Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


DON JUAN FORSTER, 
 
the genial and hospitable owner of Santa Margarita Rancho, was for many years a 
prominent and striking figure in the history of Southern California. In the 
early pastoral times he was an ideal ranchero. His own sterling qualities, his 
patriarchal position at the head of an immense establishment, and his near 
relationship to General Andres and Governor Pio Pico, and the general respect 
and affection in which he was held by both the native and the foreign population 
here, all combined to give him that character. John Forster, Sr., was born in 
Liverpool, England, in 1814. He came to California when only nineteen years old, 
having first come to the
west coast of Mexico (Guaymas) two years before. After his arrival in California 
he made numerous trips down the coast in charge of a vessel (the Facio) 
belonging to his uncle, Don Santiago Johnson. In 1836 he decided to settle 
permanently in California. He was probably influenced in this decision by the 
attractions of Do�a Ysadora Pico, sister of Don Pio and Don Andres Pico, whom he 
married the next year.  The union lasted over forty years, or till 1882, both 
dying within a short time of each other. Do�a Ysadora was a noble woman, as many 
persons still living can testify. Nine children were born to them�six sons and 
three daughters�of whom two sons, Marcos and John, Jr., are still living. Mr. 
Forster was shipping agent at San Pedro from 1840 to 1843, and a part of the 
time Captain of the post. In 1844 he moved with his family to San Juan 
Capistrano, where he bought the ex-mission and where he resided about twenty 
years, engaged in the raising of stock. He was the grantee of San Felipe in San 
Diego County, and of the Mission Viejo and Trabuco in Los Angeles County. In 
1864, when land in California was of comparatively little value, he bought the 
immense ranchos of Santa Margarita and Los Flores, of about 144,000 acres, and 
with his sons went into the stock business on a large scale. At one time he had 
as many as 25,000 head of cattle and about 3,000 horses and 6,000 or 7,000 
sheep. He made the Santa Margarita Rancho, or hacienda, his home from 1864 till 
his death. At one time, soon after his marriage, he owned and lived on the site 
of the old court-house, between Main and Spring streets, in the pueblo of Los 
Angeles, where his eldest son, Marcos, was born. In 1854 he placed two of his 
sons, Marcos and Franciso, at school at the Collegiate Institute, Benicia. Mr. 
Forster died at his Ranch Santa Margarita, San Diego County, January 20, 1882, 
and Mrs. Forster survived her husband only a few months.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 470
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler