law John
Kottinger were the initial permanent settlers in the area (as well as the Sunol and Pico family),
constructing adobe homes along the path of the Arroyo del Valle. The Pleasanton area was
originally called Alisal in reference to the cottonwood or sycamore (or alders) trees prevalent
along the banks of the arroyos. Alisal was originally part of Murray Township (formed 1868), a
government unit within Alameda County (formed 1853) encompassing present-day Sunol,
Livermore, Dublin, and Altamont. Cattle ranching and grass crops such as hay were the primary
staples of the local economy.

Pleasanton remained sparsely populated in the 1850s, but in the 1860s news of the impending
arrival of a segment of the Transcontinental Railroad sparked the first efforts at organized town
development and an increase in population. The Western (later Central/Southern) Pacific
Railroad planned construction of a segment of the final railroad link between Sacramento and
San Jose through Pleasanton beginning in the early 1860s. John Kottinger began subdividing
and selling his property in Pleasanton along the Arroyo del Valle as early as 1863, though
completion of the railroad took until 1869. Joshua Neal, one of Augustn Bernals sons-in-law
also settled in Pleasanton in the early 1860s and subdivided portions of his property abutting the
route of the Central Pacific Railroad line. The Neal and Kottinger divisions created the core of
the Pleasanton town site, arranged along the axes of Main Street and the railroad. By the arrival
of the railroad, Pleasanton had a population of about 500 people.

The vicinity of Pleasanton was part of the ancestral homelands of the Ohlone, or Costanoan,
Native Californian tribe. The Amador-Livermore Valley was an important travel route for trade
between coastal and interior Native California tribes, and during exploratory travels of the San
Francisco Bay area, Fray Juan Crespi noted two villages of Ohlone near the site of Pleasanton in
1772.

The Ohlone territory that included Pleasanton and Sunol region fell under the control of Mission
San Jose in present-day Fremont after the founding of the mission in 1797. Spanish Franciscans
brought most of the local Native Californian population into the mission for conversion and
acculturation to Spanish and European culture and practices, though some Native Californians
remained in the Pleasanton vicinity tending the mission cattle that the Franciscans grazed on the
valley floor and hillsides.

After American annexation of California in 1848, a small group of Ohlone from Mission San
Jose formed the Alisal Rancheria in the southeast portion of Pleasanton on the land of Augustn
Bernal.

Over the second half of the nineteenth century and well into the twentieth century, Native
Californians worked as laborers and servants on the local ranchos and farming operations.

In 1886, George Hearst purchased the former Bernal land including a portion of the Alisal
Rancheria. At that time, the population of the rancheria was about 125 people.

The Western Pacific Railroad constructed a rail line to serve the Hearst estate in 1910 and named
the station Verona. Federal Native American censuses after 1905 refer to the residents of the
Alisal Rancheria as the Verona Band of Alameda County because of their proximity to the
station. In the 1905 Federal Native American census, there were 70 people at Alisal Rancheria.
Most of the buildings on the Alisal Rancheria reportedly burned in 1914, and the settlement was
abandoned in 1916.

Pleasanton retains strong evidence of early Native Californian settlement in the archaeological
record, as shown by substantial discoveries of temporary and permanent settlement sites,
cemeteries with 100s of burials, and during ground disturbing activities in the City during the
late twentieth century. Particular areas of sensitivity are likely to include the banks of major
waterways such as the Arroyo del Valle and Arroyo de Laguna.

El Rancho del Valle de San Jose (1839-ca. 1850)

In the 1830s, the Mexican government of Alta California granted three ranchos on the land that
now makes up Pleasanton to prominent California citizens. Augustn Bernal (abt. 1785-1872), a
twenty year veteran of the Spanish and Mexican army, received the Rancho del Valle de San
Jos in 1839. This rancho encompassed the southern two-thirds of Pleasanton. The remaining
northern third of present-day Pleasanton was part of Rancho Santa Rita, granted to Jose Maria
Pacheco, a former Mexican alcalde, in 1839, and Rancho San Ramon, granted to Jose Maria
Amador, a former soldier and administrator of Mission San Jose, in 1834. Augustn Bernals
Rancho del Valle de San Jose was the largest single Mexican land grant east of the San Francisco
Bay, totaling more than 48,000 acres.

Augustn Bernal initially divided his interest in the Rancho del Valle de San Jose between
himself and his three siblings, Juan Pablo Bernal, Maria Pilar Bernal (m. Antonio Maria Pico),
and Maria Dolores Bernal (m. Antonio Maria Sunol). By 1846, however, Augustn and Juan
Bernal had purchased their sister and brother-in-laws interests and owned the entirety of the
rancho grant.

Though the Bernal brothers owned significant land in the vicinity of Pleasanton, they remained
on their initial ranching properties in the Santa Clara Valley until the 1850s. The Bernals
primarily used the rancho for cattle grazing and pasturage, holding as many as 25,000 head of
cattle between their Santa Clara and Pleasanton ranchos.

One historic account about the establishment of some of the East Bay rancherias has recently
come to light via the oral recollections of Mary Ann Harlan Smith which was recorded by her
daughter Emma Smith. Mary Ann Harlan was the daughter of George Harlan who was a wagon
master on the ill-fated Donner Party expedition and who led his group successfully into
California in 1846/47. Mary Ann Harlan had married Henry C. Smith in 1847 and was living at
Mission San Jose at the time of the removal of the Indians to the Alisal Rancheria area located
between Sunol and Pleasanton. Emma Smith recorded the following account from her mother:

My husband was appointed the first Alcalde or justice of the peace by Gov. Riley,
Military Governor of California. He could speak Spanish very fluently and the
Spaniards came to him with their difficulties. My husband and his brother
remained in partnership for a couple of years, then his brother sold his interest to
E. L. Beard and moved to Martinez. Beard and my husband continued in business
for a short time. My husband purchased tract of land two and a half miles from
the Mission, and also 800 acres on the Arroyo De Alameda, where he afterwards
laid out and named the town of Alvarado. My second daughter, Emma was born
in Mission San Jose. .

I grew very tired of living there, so we built a house on the rancho, near the
Mission and moved there. We engaged in farming and stock raising. In the
summer of 1850, my father who was living in Mission San Jose died from typhoid
fever the age of forty-eight. .

The Mission Indians had a rancheria on our rancho and we often watched
them performing their religious ceremonies. They had a large room dug in
the ground and covered with brush and earth, with one door to enter. This place
was called a sweet house. The Indians decorated themselves with feathers and
all sorts of ridiculous costumes. A fire was built in the center of the room and
the Indians danced around it. When one made a trip in those days from
Oakland to San Jose, one would see millions of cattle and quite a lot of wheat
which was raised by the Indians.

Cholera broke out among the Indians, and a number of them died. Their
crying and howling and moaning were almost unbearable. My brother Joel, was
obliged to take his family and go away where they could not hear the dreadful
noise. When I found out that he was going, I had our men take me and my
family along. I was very much afraid of the disease. My husband was away
at the time. When he returned and found us gone, he immediately had all the
Indians moved to the Alisal, located where Pleasanton now is [emphasis
added] (Emma Smith, 1923).

The Alisal Rancheria appears to have been established in the vicinity of a large pre-contact
ancestral Muwekma Ohlone village, now underneath or near the historic Castlewood Country
Club (Gifford 1947). The Bernals, who, unlike many of their Californio neighbors, were able to
hold onto their rancho lands, continued to maintain their economy with the help of Indian labor.
The Bernals also had a history of sponsoring Indian children as godparents and apparently had
children with some of the ancestors of the Muwekma Ohlone.

Relationship Between the Bernal Families and Muwekma Ohlone Indians

The Verona Band of Indians were so named because one of their principal rancherias called Alisal
was located on the Rancho lands of Augustin Bernal, a Californio, which was later purchased by
George and Phoebe Apperson Hearst. The Hearsts built a summer home on the Bernal Rancho,
adjacent to the Alisal Rancheria. The Hearsts named their house Hacienda del Poso de Verona
(The Alameda County Historical Society: 42). A railroad station was built by the Southern Pacific
Railroad for the Hearsts and it too was named Verona.

Prior to the Hearsts' purchase of the Bernal Rancho, the Bernal families had a very long inter-
relationship with the greater Verona Band community. In many cases the Bernals serve as sponsors
and godparents to the greater Alisal Indian community during marriages and baptisms, and in some
case have children with the Muwekma people. The Bernals also appear as godparents for the
Sanchez family as well [e.g., Guadalupe Bernal was a godparent to Ohlone Indian Maria de Jesus,
the daughter of Francisco Solano and Soledad (MSJ bapt. # 8415) in 1849; Juana Bernal was
godmother to Ohlone Indian Lucas Gonzales, the son of Felipe Gonzales and Guadalupe (MSJ bapt.
# 8568) in 1854; Encarnacion Bernal was the godmother to Maria Alberta (MSJ bapt. # 3228) in
1862; Antonia Bernal was godmother to Natividad (MSJ bapt. # 248) in 1863; Andres Bernal and
Jacoba Bernal were the godparents to Ohlone Indian Maria Cecelia Simon the daughter of
Feliciano Simon and Visitacion (India) in 1867; John (Johanne) Bernal and Maria (India) had a
son named Alfred in 1868, the godparents were Thomas and Refugia Bernal; Augustin Bernal
was a godparent to Adelina Sanchez, the daughter of Antonio and Aurora Sanchez in 1884; Ohlone
Indian Petrus (Peter) Bernal appeared as the godfather of Ohlone Indian Ramona Marine, the
daughter of Rafael and Avelina in 1893); while Augustin's brother, Antonio Bernal, had a
relationship with Magdalena Armija and their child, Rosa Bernal was born in 1895; and Joseph
Reis Bernal witnessed the marriage of his daughter Josepha Bernal to Alfred Sanchez (son of
Antonio Sanchez) in 1894.

Harrington, extensively interviewed in the 1920s two surviving elders of the Verona Band (Jose
Guzman and Maria de los Angeles Colos) who served as his principal linguistic and cultural
consultants, informed him that:

Augustin Bernal and Juan Bernal owned the ranch where Pleasanton is. El Alisal is the old
name of where Pleasanton is now (reel 36:579).

