■ Cowboy Culture by bill reynolds ouT WesT sources of food, which included raising cattle. California Mission Brands California cattle descended from stock brought to the New World An eloquent chapter in the history of the West, by early Spanish explorers, and it may have been Cortez who brought the formation of California’s mission system was the first branding irons to this con- instrumental in developing the state’s livestock industry. tinent. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, mission cattle were branded as a matter of course. Over the years, research on the actual brands used by the missions has unearthed images of the brands used by each, and while many of them have spe- cific histories some continue to have only obscure backgrounds. Every mission in the chain from San Diego to Sonoma had its own cattle herd, some of which were quite large. Mission San Luis Rey had more than 27,000 head. Smaller missions tended approximately 2,500 head. By 1828, the 21 mis- sions controlled or owned almost right:mission san 200,000 head. Juan de Padua is portrayed in this circa COURTES The missions are located along 1915 etching by artist 650 miles of what is today Highway edward borein. y 101 through California. To see each b below right: Charles ILL RE mission’s brand, let’s travel up the F. lummis established y coast of Old California, along the The landmarks Club to NOLDS preserve California’s beautiful El Camino Real, also missions. known as the California Mission Trail. in 1894, Charles F. lummis, a pas- They are monuments and beacons of sionate preservationist of Southwest heroism and faith, and zeal and art. Let Mission San Diego de Alcala, culture, sat in front of Miss Tessa L. us save them, not for the Church but 1769. Founded by Father Kelso, librarian of the Los Angeles Public for humanity.” Junipero serra, mission san diego de alcala is known as Library, listening to her pleas. She had Lummis’ first project was Mission the “mother mission.” called Lummis seeking his help with San Juan Capistrano, once considered the desperate condition of what she COURTES the jewel of the mission system, and Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, described as “unoccupied Franciscan because of his efforts work on many of 1770. The second mission y missions of Southern California.” She b the missions continues today. Lummis’ to be constructed, this is told him that only a few of the 21 his- ILL RE enthusiasm also started a resurgence of still considered one of the system’s most beautiful structures. y toric missions were in good repair. The NOLDS interest in mission history that helped rest, geographically spaced to be one retrieve much information regarding Mission San Juan de day’s ride apart, “were falling into ruin the local day-to-day operation of the Padua, 1771. during its heyday, mission san Juan with frightful rapidity.” “The Catholic Church owns those communities that surrounded each de Padua supported more Lummis was sympathetic to Kelso’s old missions,” he was told by many nay- mission. than 6,000 cattle. request, and responded by creating an sayers. “Let them pay for reparations.” From the establishment of the organization called the Landmarks Lummis responded with explosive “Mother Mission” in San Diego, Mission Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, 1771. at one Club to invite public participation in energy. San Diego de Alcala in 1769, to the final time this mission boasted restoration and preservation of the mis- “Those mighty piles belong not to and most northern in Sonoma, Mis- a herd of 15,000 cattle. sions. However, Lummis encountered the Catholic Church but to you and sion San Francisco de Solano in 1823, located near an active fault line, the mission used the temblores resistance. me, and to our children and the world. these outposts had to create their own (earthquake) brand. 136 WESTERN HORSEMAN | June 2010 April 2010 | WESTERN HORSEMAN 137 ■ Cowboy Culture San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Mission Santa Barbara, Mission San Jose, 1797. This San Luis Rey de Francia, 1789. 1772. The fifth mission built, 1786. The “Queen of the mission and its more than The last mission to be founded san luis obispo de Tolosa had missions,” mission santa 10,000 cattle were located at in the south, the “King of only a small herd of cattle. barbara was founded two the western-most approach to the missions” came to be the years after the death of Father California’s fertile Central Valley. its largest and richest of all. in 1832, its San Francisco de Asis, 1776. The serra. it was built during the dawn location proved to be strategic in both herd numbered more than 27,000 cattle. sixth mission, san Francisco de of the “Golden age” of mission military and agricultural operations. asis, was established the same culture. Today it’s the only mission Mission Santa Ines, 1804. year as the signing of the u.s. that remains under Franciscan Mission San Juan Batista, Just north of santa barbara, declaration of independence. control. 1797. unknowingly built in the heart of the santa on top of the infamous san ynez valley, sits mission Mission San Juan Mission La Purisima andreas Fault, this mission santa ines. The birthplace of bridle-horse Capistrano, 1776. Father Concepcion, 1787. a day’s was damaged by many earthquakes. culture, at its peak the mission had more Junipero serra’s home ride north of santa barbara Properly engineered restoration has than 7,000 head of cattle. base, mission san Juan is the mission la Purisima since returned it to its former glory. Capistrano didn’t escape the big Concepcion. having fallen into ruin, Mission San Rafael Arcangel, California earthquake of 1812 and in 1935 the California Conservation Mission San Miguel, 1797. in 1817. Known as the first suffered severe damage. in its prime, it Corps began rebuilding it to its its prime, the mission tended sanitarium in California, san had more than 10,000 cattle. original form. several thousand cattle. after rafael arcangel became a full- the missions were secularized in fledged mission in 1823. originally, it Mission Life, a 1926 Mission Santa Clara de Asis, Mission Santa Cruz, 1791. the 1830s, one of the mission san miguel was an asistencia or outpost chapel of NOLDS y illustration by maynard 1777. originally built near san Through the years, this buildings was sold and became one of the san Francisco mission. This mission dixon, portrays the Francisco bay, this mission mission suffered a series el Camino real’s most popular saloons. never had herds exceeding 4,000 head. ILL RE b spanish spread of was relocated after a flood. of unfortunate incidents The mission, located just north of Paso y Christianity to the at one time, it was second only to the ranging from looting by pirates to robles, is being rebuilt today. Mission San Francisco de Solano, natives living in mission san Gabriel arcangel in cattle earthquakes and tidal waves. 1823. This structure was the last COURTES California. holdings. Mission San Fernando Rey de mission to be built and was the Mission Nuestra Senora Espana, 1797. at its height, farthest north in sonoma. it Mission San Buenaventura, Soledad, 1791. This small mission san Fernando rey ran always had its own troubles with earth- Bill Reynolds is a writer based in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. He is the 1782. This mission had an mission suffered when more than 20,000 cattle. a ready quakes, yet due to its northerly location author of The Art of the Western Saddle and co-author of The Faraway amazing seven-mile aque- disease, floods and the market in los angeles soon had the the mission benefited from the russian duct system that supplied epidemic of 1802 brought havoc to mission producing hides, tallow, soap fur traders who, at the time, had Horses and Believe: A Horseman’s Journey, both collaborations with Buck water to its fields. its population. and cloth. advanced down the California coast. Brannaman. This installment of Out West concludes the column. April 2010 | WESTERN HORSEMAN 139 .