Cosmopolitan Chronicle

politan Chro Cosmo nicle VOL. IV, No. 25 San Diego, Alta California, February 26, 2010 Price: Free Refugio’s Refuge. Refugio became mother to the down a cactus canyon. The night six Bandini children: Josefa, of Beale’s arrival, the Bandini Ellen L. Sweet Alejandro, Arcadia, Ysidora, José family spent the night pulling Historian María, and Juan Bautista. She and cactus thorns out of his body. he ably seconded her Juan added five more children to We can visualize Doña Refugio talented husband in the family: Dolores, Margarita, coming to his aid. dispensing princely Juan de la Cruz, Alfredo, and In July 1847, when Company “S Arturo. B of the Mormon Battalion was hospitality to all strangers within their gates, of whatever nation or These children grew up in to be sent to Los Angeles to be party” was the tribute in the Los the Casa de Bandini and at discharged, the people of Old Angeles Times obituary for Refugio the various family ranchos. Town were so pleased with the Argüello de Bandini. Refugio Daughters Dolores and Ysidora help they had received from (1817-1891) was Juan Bandini’s were even married in the sala the Mormons (wells dug and second wife. His first wife, María (living room) of the Casa de walled with brick, sidewalks laid, de los Dolores Estudillo (1805- Bandini in January and April, chimneys built, buildings and 1833), died shortly after giving 1851, respectively. In later years fences repaired and whitewashed) birth to her sixth child. Refugio fondly recalled the social that they brought refreshments While Juan Bandini had allied events and festivities that were to the plaza and Mrs. Refugio himself with the prominent held in her home. “How often Bandini gave a speech asking Estudillo family of San Diego, did we spend half the night, at Company B to stay. She wanted he now found himself a widower a tertulia—till 2 o’clock in the to present them with the plaza with young children and an morning—in the most agreeable flag. elderly father. Perhaps his and distinguished society. Our And, of course, there is brother-in-law’s wife, Victoria house would be full of company; the famous story (with many Dominguez de Estudillo, helped thirty or forty persons at the variations) of how Doña Refugio out. But the Estudillo family table; it would have to be set and her daughters supposedly was rapidly expanding. So twice.” sewed, using their petticoats for Juan Bandini married Refugio While it is somewhat difficult to fabric, the first U.S. flag made in Argüello in February 1835 at the learn details of Señora Bandini’s California. San Diego Presidio Chapel. life, we have glimpses of her role. In later years, after her Refugio came from a large and We know that during the U.S.- husband’s death, Refugio lived at prominent family. Her father was Mexican War, the Bandini home Los Coyotes near Los Angeles. Santiago Argüello, commandant became Commodore Robert F. Coming full circle, we see the of the presidio. Her mother, Stockton’s headquarters. One name Refugio Argüello de Pilar Ortega, was also from a account related how Edward F. Bandini in the Cosmopolitan very well established political Beale, who was sent as one of Register for July 5, 1873, as a family. Most unusual for those three messengers to Stockton guest in her former home, which times, Pilar could read and write after the battle at San Pasqual, was then Albert Seeley’s hotel and undoubtedly she taught her made his way to San Diego and stage stop. daughter well. So the talented through enemy lines and rolled www.parks.ca.gov/oldtownsandiego.

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