The inter-relationship between the Bernals (and Sunols) and the Verona Band community was so
important that other historic Muwekma Ohlone figures bearing the Bernal surname were
remembered as late as 1965 by Dario Marine and his sister, Dolores:

Raymundo Vernal (Bernal) was Great grandfather people, so were Lupe Vernal and Jose
Vinoco (Binoco) an uncle (Avelina Cornate Family History 1965). Raymundo Bernal was
married Maria de los Angeles Colos (also see Maria de los Angeles Colos marriage MSJ #
212 in 1873 below)

According to Maria de los Angeles own account to J. P. Harrington, she was born on the ranch of
Don Agustin Bernal in Santa Teresa, south San Jose. Angela informed Harrington that she learned
to speak Chochenyo from her step-father, Santiago Pia, and his parents. Santiago's lineage has
been traced through the Mission San Jose records. Santiago's parents were Bruno and Fermina.
Bruno was born 1796 and listed as an "Este" referring to the Taunan Ohlone Tribe of the Alameda
Creek and Del Valle Creek drainages (Sunol/Pleasanton). Fermina was born 1801 and was
identified as a Luecha (Ohlone) [see Francisca Luecha below] from around the del Mocho/Hollow
Creek drainages of Livermore. Santiago Pia was born July 11, 1819 and raised by the Californio
Pia family. Joaquina was apparently raised by the Pico family living in San Jose and she eventually
moves to the Bernal Rancho, where Maria was born.

El Valle de San Jos, granted to Antonio Maria Pico, April 10, 1839; confirmed to Antonio Suol
et al., by Commission January 31, 1854; by the District Court January 14, 1856; 51,572.25 acres. .
Antonio Maria Pico (18091869), son of Jos Dolores Pico, was stationed in the Pueblo de San Jos
in 18331839. His brother, Jos de Jess Pico, was the grantee of Rancho Piedra Blanca. Antonio
Maria Pico had married Maria del Pilar Bernal (18121882) in 1831. He was alcalde at Pueblo de
San Jose. Pico sold his one fourth share of Rancho Valle de San Jos to Juan Pablo Bernal. Pico
received the eight square league Rancho Pescadero grant in 1843. He took part in the revolt against
Governor Micheltorena in 1845, and was a member of the 1849 California Constitutional
Convention. Antonio Maria Pico sold half the property to Henry Morris Naglee (18151886) in
1849.
~ 1858 - Ramon Sunol. On the 1880 Census for Murray Township, Alameda County (District
26), a Ramon Sinol (Sunol), estimated age 22 (born ca. 1858) was listed as a farm hand in the
household of John Kottinger. Ramon (Raymond) might have been Angela and Raymundos son,
Joseph who was born in 1862.

In the Alisal rancheria community was a Clareo Ohone man named Raymond Bernal, who was also
identified in other San Jose Mission records as Raymond Sunol. Mission Santa Clara baptismal
records identified a child by the name of Jose Raymundo (Bernal) who was baptized on April 10,
1842 (MSC Baptism # 10219). He was identified as the son of (Jose?) Domingo Bernal and Maria
Tacia Sunol who were both listed as neofitos. His godparents were Antonio Bernal and Eusebia
Valencia. Randy Milliken suggests that his parents were most likely baptised at Mission San Jose.
Raymundo Bernal was married to a Mission San Jose woman named Angela Cornelia (most likely
Angela Colos). Maria would have been age 22 or 23 in 1862.

1870s Modesto Sanchez - Ramona Marine's husband, Porfidio (Porfirio) Sanchez (born
September 15, 1884) was the son of Modesto Sanchez and Augustina Amado (born 1866). Before
Modesto married Augustina, in 1872, he had a child named Joseph Florius Sanchez with a
Muwekma Indian woman named Louisa. Joseph's godparents were Mission San Jose Indians
Rustico Gonzales and Maria Soledad who were also the mother and step-father of of Benedicta
Gonzalez Pinos. Soledad was also the mother of Delfina Armija by previous husband, Francisco
Solano:

1873 Feb 13, #1108, Page 222 Joseph Florius (Sanchez)
Born: Jul? 17, 1872
Father: Modesto Sanchez
Mother: Louisa* (Sanchez)
Godparents: Rustico Gonzales & Maria Soledad

Several years later, between 1879 and 1889 Modesto obtained a land patent in Alameda County, to
the southeast of the Town of Sunol three miles from Welch Creek.

In 1873, Maria de los Angeles and Raymundo Bernal (Sunol) joined with other Indian couples of the
Verona Band to renew their marriage vows at Mission San Jose. As mentioned elsewhere, this was
done during the height of the 1870 Ghost Dance religious movement.

1873 May 30, #212, Page 62, Jose cum Refugia - This entry holds three marriages.
"Die 30, May 1873, coram Maria Selio et Raimundo consentium renovavares J.o Jose cum
Rafaela; 2. Reimendums Bernal (Sunol) et Maria de los Angeles 3. Maria con Selso.

