Fathers then at the head of the missionary establishments, he was enabled to negotiate very important and satisfactory sales, and soon disposed of his entire cargo.

On reaching San Francisco he found his vessel awaiting him. He immediately discharged his merchandise and set sail for Santa Barbara. His vessel was stranded in attempting to enter the narrow inlet near that port, but all on board were saved and reached their destination.

From that time, Don José lived almost entirely at home in the midst of his family, devoting himself to their welfare and happiness. He took no active part in the political troubles and frequent revolutions of his country, except as a counsellor and mediator, in which capacity, from his great reputation as a man of unspotted integrity, patriotism, humanity and wealth, he wielded immense influence in California.

All the people of Santa Barbara looked up to him as the patriarch of their little community. On every emergency, to him they resorted for advice and succor. Oftentimes, during the periodical visitation of earthquakes in that region, men and women, with their children, would encamp on the square of ground upon which stood his noble mansion, and there remain until their fears subsided, subsisting the while on his hospitality and generosity. It seemed as if they considered his person endowed with supernatural grace. To their simple minds his presence was a sufficient guaranty for their protection.

The children of the little settlement were taught to revere him. As they passed the door of his dwelling they would remove their hats and give the customary obeisance, in the same manner as they did when passing the entrance to their religious sanctuaries.

Don José's family was extensive, and at his death, which occurred in February, 1858, he left behind him over one hundred descendants.

Several of his sons made themselves conspicuous in the history of California under the Mexican dynasty. Since its annexation to the United States, Don Pablo de la Guerra and Don Antonio Maria de la Guerra have represented their county in the State Senate. The

former is District Judge of the Judicial District comprising Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The daughters of the old gentleman were all married to foreigners. The eldest was the wife of Wm. E. P. Hartwell, once a celebrated merchant and connected with the house of John Beggs & Co., of Lima, when considerable traffic was carried on in the country in the purchase of hides and tallow. The second daughter espoused Don Manuel Jimeno, who, at the time of the surrender of the Mexican power, was secretary to the Governor then commanding in California. She afterwards married Dr. James L. Ord, brother of Major General Ord, of the U. S. Army. The third married Alfred Robinson, of Boston, and the youngest married, first, Don Cesareo Laitillade, after whose death she became the wife of Don Gaspar Oreña-both of her husbands being natives of Spain.

Don José's residence was invariably resorted to by strangers who visited California in those early days, when the name of the now prosperous and powerful State was seldom heard spoken beyond her own limits. The excellencies of his table, and the noble hospitality which he extended to his numerous guests, are yet fondly remembered by the few survivors who partook of his bounty.

Doña M. Antonia, his wife, added to the charms of his establishment, and her ladylike manners and amiability of character were admired by all. An American lady who visited California in 1832, in speaking of the many good qualities of Doña Maria Antonia, observed that there were two things supremely exquisite in California -one of which was the grape, and the other the lady of Don José de la Guerra y Noriega.

At times when the political disturbances which agitated the country were most annoying, Don José would frequently exclaim: "Cuando vendran los Americanos para tomar posesion de este pais?-When will the Americans come to take possession of this country?" He had an extraordinary aversion to the Mexican government, and was ready to welcome any change which promised to put an end to the repeated political convulsions harassing the people and ruining the country. Therefore, when

war commenced between the United States and Mexico, his ardent love of permanent peace, order and prosperity moved him to call down the blessings of heaven upon the American arms, whose success he predicted. He lived to see the issue of that great conflict, and its happy effects upon the interests and prosperity of his adopted land. It may be said of him, truthfully, paradoxical as the expression may seem, that he was a man of true patriotism, yet beheld his country conquered without regret. When the American flag was unfurled over his own home, he greeted the triumphant banner as the symbol of justice and peace.

At his death, the whole town turned out to do homage to his remains, which were followed to the grave by the largest funeral procession that had ever been seen in Santa Barbara. Many an old veteran, companion of his youth, was seen, whose cheeks were moistened with tears of regret, and whose feeble gait indicated that he, too, would soon be laid by the side of the virtuous and upright old pioneer.

PIERSON B. READING.

This noble pioneer died on his farm in Shasta County, California, in May, 1868. The sad announcement of his death was heard with profound regret throughout the State. In San Francisco, the Society of California Pioneers, at its monthly meeting in June, 1868, appointed PHILIP A. ROACH, JOSEPH W. WINANS, LEWIS CUNNINGHAM, ARCHIBALD H. GILLESPIE and JACOB R. SNYDER, a committee to prepare resolutions in respect to the memory of the deceased. This committee, in the discharge of their duty, made commendable efforts to obtain from every available source, information concerning the life and services of the dead pioneer. It is matter for deep regret that the labors of the committee were not followed by greater success.

The EDITOR, knowing the energetic exertions made by the committee, concluded it would be futile to endeavor to procure any further information in regard to MAJOR READING's career than that given by them in their report, which is on file in the office of the Society. He therefore reproduces, in a permanent form, this brief record of a life,

HE undersigned, Committee appointed by the Society of California Pioneers, at its regular monthly meeting of June, 1868, to prepare suitable resolutions to the memory of Pierson B. Reading, lately deceased, beg leave to ask attention to the narrative they have endeavored to prepare to the best of their ability, in the discharge of the sad duty confided to their friendship.

The various works which at times have been published upon California have been carefully examined by this