Santa Barbara County Biographies

JOHN AND ALPHONSO A. WIGMORE

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


JOHN AND ALPHONSO A. WIGMORE, in 1875, purchased the rancho del 
Puente, of 4,800 acres, situated near Los Alamos. The rancho was a part of the 
original Rancho de la Laguna de San Francisco, originally granted to Antonio 
Guitierrez. The ranch has been fenced and partitioned by the present owners, 
who have also developed the water, the source of which is obtained from a 
small laguna, and several large springs, which are now distributed by pipes 
about the ranch. The place was rented until 1889, but is now under the 
management of Alphonso A. Wigmore, and is being more highly improved and 
stocked with high grade Durham cattle, and a class of carefully selected mares, 
in view of breeding horses for draft purposes, from Percheron stock. They now 
have a large number of cattle and horses, but as the ranch affords line grazing
 they propose keeping about 1,000 head. They are also experimenting with 
deciduous fruits, in view of setting out a large acreage, favoring also the English 
walnut, olive, grapes and figs. About 1,300 acres of the ranch is tillable, affording 
ample opportunity for the growing of all grain, hay and supplies. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.