1883 - Modesto Sanchez and Augustina Amado were married on September 3, 1883, their
marriage is recorded in the Mission San Jose records. Also cited in the Bans for Marriage dated
August 8, 1883, are the testimonies of Jesus Amado and Pachenco Bernal* (another relation of
Augustin Bernal and see Colos and Guzman statement about Jacobas parents buying the land from
P. Bernal below. Pachenco Bernal was also the godparent to Ramona Marine). Augustina's parents
Jesus Amado and Trinidad Selaya were married in 1862. The parents of Modesto Sanchez were
Antonio Sanchez and Johanna Carrasco. Porfirio Sanchez's family lineage can be traced through the
Mission San Jose records back to the 1820's generation. Susanna Nichols shared with Harrington a
story that involved Antonio Sanchez and Sunol (reel 71:428-429). Muwekma Indians Jose Guzman
and Maria de los Angeles Colos also provided the following information about Jacoba's family
history and her purchase of land from Pechento Bernal to Harrington on October 29, 1929:

Jacoba was of otshe-ha tribe. Her parientes (madre and marido) died here too. The family
used to live at Rancho Alviso and later they moved to Pleasanton. House where she lived is
still here -- she bought it of Pechento Bernal. (reel 37:713)

1887 On December 19, 1887, Modesto Sanchez signed a Non-Mineral Affidavit at the United
States Land Office in San Francisco for his Section Homestead.(NE of Section 28,Township 4
South, Range 2 East) south east of Sunol. On that legal document he was identified as residing in
Sunol.

From the Livermore Herald there are several news articles about the Indians of Pleasanton. One
article dated Sept. 2, 1899 (page 8) records the passing of Tausino Sanchumi who "Died at the age of
120 years". It states that:

He was born in the immediate vicinity of San Francisco where he resided until about
seventeen years of age when he came to this county and with the old monks was one of the
first to plant the cross at Mission San Jose before the construction at that place. Years after
when the first shovelful of dirt was turned for the construction of the Old Mission, the
deceased was present and with a study hand helped in the construction of that ancient and
sacred Mission. Later he with his family joined others of his tribe on the old Chabot place at
the foot of the mountain near Dublin and as the country began to become more populated
they moved about until at last they settled on the roadside between Pleasanton and Sunol
where they have since resided. Upon several occasions he gave old settlers here to
understand that at the time of his joining his countrymen on the Chabot lands, that many who
were then living had long before passed their one hundredth year and were then at the age of
140. ... The remains were taken to Mission San Jose Monday and laid to rest.

Tausino Sanchumi was most likely Chief Taurino or Chaurino who appears on the 1965 Marine
Family history.

Livermore Herald dated Nov. 11, 1899, a news article appeared entitled A Drunken Brawl
about the death of Frank Flores who was most likely Jennie Flores father.

In a drunken brawl in Indian Town a small hamlet in the foothills between Pleasanton and
Sunol, Saturday night Frank Schmeca stabbed Frank Flores inflicting a wound which
resulted in the latters death Sunday morning.

March 1900 A Livermore Herald article dated March 10, 1900, ran a story about Benedicto
Guerraro: "a squaw, made an assault upon Charley Kruse" at the Indian Rancheria between
Pleasanton and Sunol.

On the 1900 Census, Murray Township (June 27, 1900), taken by Richmond Logan, Modesto
Sanchez and his family were living in Murray Township (on Glen Ave. in Sunol or Rosedale
Road?) seven houses down from Thomas Wauhab and eight from Alexander Shaix. Modesto owned
his own ranch and was listed as a Farmer and having emigrated from Mexico in 1859 and listed as
born in 1845 (age 55). Augustina Amado, his wife was listed as being born in 1864 (age 36) and
married with one child, Porfiro Sanchez born 1883 (age 16). Also living with them was Frank
Amado, Augustinas uncle.

Jose Binoco appeared on the 1900 Census as Indian, age 42 and born in 1858 (1900 Census,
Murray Township, page 70A). His occupation was listed as "Servant" and he is residing on the
land of Jean Arbios, "the Frenchman" in Sunol, who Jose Guzman and Maria Colos were alluding
to, when Harrington interviewed them in 1929.

In 1903 Jose Binoco appeared as a godparent with Susanna Flores (Nichols) for Rafael Marine and
Avelina's last child, Joseph Rafael:

1903 Jun 21, Page 29, Joseph Rafael Marino (of Indian Birth) [St. Augustine]
Born: Apr 25, 1903
Father: Rafael Marino
Mother: Abalina Marina
Godparents: Josephus Binocho (Binoco) & Susanna Flores (Nichols)

Jose Binoco was also listed as Joe Wenoco on Kelsey's 1905-1906 Indian Census for Pleasanton
and without land. Five years later, on November 5, 1910, he is interviewed along with Jose
Guzman, by C. Hart Merriam. Merriam wrote:

Joe Benoko, and his father before him, lived at Sunol rancheria and belong to the Han-ne-su
tribe. He is not sure however as to whether or not the Han-ne-su territory reached westerly
from the San Joaquin valley to near Sunol, or his father's people moved into the Sunol
country from the valley (1967:368).

1904 - In another article dated October 1, 1904, records the death of Custiniano "Oldest Inhabitant
Passes Away".

Custiniano, the oldest survivor of the tribe of Indians which has had its home for generations
in the neighborhood of Sunol, and probably the oldest resident of Alameda county, passed
away Sunday morning. Custiniano was known to be over a hundred years old and some of
the Indians claim that he was fully 112.
1905 Death Certificate - Modesto and Augustina Sanchez had an unnamed stillborn daughter on
November 6, 1905. The information on her death certificate was provided by Porfirio Sanchez. The
family was living near Sunol Glen, parents identified as Modesto Sanchez and Augustina Amado,
Contributory prolonged labor, faulty position. Place of Burial: near Sunol Glen, November 8,
1905. (Note: This baby girls birth also appears in the California Birth Index 1905-1995).

