Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/29

Rh but very soon the people of the south chose to take that view of the governor's residence among them, and were not a little elated at the honor.

Although Ex-governor Argüello remained in California, resuming his former position as comandante of San Francisco; yet as he was never again prominent in public affairs, and as he died within the limits of this decade, on March 27, 1830, it seems best to append here his biography. Don Luis was the first Luis Antonio Argüello, son of D. José Diarío Argüello, then alférez of the Sta Bárbara company, and Doña Ignacia Moraga, was born at San Francisco presidio June 21, 1784, and was christened the next day, his godparents being Lieut. Moraga and wife. ''S. Francisco, Lib. Mis.,'' MS., 20. He entered the military service as cadet of the S. Francisco company on Sept. 6, 1799, and was promoted to be alférez of the same company on Dec. 2, 1800. ''St. Pap. Sac.,'' MS., xi. 5; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xv.94; Gacetas de Mex., x. 240. This same year he petitioned for license to marry Doña Rafaela Sal; but as the petition had to go to the viceroy and king, it was not until 1807 that the permission was received, and even then burdened with the condition that the wife should have no claim on the montepío fund at her husband's death, unless he were killed on the field of battle. The wife died at S. Francisco, Feb. 6, 1814. ''Prov. St. Pap.,'' MS., xix. 40, 196-7; ''Prov. Rec.,'' MS., ix. 101. She is said to have been remarkable for the kindness of her disposition and for her influence over her somewhat erratic husband. Amador, Mem., MS., 121; ''Lorenzana, Mem. de la Beata,'' MS., 3.

On March 10, 1806, Don Luis was promoted to the lieutenancy, and in August his father turned over to him the command of the company. ''Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,'' MS., xxxvii. 3, 15. According to his hoja de servicios at the end of 1816, beside the routine of garrison duty, he had been engaged in two expeditions, one in pursuit of fugitive neophytes, and the other to explore new regions among the gentiles. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xv. 94. He was recommended for promotion by Gov. Sola, July 8, 1817; was commissioned Oct. 30th, and was recognized as captain of the company from April 1, 1818. ''Prov. St. Pap.,'' MS., xx. 194; ''Prov. Rec.,'' MS., ix. 196; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xvi. 48; S. Francisco, Cuentas, MS., i.-vi.

About 1818 Capt. Argüello made a boat voyage up the Sacramento River; in 1821 he made an expedition to the far north, up the Sacramento Valley, beyond what is now Red Bluff, and back orer the coast mountains, to S. Rafael; and in 1822 he accompanied Canónigo Fernandez and Prefect Payeras on a trip to Bodega and Ross. Meanwhile he had married, in 1819, Doña Soledad, daughter of Sergeant José Dolores Ortega, who brought him as a dowry of somewhat doubtful cash value her father's arrears of pay due from the royal treasury.

Argüello was elected acting governor on or about Nov. 11, 1822, ''Arch. Arzob.,'' MS., iv. pt i. 96; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xi. 6, and took possession of the office on the day of Sola's departure, on or about Nov. 22d. The events of his rule have been already given. His office of governor being only provisional, he still retained nominally the command of San Francisco. After he resigned rule at