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36-470: It was located in the southwestern Tehachapis, from Tejon Creek and Tejon Canyon, west to Grapevine Canyon ( Canada de las Uvas ). Edward F. Beale , the federal Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California, established this as the first Indian reservation in California in 1853. The 75,000 acre Tejon Reservation was within the private Rancho El Tejón Mexican land grant. However, Beale hoped if

72-545: A harvest. The Indians were also encouraged to collect wild food during the winter. Despite that setback, new buildings were constructed and new arrivals increased the population to over 1,000. A post office was established at the reservation in September 1858, but it was moved in 1859 to Sinks of Tejon Station , one of the stagecoach stations of the Butterfield Overland Mail . By 1858, nearly all of

108-458: A staff of white employees hired to teach the Indians agriculture and supervise their activities. Hundreds of acres of land were plowed and planted with wheat, barley, and corn. Tejon Creek irrigated gardens, vineyards, and orchards. From the forest in upper Tejon Canyon Indians hauled timber from which they sawed the lumber needed at the reservation. Additionally there was wild game to hunt for in

144-737: Is a stream in Kern County , California . Its headwaters are located on the western slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains , and it flows northwest into the southern San Joaquin Valley . Arroyo de Tejón (Tejon Creek), the canyon and stream, along with the pass through it and over the Tehachapi Mountains, were named with Tejón (Spanish: badger) after a dead badger was found at the canyon's mouth by Lt. Francisco Ruiz in 1806. The Spanish military expedition led by Ruiz

180-521: Is a registered California Historical Landmark , #540. The California Historical Landmark reads: Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route" " (PDF) . New York Times. October 14, 1858. Tejon Creek#Sinks of Tejon Tejon Creek , originally in Spanish Arroyo de Tejon , is a stream in Kern County , California . Its headwaters are located on

216-757: The Anza Colonizing Expedition 's main route. It is 15 miles (24 km) to the northeast of the present day Tejon Pass , in the Tehachapi Mountains, at the top of the divide between Tejon Creek Canyon in the San Joaquin Valley and Cottonwood Creek Canyon in the Antelope Valley of the western Mojave Desert . In 1806, Lt. Francisco Ruiz named it Tejón Pass while on an expedition into the San Joaquin Valley . Ruiz also named Tejon Canyon and Tejon Creek, all after

252-477: The Anza Colonizing Expedition 's main route. It is 15 miles (24 km) to the northeast of the present day Tejon Pass , in the Tehachapi Mountains, at the top of the divide between Tejon Creek Canyon in the San Joaquin Valley and Cottonwood Creek Canyon in the Antelope Valley of the western Mojave Desert . In 1806, Lt. Francisco Ruiz named it Tejón Pass while on an expedition into the San Joaquin Valley . Ruiz also named Tejon Canyon and Tejon Creek, all after

288-755: The Mojave Desert towards the Tejon Reservation, following their capitulation in the Owens Valley Indian War . They ended up in the Tule River Indian Reservation. The reservation was ordered closed in June 1864. Fort Tejon was also abandoned in 1864. Jose Pacheco, a Tejón leader, wrote to General Wright on April 16, 1864: "I should not have troubled you with this letter, Dear General, did I not think

324-460: The Sinks of Tejon , the creek's waters sank into the ground of the San Joaquin Valley here during the dry season, instead of reaching Kern Lake . The Butterfield Overland Mail (1857-1861) stagecoaches' next stations were: Kern River Slough Station located 14 miles (23 km) to the northeast; and Fort Tejon Station located 15 miles (24 km) to the southwest. The Sinks of Tejon Station site

360-409: The Sinks of Tejon , the creek's waters sank into the ground of the San Joaquin Valley here during the dry season, instead of reaching Kern Lake . The Butterfield Overland Mail (1857-1861) stagecoaches' next stations were: Kern River Slough Station located 14 miles (23 km) to the northeast; and Fort Tejon Station located 15 miles (24 km) to the southwest. The Sinks of Tejon Station site

396-567: The Old Tejon Pass route was gradually abandoned. The name Tejon Pass was transferred west following the closure of Fort Tejon, when "Fort" was dropped from the Fort Tejon Pass name. The (Old) Tejon Pass eventually was so unused that it lost its name altogether on maps. In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail 1st Division established the Sinks of Tejon Station at the mouth of Tejon Creek, west of Comanche Point . There at

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432-438: The Old Tejon Pass route was gradually abandoned. The name Tejon Pass was transferred west following the closure of Fort Tejon, when "Fort" was dropped from the Fort Tejon Pass name. The (Old) Tejon Pass eventually was so unused that it lost its name altogether on maps. In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail 1st Division established the Sinks of Tejon Station at the mouth of Tejon Creek, west of Comanche Point . There at