On the 1910 Indian Census for Pleasanton Township Mercedes Marine, age 15, was listed along
with her son Albert Marine and her brother Dario Marine. Also listed as residing on the Alisal
Rancheria were: First household: Angela Colos, age 71, widowed and Joseph Garcia, grandson,
age 20, single. Next house: Ocavio (Jacoba) Antonio, age 60, widowed, Catherine Peralta, age 19,
single, Merced Marine, Beatrice Peralta (Marine), age 1 and 4 months, Frank Guzman, age 12,
D. Marine, age 22. Next house: Jose M. Kazoos (Jesus), age 70(?), A. Scott, White. Next house:
McGill (Miguel) Santos, age 60, married 40 years, Selsa (Celsa), age 60, married 40 years, Jennie
Flores, granddaughter, age 12, Albert Marine, age 1 and 6 months. Next house: Phoebe Inigo, age
32. Next house: Sacarus (Francsico? Ramon?) Spinosa, age 32, single, Mexico, immigrated 1899.
Next house: Granad Asilias (Trinidad Gonzales), age 54. Next house: Jose Rayes (Reyes), age 47.

1910 Census - Pleasanton Township (April 28, 1910), Modesto Sanchez and his family were
living on Rosedale Road two houses away from Rafael Marine and his family. Listed in the
household are Modesto (age 78, married 29 years, naturalized citizen 1842, farmer), his wife
Augustina (age 42, had seven children, two alive), Porfirio (age 26, single) and Andrew (age 1 and
8/12 months, born 1908), and Frank Amado (age 88, naturalized citizen 1830)

On the 1910 Census, Pleasanton Township, (Sunol Precinct) Manuel Hernandez was a hired
man working for the Elbert C. Appersons (Phoebe Apperson Hearsts brother) household on Glenn
Avenue (which was located adjacent to Rosedale Road, in Sunol). Manuel was listed as an Alien,
immigrated 1900, age 41 (born ca. 1869), married, worked as a woodchopper and was identified as
Mexican Spanish. Living nearby on Niles Road was Charles Nichols, Jr. who was working as a
farm laborer for James Whitaker. Modesto Sanchez and his family and Raphael Marine and his
family were living nearby on Rosedale Road.

1910 Census - Rafael Marine was listed as being 42 years old (may be an error, because this would
place his birthdate around 1868, making him ten years old when he arrived in the United States),
living with his son Lucas (age 9), daughter Ramona (age 17) and her son Enos Marine Sanchez (age
1). Also living on the same property immediately next to them (probably in a little casita), was
Raphaela Pareta (age 80). Based upon both Mission San Jose records and Kelsey's 1905-06 Indian
Census, Rafaela Pareta was Rafaela (Bia) Levias Padedes. She was listed on Kelsey's 1905-06
Indian Census as Rafaella Padedis. She was the godmother to Lucas Marine (1899) and Enos
Marine Sanchez (1910) and others in the Verona Band community.

Rafael Marine and his family were living on Rosedale Road in Sunol. Their next door neighbor
was Joseph Rose Silveira and living next to him was Modesto Sanchez (age 78) who living with his
wife Augustina Amado (age 42) and sons Porfirio [Porfidio Sanchez] (age 26) and Andrew (age
18), and also Augustina's uncle, Frank Amado (age 88). This proximity between the Marine and
Sanchez households explains how Ramona Marine and Porfirio Sanchez met.

November 18, 1910 - Rafael Marine passed away. On his death certificate Rafaels son, Dario
Marine served as witness and provided the information. It stated that he was residing in at the
Rosedale Road residence for 20 years (since 1890) and he was living in California for 25 years
(since 1885). He was identified as Indian, Date of Birth: 1865, age 45, Married, Birthplace Costa
Rica, laborer, Fathers name: Leon Montoya, Costa Rica, Mothers name: Ramona Marine, Costa
Rica, Cause of Death: Lobar(?) Pneumonia, Place of Burial: St. Augustine Cemetery, Nov. 20,
1910, C.S. Graham Undertaker.

October 1910 Porfirio Sanchez married Ramona Marine. Based upon information contained on
an Application for State Aid for two of his children, Dolores and Augustina Sanchez, filled out by
Porifirio Sanchez dated July 7, 1921, he provided the following information: Place and date of
marriage: Oakland, Cal. Oct. 1910, debts: $275.00, to Tom Berge, Irvington, for Funeral expenses
(Ramonas), relatives: Antonio Sanchez, uncle, Pleasanton; Modesto Sanchez (father), Milpitas;
Carmelita Feliz, cousin. Non-relatives listed were: Mrs. Parks, Milpitas, Henry M. Ayer, San Jose
(1920 census living on N. 1
st
St.) and Don Filipe, San Jose.

Ramona and Porfirios first child was Enos who was born in on Feb. 1, 1910.
--1910 Apr 16, Page 248, Ignacio Marin*(Mission San Jose)
Born: Feb 1, 1910
Father: - (Porfirio Sanchez)
Mother: Ramona Marin
Godparents: Pedro Joarez & Raphaela Leivius

Note: On his birth certificate Enos Sanchez was identified as California Indian.

