Californio Voices: The Oral Memoirs of Jose Maria Amador and Lorenzo Asisara

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

CALIFORNIO VOICES The Oral Memoirs of José María Amador and Lorenzo Asisara Number 3 in the Al Filo: Mexican American Studies Series Translated and Edited by Gregorio Mora-Torres University of North Texas Press Denton,Texas 1 Californio Voices FOB 1/26/05 2:46 PM Page iii ©2005 Gregorio Mora-Torres All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Permissions: University of North Texas Press P.O. Box 311336 Denton, TX 76203-1336 The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, z39.48.1984. Binding materials have been chosen for durability. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Amador, José María, 1794–1883. Californio voices: the oral memoirs of José María Amador and Lorenzo Asisara ; translated and edited by Gregorio Mora-Torres. p. cm.— (Al filo ; no. 3) Based on manuscripts originally recorded by Thomas Savage in 1877 for the Bancroft Library. Includes bibliographical references and index. English and Spanish parallel text; study in English. ISBN 1-57441-191-8 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Amador, Jose Maria, 1794–1883—Interviews. 2. Asisara, Lorenzo, b. 1819—Interviews. 3. Mexicans—California—Interviews. 4. California— History—To 1846—Biography. 5. California—History—1846–1850—Biography . 6. Frontier and pioneer life—California. 7. California—Ethnic relations. 8. Indians, Treatment of—California—History—19th century. 9. Indians of North America—Missions—California—History—19th century. I. Asisara, Lorenzo, b. 1819. II. Mora-Torres, Gregorio, 1954– III. Savage, Thomas, b. 1823. IV. Title. V. Series. F864.A525 2005 979.4′03¢092—dc22 [B] 2004063717 Number 3 in Al Filo: Mexican American Studies Series Illustrations reprinted by permission of The Bancroft Library, Berkeley, California Cover portrait of José María Amador, reprinted by permission of the Amador County Archives 1 Californio Voices FOB 1/26/05 2:46 PM Page iv En Memoria de Magdaleno Mora Rojas (1919–2004) Dedico esta obra a un historiador nato, a mi padre, Don Magdaleno Mora Rojas. Él vino de Michoacán a California a trabajar como bracero y en algunos años se volvió traquero. Como Don José María Amador, mi padre siempre admiró la belleza del valle de Santa Clara y siempre aprecío su capacidad para crear riqueza económica y a la vez impulsar y fomentar riqueza cultural. Y en memoria de mi hermana Magdalena Mora (1952–1981) * * * In Memoriam Magdaleno Mora Rojas (1919–2004) I dedicate this book to a natural historian, my father, Don Magdaleno Mora Rojas. He came to California from Michoacán, México, to work as a field worker and in a few years became a track laborer. Like José María Amador, my father always admired the beauty of the Santa Clara Valley and was always aware of its capacity to create economic wealth and to develop and promote cultural wealth. Also, in memory of my sister Magdalena Mora (1952–1981) 1 Californio Voices FOB 1/26/05 2:46 PM Page v 1 Californio Voices FOB 1/26/05 2:46 PM Page vi ...