468-636: The Sebastian Reservation. In 1854, Fort Tejon was built 25 miles (40 km) to the southwest, to protect both the reservation's Indians and white settlers in the region from raids by the Paiutes, Chemeheui, Mohave peoples , and other Indian groups of the desert regions to the east. It was also to control the Indians who were living on the Tejon Reservation, and protect them from attacks by American immigrants and settlers. Farm equipment, cattle and sheep were brought to Tejon Reservation, and

504-484: The Tehachapi Mountains and the San Joaquin Valley. In that year the Indians gathered an abundant wheat harvest. In early 1854, with political change in Washington, Beale's detractors charged him with embezzlement of government funds. Settlers in the San Joaquin Valley resented the agricultural competition from the Indians, and claimed that too much land had been set aside for them. He was removed from his office, but

540-489: The Tejon area, which included the Tejon Reservation land, and was raising 100,000 sheep. In 1863, he offered to lease 12,000 acres to the government, but withdrew the offer when he found that the government planned to move Owens Valley Paiute Indians there. He noted that he had made the offer only because Indians already on the reservation were his friends. In the summer of 1863, over 900 Owens Valley Paiute were marched through

576-497: The agents here had wronged us. You and our great father at Washington do not know how bad we fare, or you would give us food or let us go back to our lands where we can get plenty of fish and game. I do not think we get the provisions intended for us by our Great Father; the agents keep it from us, and sell it to make themselves rich, while we and our children are very poor and hungry and naked." On July 11, Austin Wiley wrote: "I have

612-591: The dead badger ( tejón ) he had found at the canyon mouth. Later the El Camino Viejo , a Spanish and Mexican inland route from the Pueblo de Los Angeles northward, crossed the western Antelope Valley from Elizabeth Lake to Cottonwood Creek, and then crossed the Tehachapi Mountains at Old Tejon Pass, following Tejon Creek down into the San Joaquin Valley. Gold Rush 49ers , and early emigrants and teamsters followed this route. The Five Joaquins Gang used

648-475: The dead badger ( tejón ) he had found at the canyon mouth. Later the El Camino Viejo , a Spanish and Mexican inland route from the Pueblo de Los Angeles northward, crossed the western Antelope Valley from Elizabeth Lake to Cottonwood Creek, and then crossed the Tehachapi Mountains at Old Tejon Pass, following Tejon Creek down into the San Joaquin Valley. Gold Rush 49ers , and early emigrants and teamsters followed this route. The Five Joaquins Gang used

684-516: The honor to inform you that all the Indians on the Tejon Farm and in the vicinity of Fort Tejon, some two hundred in number, have been removed from there to the Tule River farm ." Wiley noted that there was no food for the Indians at Tejon. Shortly thereafter, D. N. Cooley, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, summarized the reasons for the reservation's failure: "The lack of legal title to

720-519: The land claims were upheld the land could be purchased by the federal government. To gain support for his efforts, Beale named the reservation after United States Senator William K. Sebastian of Arkansas, Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. He supported Beale's plans to form a series of reservations, garrisoned by a military post, on government owned land. The Indians were to support themselves by farming. However, throughout

756-511: The land of the Rancho Tejón. The Sebastian Indian Reservation (Tejon Indian Reservation), the first Indian reservation in California, was established along Tejon Creek in 1853. It existed for 9 years, until the treaty was revoked by the U.S. government in 1864. The ancient native trail now known as Old Tejon Pass was "discovered" in 1772 by Spanish explorer Pedro Fages , and used in 1776 by padre Francisco Garces , traveling east of

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792-450: The land of the Rancho Tejón. The Sebastian Indian Reservation (Tejon Indian Reservation), the first Indian reservation in California, was established along Tejon Creek in 1853. It existed for 9 years, until the treaty was revoked by the U.S. government in 1864. The ancient native trail now known as Old Tejon Pass was "discovered" in 1772 by Spanish explorer Pedro Fages , and used in 1776 by padre Francisco Garces , traveling east of

828-494: The land severely restrained investment in construction and development, leaving the reserve and the Indians on it in a state of constant uncertainty. The ideal of converting Indians from food gathering to settled agriculture was never realized." The Rose Station California Historical Landmark reads: Both markers are located at Grapevine Road and 'D' Street 70 miles south of Mettler, California . Tejon Creek Tejon Creek , originally in Spanish Arroyo de Tejon ,

864-498: The passes into the San Joaquin Valley as possible routes for the railroad. Williamson much preferred as a wagon route the lower and easier Grapevine Canyon to the west that led to a pass between the Tehachapi and San Emigdio Mountains . Following this discovery and the construction of Fort Tejon , wagon traffic soon changed to the easier Grapevine route named Fort Tejon Pass . The new Stockton - Los Angeles Road used it, and