--1912 April 13, Page 282, Mariam Dolorem (Dolores) Sanchez (Mission San Jose)
Born: Dec 25, 1911
Father: Ponfilio (Porfirio) Sanchez
Mother: Ramona Maria Marino Sanchez
Godparents: Petrus Joares (Pete Juarez) & Marguerita Pinos*

* Marguerita Pinos Juarez was the daughter of Benedicta Guerrera and Manuel Pinos.

18 Sept. 1912 Raphaela Padedes died presumably at the home of Porfirio and Ramona Sanchez on
Rosedale Rd. in Sunol. Death Certificate Raphelia Paderas, County of Alameda California State
Board of Health Mission San Jose, California Local Registered No. 336. Place of Death: Mission,
Alameda County, Female, Indian, Age: 97 yrs (about), Birthplace: Mission San Jose, Father: uk,
Mother: uk, Place of Burial:, Mission San Jose (Ohlone Indian Cemetery), September 20, 1912,
Informant: Puff Sanchez Address: Sunol

1912 Porfirio Sanchez was listed in the Great Register for the Primary Election in Sunol. He was
identified as Puff Sanchez, Sunol, laborer, Republican.

Porfirio and Ramona Sanchez continued to live and work in the Sunol/Pleasanton region. Their next
three children were baptized at St. Augustine's Church in Pleasanton:

--1914 Oct 18, Page 49, Augustina Sanches (St. Augustine)
Born: Jun 13, 1914
Father: Porfirio Sanches
Mother: Ramona Marin
Godparents: Pedro Juarez & Margarita Pinos

--1916 Apr 30, Page 57, Paulina Sanchez (St. Augustine)
Born: Jan 25, 1916
Father: Porfirio Sanchez
Mother: Ramona Marin
Godparents: Pedro Juarez & Francisca Nunez (Guzman)

--1917 Jul 1, Page 63, Richardus Robertus Sanchez (St. Augustine)
Born: Mar 26, 1917
Father: Porfirio Sanches
Mother: Ramona Marine
Godparents: Joseph Gonzales* & Margaret Peters (Pinos)

*Note: Joseph Gonzales was most likely Maggie Juarezs uncle Eulario Gonzales who was a
Muwekma Ohlone indian.

Ramona and Porfirio's last child, Margaret, was baptized in the Mission San Jose:

--1920 Sep 4, Page 362, Margaret Sanchez (Milpitas)
Born: Mar 26, 1919
Father: Porfirio Sanchez
Mother: Ramona Sanchez
Godparents: Rafael Feliz & Carmelita Feliz

Notes: Margaret (Sanchez) Martinez was an elder of the Muwekma Tribe and her children and
grandchildren are active members). According to an interview with Dolores Sanchez, Carmelita
Feliz was a cousin to Ramona (Interview with Dolores Sanchez, 1986).

1916 Muwekma Indian Joseph Saunders listed in the Great Register for the Primary Election in
Niles Precinct No. 2. He was identified as Joseph Saunders, Niles, laborer. (Ancestry.com)

Erolinda Santos and Joseph Saunders (Joe Santos) had a baby boy who died at the age of 23 days on
February 29, 1916

February 29, 1916 Death Certificate -Baby Santos, County of Alameda, California
State Board of Health, Niles, California, Local Registered No. 87.
Place of Death: Niles, Alameda County, Male, Age: 23 days, Birthplace: Sunol,
Father: Joe Santos (Saunders), Mother: Laura Juaurus (Erolinda Juarez), Date of
Death: February 29, 1916, Place of Burial: Mission San Jose (Ohlone Indian
Cemetery). Buried on March 2, 1916. Informant: Joe Santos

June 5, 1917 Draft Registration Card Toney Guzman, Age 27, residing Pleasanton, Cal., dob
January 15, 1890 (see above), born in Pleasanton, laborer, Frager Bros*., Sunol, single, Race:
American Indian. Registerd in Pleasanton.

*Notes: Dario Marine was also working for the Frager Bros. at this time. On the 1910
Census, Brothers Manuel and William Frager and families (born in California, parents from
the Azores) were living on Pleasanton Rd. next to the Reimers and Turner families (who
purchased title to the Bernal rancho several years earlier). On the 1920 Census Joe,
Francisca, Toney, Alfred and John Guzman were probably living the same house of the
Frager Bros. identified in 1910 next to the Riemers and Turner families on Pleasanton-Sunol
Rd. By 1920, Manuel and William Frager and families had moved and were living on Sunol
Rd. next to Thomas Rd, Mission San Jose Town, Washington Township (this location was
probably close to the Guzman residence). In 1930 they were living on First Ave. in
Pleasanton. They were listed as farmers.

June 15, 1917 Draft Registration Joseph Saunders, living in Sunol, age 27, born November 1,
1890, Pleasanton, working as a laborer for Spring Valley Water Co., married, wife and two
children (Alfonso Juarez and Daniel Santos). Draft Card describes Joseph as Tall, brown eyes, black
hair.

Note: Joseph Saunders (aka Joseph Garcia/Armijo) who was also the father of Muwekma Ohlone
Indian Thomas Garcia and the father of Alfonso Juarez. He was also Daniel Santoss father. Joseph
Armijo (born Nov. 1, 1890) was the son of Muwekma Indians Francisca Luecha (Angela Colos
daughter) and Edward Armijo.

