Tribal Captain
Antonio Maria Ortega
Captain Antonio Maria Ortega was born in September of 1857 to Fernando Ortega and Maria Rita Alipas, landowner of Rancho Encino at present-day Los Encinos State Historic Park. In 1935, the Bureau of Indian Affairs acknowledged Antonio as a Tribal leader under the name of “Jose Rosario.” Just a few years before, American ethnologist John Peabody Harrington visited the Mission San Fernando area to research the local natives. Harrington was referred to Captain Ortega as the fluent Fernandeño speaker. Though Harrington tried to interview Antonio, he was unsuccessful because Antonio refused to speak with outsiders due to the fear of being sent to reservations. Harrington was left with interviewing an informant who knew Antonio and Fernandeños words, and his notes are accessible online via the Smithsonian.
As a child, Antonio was left orphaned due to a pandemic, and thus, began to work at a young age. By 1865, he moved in with the Geronimo Lopez family (Lopez Station). When working for Geronimo Lopez he met his wife to be, Isadora Garcia (non-Fernandeño), who also worked for the Lopez family. Together they raised three sons and five daughters while Isadora’s brother, Isadoro Garcia, married a progenitor of another Fernandeño family. In his later years he operated a small business, a candy stand on the corner of Coronel and San Fernando Mission Boulevard in San Fernando.
Antonio’s mother, Maria Rita Alipas, was Headperson of her lineage. She inherited the land of Rancho Encino from her grandfather, Tiburcio Cayo, and her father, Francisco Papabubaba, both of whom were the Fernandeño landowners with title to the Mexican land grant.
In 1852, the City of Los Angeles and the last Governor of Mexican California Pio Pico affirmed the Rancho Encino land grant before the US Land Commission. They argued that the Fernandeños were properly entitled to the lands of Rancho Encino. The US Court in October 1855 confirmed and recognized the Mexican land grant of 4460.73 acres granting the land to the Indians and part-owner Vincent del la Osa. Later del la Osa became full title owner of Rancho Encino due to sharp business practices, and eventually sold the lands to Eugene Garnier in 1869 for $9,000. Upon losing rights to Rancho Encino, the Fernandeño families remained landless. Antonio moved to San Fernando and, at the age of 18, joined Tribal Captain Rogerio Rocha in defending their homelands against local developers in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Captain Antonio Maria Ortega was born in September of 1857 to Fernando Ortega and Maria Rita Alipas, landowner of Rancho Encino at present-day Los Encinos State Historic Park. In 1935, the Bureau of Indian Affairs acknowledged Antonio as a Tribal leader under the name of “Jose Rosario.” Just a few years before, American ethnologist John Peabody Harrington visited the Mission San Fernando area to research the local natives. Harrington was referred to Captain Ortega as the fluent Fernandeño speaker. Though Harrington tried to interview Antonio, he was unsuccessful because Antonio refused to speak with outsiders due to the fear of being sent to reservations. Harrington was left with interviewing an informant who knew Antonio and Fernandeños words, and his notes are accessible online via the Smithsonian.
As a child, Antonio was left orphaned due to a pandemic, and thus, began to work at a young age. By 1865, he moved in with the Geronimo Lopez family (Lopez Station). When working for Geronimo Lopez he met his wife to be, Isadora Garcia (non-Fernandeño), who also worked for the Lopez family. Together they raised three sons and five daughters while Isadora’s brother, Isadoro Garcia, married a progenitor of another Fernandeño family. In his later years he operated a small business, a candy stand on the corner of Coronel and San Fernando Mission Boulevard in San Fernando.
Antonio’s mother, Maria Rita Alipas, was Headperson of her lineage. She inherited the land of Rancho Encino from her grandfather, Tiburcio Cayo, and her father, Francisco Papabubaba, both of whom were the Fernandeño landowners with title to the Mexican land grant.
In 1852, the City of Los Angeles and the last Governor of Mexican California Pio Pico affirmed the Rancho Encino land grant before the US Land Commission. They argued that the Fernandeños were properly entitled to the lands of Rancho Encino. The US Court in October 1855 confirmed and recognized the Mexican land grant of 4460.73 acres granting the land to the Indians and part-owner Vincent del la Osa. Later del la Osa became full title owner of Rancho Encino due to sharp business practices, and eventually sold the lands to Eugene Garnier in 1869 for $9,000. Upon losing rights to Rancho Encino, the Fernandeño families remained landless. Antonio moved to San Fernando and, at the age of 18, joined Tribal Captain Rogerio Rocha in defending their homelands against local developers in Los Angeles Superior Court.