José María Pico

José (Joseph) Darío María Pico (1764, San Xavier de Cavazan (Sonora, México) - 1819, San Gabriel, California) was the founder of the Pico family, an important family to Southern California. He was a soldier in the Company of San Diego since 1782, corporal at Mission San Luis Rey (1798) and sergeant (1805–1818).

Military career

Jose Maria Pico was born in 1764 in San Xavier Cavazos (Sonora, Mexico). He was the son of Felipe Santiago Pico de la Cruz and Maria Jacinta Vastida (Bastida). His brothers were José Dolores, José María, José Miguel, Francisco Javier, Patricio, María Antonia Tomasa and Josefa María. His family moved to California when he was a child. He served as a soldier and in 1782 joined the Company in San Diego. Later, in 1798, became a corporal of guard at Mission San Luis Rey. Between 1805-1818 reached the position of sergeant, also in San Luis Rey, retiring in 1818. Jose María Pico died in 1819, in San Gabriel, California.

His mother, María Jacinta de la Bastida, was mulata (mixture of people White and black). His father, Santiago de la Cruz Pico, was Mestizo (Native American-Spanish). In 1789, he married with María Estaquia López (o Gutierrez), originally from Sonora. His three sons were Andrés, José Antonio Bernardo and Pío. He also had seven daughters: Concepción, Estefanía y Jacinta, Ysadora, Tomasa y Feliciana. His brother, José María, was the father of Pio Pico, who was the last Mexican governor of California.

Descendants

• Andrés (1810 – 1876), the most prominent son of Jose Maria was in command of the Californians at the Battle of San Pascual and fought in battles in the San Gabriel y La Mesa. On January 13, 1884, occupying the office of national forces in California, signed the capitulation of Cahuenga, ending the war. In 1851, he was a member of the assembly. The following year, he was presidential elector. Later, in 1858, was receiver general of the militia brigade. Between 1860 and 1861 was a senator of the state. He and the others son of Santiago Pico de la Cruz received significant lands: Agua Caliente, Arroyo Seco, Bolsa de San Cayetano, Piedra Blanca, El Pescadero, Jurmala, La Habra, Los Flores, Moquelamo, El Paso de Bartolo Viejo, Punto del Ano Nuevo, San José del Gracia de Simi, Santa Margarita, Temecula, Valle de San José y Loma de casos. He never married, but adopted several children.
• Pío Pico (1801 – 1894) had an important role in the Californian history, acting of Governor of Alta California (now the State of California) under Mexican rule. He was, in fact, the last Mexican Governor of this state. He married María Ignacia Alvarado.