1918 Joseph Saunders listed in the Great Register for the Primary Election in Sunol Glen Precinct.
He was identified as Joseph Saunders, Sunol Glen, Trackman (Ancestry.com) [also see Maggie
Juarezs photos of railroad workers in Sunol]

September 21, 1918 Draft Registration Card Pedro Sarate (Juarez) residing Sunol,
Alameda County, Cal, age 45 (should be 36), born October 13, 1882, born in Mexico, laborer, place
of employment: Frank Tuscana, Sunol, Alameda County, Cal. Nearest relative: Margarita Pinas
(wife), Sunol, Cal.
Note: Frank Tuscano and family appeared on the 1920 Census as a farmer living in Sunol on Main
Street near Glen Ave.

Spetember 12, 1918 Draft Registration Card Porfirio Sanchez (age 33) born September 15,
1884, Teamster working for William Parks, Milpitas, Ca., Modesto Sanchez, father, living at Sunol,
Alameda County. Registered at San Jose, Ca.

September 12, 1918 Draft Registration Card Jose Rayes Sanchez residing Calavaras Dam,
Sunol Glen, Alameda County, Cal, age 34, born July 3, 1884, laborer, place of employment: Spring
Valley Water Co. Calavaras Dam, Sunol Glen, Alameda County, Cal.
(Note: Jose Sanchez was the last husband of Muwekma Elder Trinidad Gonzalez)

1920 Census - Pleasanton Township, Sunol Town-Sunol Glen Precincts, Modesto Sanchez was
listed as living on Niles Road near Sunol Road and Glen Avenue. Modesto was identified as a
widower, age 68, farmer, alien, immigrated 1859.

On January 3, 1920 US Census Pleasanton Township (Amador Precinct), Francisca Guzman
was listed as Frances Hernandez (age 55), along with her third husband Manuel Hernandez
[Hernanez] (54) and her two children Carolyn (14) [Candilana] and Paul (13) and they were living
along the County Road Dublin to Sunol.

Two days later, on January 5, 1920, censustaker, Ernest W. Schween (also see Harrington notes)
also listed Francisca (age 50) along with Joe Guzman (70), and sons Tony (28), Alfred (23) and
John (17) living on the Pleasanton Sunol Road (Pleasanton Township). Tony was identified as
working as a railroad laborer. Alfred and John were listed as farm laborers. The Guzman
neighbors were George Clement Turner and family and Rudolf Reimers and his wife Virginia and
daughter. The Turner and Reimers families were involved in the acquisition of a portion of the old
Bernal property near the Alisal Rancheria. Based upon a 1937 deed George Clement Turner
obtained the property on December 1, 1906 and the transfer of the property to heirs Harry Turner
and Catherine H. Crow (a daughter of George Crow) was witnessed by Virginia Reimers.

1920 - John Guzman was also identified as John Gooseman on the 1920 Census residing in Sunol.
He was listed as being age 19, and a partner with Joseph Cabral (Head), Portuguese; Joseph
Alameda, Portuguese; Frank Rodrigues, Portuguese, all farm hands on the Thomas Wauhabs stock
ranch. They were living next to Thomas Wauhab on La Rosia Road between Railroad Avenue
and Valicitos Road in Sunol. Living nearby was George Buttner and family living on Railroad
Avenue (see East Bay Interview of George Buttner Jr.) and Modesto Sanchez on Niles Road,
between Glenn Avenue and Sunol Road, in the Sunol Glen Precinct.
1920 Census - Maggie Pinos and Pete Juarez appeared on the 1920 Census, Pleasanton Township.
They were identified as Peter Sarate (age 46, alien, immigrated 1900, farm laborer), Margaret (age
34, servant, private family), Laura Saunders (niece, age 21), Alfonso (grandnephew, age 5) and
Daniel (grandnephew, age 2 and 7 months). They were living next to Elbert C. Apperson and his
wife Elizabeth and son Randolph on Glen Avenue near Rosedale Road in Sunol (near the Alisal
Rancheria).

Elbert Clark Apperson (b. Jan. 10, 1851) was the younger brother of Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson
Hearst (b. Dec. 3, 1842 d, 1919). Phoebe married George Hearst in 1862. Elbert had married
Elizabeth Ann Sutherland and their children were Ann Drucilla Apperson (b. 1878 San Simeon, Ca,)
and Randolf William Apperson (b. 1897, Pleasanton, Ca.).

1929 - . In October, 1929, Susanna Nichols informed Harrington that she "was born at Trinidad's
parents' house, at la Rancheria del Mocho, which was the biggest ra.(ncheria) at Pleasanton"
(71:497). Jose Guzman and Maria Colos also informed Harrington that:

Felipe Gonzalez had his nose septum pierced. That is sena de un capitan (does not know
Indian word for) nosestick. Capt. also wears earrings and nosestick of some color. Vigilio,
the padre of inf's. tocaya (namesake) Angela wore nosestick -- it was a huesito [little bones]
(with bead lots of shell inserted at ends). Vigilio was Capt. but inf. nesc. (does not know) of
what tribe. He lived at Monte del Diablo and was light complexioned. His daughter Angela
was well complexioned too. (reel 36:533/Oct. 14, 1929).