900-441: The passes into the San Joaquin Valley as possible routes for the railroad. Williamson much preferred as a wagon route the lower and easier Grapevine Canyon to the west that led to a pass between the Tehachapi and San Emigdio Mountains . Following this discovery and the construction of Fort Tejon , wagon traffic soon changed to the easier Grapevine route named Fort Tejon Pass . The new Stockton - Los Angeles Road used it, and

936-479: The remaining inhabitants were living in houses. Several families were raising livestock, and the women had learned to make American style clothing. By 1859, Henley had been replaced as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California. Finally, the winter of 1861—1862 was very wet causing Great Flood of 1862 . It did break the 5-year drought, so the Reservation's Indians planted larger fields of grain, and there

972-554: The reservation's existence, drought, insects, and crop disease undermined the attempts at farming. The newly constructed Stockton – Los Angeles Road , replacing El Camino Viejo , skirted the western and northern sides of the reservation. The reservation became operational in September 1853, and some California Indians moved in voluntarily. Among the tribes of Mission Indians the reservation held, were 300 Emigdiano Chumash , whose homeland had included Tejon Canyon. In 1854, Lieutenant Beale reported that 2,500 Indians were living on

1008-404: The resident agent at the Sebastian Reservation. In 1855, some of the reservation's Indian residents fled, and Vineyard requested assistance from Fort Tejon to find them and force their return. The fort's commander refused, stating their role was to protect the Indians and punish any that committed hostile acts, but not return Indians that voluntarily resided on the reservation. In 1856, rainfall

1044-465: The route over the pass to drive their droves of stolen and wild horses southward to Sonora . It was described in 1853, by an Army Topographic Engineer, Lieutenant Robert Stockton Williamson as "one of the worst roads he ever saw." In an oak grove along the middle reach of the creek, on Rancho El Tejon, was the site of the Depot Camp of Williamson's Pacific Railroad expedition while it surveyed

1080-406: The route over the pass to drive their droves of stolen and wild horses southward to Sonora . It was described in 1853, by an Army Topographic Engineer, Lieutenant Robert Stockton Williamson as "one of the worst roads he ever saw." In an oak grove along the middle reach of the creek, on Rancho El Tejon, was the site of the Depot Camp of Williamson's Pacific Railroad expedition while it surveyed

1116-405: The western slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains , and it flows northwest into the southern San Joaquin Valley . Arroyo de Tejón (Tejon Creek), the canyon and stream, along with the pass through it and over the Tehachapi Mountains, were named with Tejón (Spanish: badger) after a dead badger was found at the canyon's mouth by Lt. Francisco Ruiz in 1806. The Spanish military expedition led by Ruiz

Sebastian Indian Reservation - Misplaced Pages Continue

1152-472: Was a productive harvest during 1862. Additional Indians were encouraged to settle at the Sebastian Reservation, beyond the thirteen hundred that already lived there. During the 1863 drought year, all the crops were lost except for 30 tons of hay. Settlers encroached on the Tejon Reservation's unsurveyed and unfenced land, with their cattle and sheep eating reservation crops. Meanwhile, by 1863 former agent Edward F. Beale had purchased five contiguous ranchos in

1188-471: Was exonerated of the charges. Colonel Thomas J. Henley , was Beale's replacement as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California. When Henley took charge, he noted only 800 Indians, with fewer than 350 present at one time, and only 1,500 acres under cultivation, indicating that numbers of Indians and amount of acreage under cultivation had been inflated by Beale. Henley established other reservations in California, and appointed Colonel James R. Vineyard as

1224-493: Was exploring inland routes to the San Joaquin Valley and 'upper' settled Alta California , via the deserts from colonial New Spain (present day Mexico). Along the creek and south of it the land grant Rancho Tejón was established in 1843. Lieutenant Robert Stockton Williamson of the Pacific Railroad Survey Expedition surveyed the area in 1853, setting up his Depot Camp along the creek, on

1260-402: Was exploring inland routes to the San Joaquin Valley and 'upper' settled Alta California , via the deserts from colonial New Spain (present day Mexico). Along the creek and south of it the land grant Rancho Tejón was established in 1843. Lieutenant Robert Stockton Williamson of the Pacific Railroad Survey Expedition surveyed the area in 1853, setting up his Depot Camp along the creek, on

1296-500: Was sparse but the harvest was enough for the 700 inhabitants that remained. A flour mill, granary, storehouse, and dwellings for the resident agent and the chiefs were built. A physician was also provided. In November 1856, the reservation was reduced to 25,000 acres. For 1856, the 700 Indians were reported as having 700 acres under cultivation. In 1857, drought continued, resulting in crop failure except were irrigation reached them and those grapevines and fruit trees that began to yield

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