Draft:Cave Johnson Couts
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Cave Johnson Couts | |
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Born | November 11, 1821 Springfield, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | July 10, 1874 San Diego, California, U.S. |
Resting place | Pioneer Park (San Diego) 32°44′57″N 117°10′39″W / 32.7492°N 117.1776°W |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Military officer, Rancher, Judge |
Known for | Military service, Rancho Guajome, Agricultural development in San Diego County |
Spouse | Ysidora Bandini |
Children | 10 |
Parent | Cave Johnson (uncle) |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service | U.S. Army |
Years of service | 1843–1851 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Unit | Mounted Rifles |
Commands | Camp Calhoun |
Battles / wars | California Gold Rush, Boundary Survey |
Cave Johnson Couts (November 11, 1821 – July 10, 1874) was an American military officer, rancher, and judge. He is best known for his involvement in the California Gold Rush and his development of agricultural practices in San Diego County, including founding Rancho Guajome. Couts played a significant role in early Californian history and was a prominent figure in the region during the mid-19th century.
Early Life and Education
[edit]Couts was born in Springfield, Tennessee, to a family with strong political ties. His uncle, Cave Johnson, served as a U.S. Congressman and the Postmaster General.[1] This connection helped young Couts secure a place at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1843 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, joining the regiment of Mounted Rifles.[2]
Military Service
[edit]Couts began his military service stationed at various posts across the United States, including Fort Jesup in Louisiana, Fort Washita in Oklahoma, and Fort Gibson. In 1848, he was sent to California with his men, arriving in January 1849 after a difficult journey across the Sonoran Desert. His mission included assisting in the Boundary Survey between the United States and Mexico. Couts established a post at the confluence of the Colorado River and Gila River, which he named Camp Calhoun. He also helped manage relationships with local Native Americans and provided assistance to Gold Rush emigrants.[3] In October 1851 Couts resigned his Army c, commission and was then appointed a Colonel in the aide de camp of Governor John Bigler. At his Ranch Guajome he found that San Diego County soil and climate could grow many types of agriculture crops. Couts was the first in San Diego County to plant vast orchards. After retiring from the Army he lived in old San Diego and became a County Judge. On August 10, 1856, Couts became a special Indian agent for a short time. He checked up on the Indians in San Diego County and wrote a report on their status to the Honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with suggestions for improvement. At Mission San Luis Rey de Francia area, and Rancho Monserate he became the supervisor of the Indiaand ns there,e. He gave three hundred Indi, jobs in construction, building: adobe houses, chapels, barns, stables, sheds, and corrals, and planting flowers, orange and lemon trees. Couts' ranch did very well and he purchased near, by ra,nches of Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos in 1866, Rancho Buena Vista in 1866 and La Jolla. At its peak his ranch was 20,000 acres. He lost much with the passage of the no fence law of 1874.[4][5]
Agricultural Contributions
[edit]After retiring from military service, Couts settled in San Diego County, where he became an influential rancher and agricultural pioneer. He established the Rancho Guajome, a 2,219-acre property where he grew orchards and experimented with various crops. His innovative agricultural techniques helped develop the region into a productive farming area. At the time, Couts was one of the first in San Diego County to plant extensive fruit orchards. He also expanded his holdings, acquiring nearby Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos and Rancho Buena Vista, among others. At the peak of his success, Couts' ranching empire spanned approximately 20,000 acres. However, his holdings were severely impacted by the passage of the no fence law in 1874, which forced him to sell much of his livestock.
Personal Life
[edit]Couts married Miss Ysidora Bandini (1829–1897) on April 5, 1851. Ysidora was the daughter of Don Juan Bandini of San Diego. Bandini had worked for the Mexican government and was the son of Don Jose Bandini, an admiral in the Spanish Navy. Couts had 10 children. Couts lived ona 2,219-acres Ranch Guajome, near present-day Vista, California. In his later years, Couts became involved in local politics, serving as a County Judge and briefly working as a special Indian agent in 1856.[6][7][8]
Legacy
[edit]Cave Johnson Couts' contributions to the development of San Diego County, particularly in agriculture, have left a lasting mark on the region. His former ranch, Rancho Guajome, is now preserved as the Guajome Regional Park in Vista, California, and is listed as a California Historical Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.[9][10][11] He passed away on July 10, 1874, at the Horton House in San Diego. His descendants continued to play an influential role in the region, with his son, also named Cave Johnson Couts, becoming a notable engineer in California and Central America.
See also
[edit]- Yuma War - US battles
- Imperial County
- Calexico–Mexicali
- Camp Salvation (Calexico)
- 3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)
- Tennessee in the American Civil War
- Rancho Agua Hedionda
- Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos
- Fort Yuma
References
[edit]- ^ "History of San Diego, 1542-1908". San Diego History Center | San Diego, CA | Our City, Our Story. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ "Cave Johnson Couts (1821–1874)". San Diego History Center | San Diego, CA | Our City, Our Story. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ "COUTS, CAVE". vistahistoricalsociety.com. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ "'The negros think when Old Lincoln takes his last they will all be free.' The letter of Martha Gilbert of Robertson County to Cave Johnson Couts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
- ^ "COUTS, CAVE JOHNSON, 1821-1874" (PDF). ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
- ^ "Cave Johnson Couts Papers: Finding Aid". oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ OsideNews. "Historically Speaking: Cave Couts-North County's Anglo Pioneer". North Coast Current. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ "Cave Johnson Couts' wedding fiesta in Old Town lasted a week, his marriage a lifetime | San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ "Guajome Ranch House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
- ^ Parks, California State. "RANCHO GUAJOME". California State Parks. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- ^ Rasmussen, Cecilia (2002-09-22). "Violent Fact and Fiction Merge at Rancho Guajome". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-01-04.