Francisca (Nonessi) was taught to pray by Felipe Gonzales. She heard him talk in the idioma
to his wife Quiteria (Catherine). This was after Trini's mother had died. Guz. thinks Trini's
mother was called Guadalupe. .... Francisca used to hear Felipe G. and Quiteria talking (kik
language) together (reel 37:817).

Harrington obtained the following information from Jose Guzman and Angela Colos:

Alvino was an Indian captain who lived where the Kaslos live now ... He had several other
Inds. there with him. These were all of the same nation that were settled at Sunol's ranch at
what is now Sunol.

Inigo was an old Indian of this same kind who lived at Kaslo's at Sunol and at Rancho de
Carlos (a short distance Nilesward of where Jose and inf. live now. Angela's comadre Paula
was of this nacion. Angela and Jose cannot remember the name of the tribe. (page 127
handwritten notes).

Jose Guzman Maria De Los Angeles Colos
(circa 1934) (circa 1929)
J.P. HARRINGTON
PRINCIPAL CHOCHENYO LANGUAGE INFORMANTS
1921 - 1930
John Peabody Harrington
(1884 1961)
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Of The San Francisco Bay Area


J. P. Harrington's field notes (dated October 12, 1929, and October 1934) provides information
about the culture, history and languages spoken by the Verona Band/Mission San Jose Indians.
Jose Guzman and Angela Colos shared the following information with him:

The San Jose Indians were of many tribes gathered at the mission. They are
called Chocheos.

I asked inf. how to say Abajeos, but inf. never heard the term. But inf. knows
how to say arribenos.... when I asked if these were the Indians of Oakland, Inf.
said no, that they were from [Martinez].

Inf. does know one tribe, Halkin. It is the name of a tribe up San Rafael way.
Liberato here was a Halkin, or was said to be one. [inf.] told him he was a
Halkin, and Liberato got mad, denied it.... He [Jose Guzman] made a map,
showing the location of "Hacienda Station" for Mrs. Hearst's place.

From Sunol, he drew a line, indicating the former location of "Barona"
[Verona] Station north of the San Jose Mission. Then, he noted under
Roundhouse/Dancehouse:

Was a big temescal just up the road from here. Until recently could see the place.
Door inside and a big hole & also a smaller hole in the roof. Tu'pentak, temescal.
Used to have fiestas here.

1930 BIA Application - On Phoebe (Petra Inigo) Alaniz's BIA Application #10301, Examiner
Fred Baker indicates that she was a full-blooded Indian, who was born between Sunol and
Pleasanton on August 1, 1877,. The location of her birth places her on the Alisal Rancheria. Also
included on her enrollment application is Phoebe's mother, Trinidad Gonzales, who was born
November 28, 1856. Phoebe also identified her first husband as Tom Duncan who died about 1910.
Her second husband was Trinidad Alaniz, who was born December 12, 1884 (see below). Phoebe's
father was Thomas Inigo (Jose Prudencio Inigo) who died about 1898. She stated that her mother,
Trinidad, was born near Dublin and died October 28, 1928. Trinidad's parents were identified as
Felipe and Guadalupe Gonzales.

1960s -1980s

During the 1960's when the American Indian Historical Society in San Francisco was working
with the Verona Band families to obtain title of the Ohlone Indian Cemetery from the Catholic
Church, Dario Marine was asked to come back to the cemetery in order to identify the burial location
of some of his direct family and relations. On August 8, 1965, the following cultural and historic
information was recorded and made available to other Verona Band families:

OHLONE INDIAN CEMETERY (page 1 Marine Family History 1965)
Mission de San Jose de Guadalupe, Fremont

Approximately one mile west from the Mission on Washington Boulevard on this day THE
OLDEST OHLONE INDIAN, DARIO JOSEPH DARIO (sic), age 77 visited this Burial
Ground.

Brother to Dolores M. Galvan of San Jose, Dario lives in Woodland with his son Domingo
and close by lives a nephew Ernest Marine.

Dario pointed to the precise location where his two day old son was buried. Gilbert Marine
is buried next to his two aunts, Victoria Munoz and Ramona Sanchez.

He then pointed the plot where his Grandmother, Mother, one sister and two cousins were
resting in peace.

Avelina Cornate, Mother to Dario and Dolores; a sister Isabel Nichols, two cousins Rosa
the oldest and Maria Nichols are buried in this location.

The Rancheria was located at Verona Station between Sunol and the town of Pleasanton.

The Rancheria was composed of eleven casitas with the Temescal in the center. In the
Temescal various ceremonies were held.

1981- Emily Thompson Dewey (Armija lineage) died in 1981. Her obtituary stated that:

She was 71. Mrs. Dewey was a native of Sunol and had worked at the Sunco
Cafe. She is survived by two daughters. Maxine Blair and Jackie Dewey, both of
Fremont, two brothers, Lawrence Thompson and Ernest Thompson , both of Oakland,
nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Burial will be at Irvington
Memorial Cemetery.

1982- Henry Marshall, Sr. (Armija lineage) was born December 11, 1900 on the Alisal Rancheria.
He had died in 1982 and according to his daughter Margaret Ariza, he was cremated and his ashes
were scattered over Sunol.