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of his small stature. Wilkes ridicules him in his account, 1841. He was a soldier in the
Mexican War and second in command under his brother Andrés, during the operations
around San Diego.
PICO, José María. Founder of the Pico family of Southern California. Son of Santiago
Pico of Sinaloa. Soldier of the San Diego Company from 1782, also at San Luis
Rey. Died at
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San Gabriel in 1819. His wife was María Estaquia Lopez, a native of Sonora, whom he
married in 1789. Their three sons were Andrés, José Antonio Bernardo, and Pio. They
had seven daughters: Concepcion, who was married to Domingo A. I. Carrillo; Estefana
and Jacinta, who were married to José A. E. Carrillo, the brother of Domingo; Ysadora,
who became the wife of John Forster; Tomasa, who married an Alvarado; and Feliciana.
PICO, Pio. As a resident of San Diego who became governor, Pio Pico is a figure
of much interest. He was born at San Gabriel in 1801, and removed to San Diego after
his father's death, in 1819. He kept a small shop there. Gambled with Father Menendez
with varying fortune; lost all he had at San Vicente, Lower California, and later won
twelve mules and stripped the padre, at San Diego. Built a house at old San Diego in
1824. Once on going to Los Angeles for a visit, he was ordered by Alcalde Avila, described
as an ignorant fellow who ruled by the sword, to go to work on an aqueduct; but
being on horseback and armed with a musket, he escaped and returned to San Diego.
In 1821 he put up a hide hut at Los Angeles and opened a dram shop, the price of a
drink being "two-bits." Introduced the use of an ox-horn to drink from, with a false
wooden bottom to reduce the quantity of liquor.
Mrs. Carson once met him going to the races; he had his mule panniers loaded
down with silver which he was taking to bet on the horse.
Was clerk in a trial at San Diego, 1826. Senior vocal of assembly, 1832, and chosen
political chief after expulsion of Victoria same year, but only acted twenty days. Majordomo
San Luis Rey Mission, 1834. Candidate for alcalde, December, 1834, but defeated.
Elector, 1836. 1837-9, active against Alvarado's government and more than
once a prisoner. Played an active and not always creditable part in troubles of this time.
Became governor in 1845, and was the last Mexican governor.
In 1841, grantee of Santa Margarita and Las Flores Ranchos. Conveyed the former
to his brother-in-law, John Forster and there was a noted contest for it in later years
in the courts, but Forster won and retained the valuable property. He married María Ignacia
Alvarado in 1834. He spent his later years in Los Angeles and wrote quite a little
concerning California history. His character has been variously estimated and he has
been much abused for various causes. It is not possible to discuss these matters here.
He seems to have been a man of little education and only moderate intelligence; fairly
honest but without any gifts of statesmanship which would have qualified him for important
achievements in the difficult times in which he lived. Nearly all the magazines have
contained, at various times,
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"write-ups" of the Pico family, and attacks or defenses of his administration.