Abstract

the adobe ranch house and lived there with his family until his death in 1861. He was a California, a product of the Spanish-Mexican culture of the first half of the 1800's in Alta California. He was born January 6, 1808 at the Presidio of San Diego. This day being the Day of Kings, he was baptised Jose Vicente de los Reyes de la Ossa. 4 Vicente's father Pablo, born in Mexico City, was a "Cabo Distinguic.o " or corporal at the Presidio. Vicente's mother, Maria Rita Ruiz, died when Vicente was one year old bearing his brother Carlos Antonio. After his wife's death, Pablo returned to Mexico with his two sons where he married once more when Vicente was fourteen. Later, his stepmother remained in Mexico City when Vicente and his father returned to Alta California. S By 1832, Vicente de la Ossa had settled in the pueblo of Los Angeles and was serving as Secretary of the Town Council. 6 He was twenty-four. In June of that year he married Rita Guillen. Maria Rita de Jesus Guillen was also born at the Presidio of San Dieg, on May 21, 1817. Her maternal grandfather was harbormaster at Loreto in Baja