Juan Pedro Olivera was a pioneer resident of Los Angeles, California, the son of Tomas and Maria Antonia (de Cota) Olivera. Official records vary for the year of his birth, ranging from 1819 to 1830, but his California death record and obituary give the date as 1819. His family owned the Rancho Tepusquet in what is now Santa Barbara, California. From his obituary in the Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1909:
"At Ninety-one Answers Call:
Former Owner Of Vast Estate Passes Away:
Juan Pedro Olivera, born in Los Angeles ninety-one years ago, was stricken with pneumonia Thursday and died early yesterday morning, after an illness of only a few hours, at the home of his son, P. D. Olivera, No. 1110 West Second street. His grandfather was one of the original Spanish settlers in Southern California, having come here as a captain of the invading Mexican army about 1785. For a number of years his father was commander of various stations, and came to Los Angeles in 1818. As an officer in the army he acquired large land holdings in this vicinity, which at his death, when Juan was 20 years old, reverted to his only son. Of all the properties, the Rancho Tepesquet, consisting of several thousand acres and located where Santa Barbara now stands, was the largest. There was also the entire block in Los Angeles, bounded by Main, First and Temple streets and Broadway. On October 3 of 1856, Juan Pedro was married with the greatest ceremony possible at the Old Plaza Church to Venina de la Paz, the daughter of one of the ruling dons of this section. The feasting lasted for days and was an event in the history of the then little community. Mrs. Olivera is still living. A few years after the wedding Mr. Olivera removed to a large ranch in the Santa Maria Valley. He built the first public schoolhouse in that district, and his charity was widespread. Not realizing the great change that was to come, he sold his holdings in Southern California. Several years ago, Olivera gained notoriety by bringing suit to regain the titles to the Los Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Los Coyotes ranchos, which, it is claimed, belong to his widow, as they were owned by her father under one of the old land grants. Mr. Olivera leaves two daughters and seven sons. The youngest of his children is 31. There are also ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, but it will probably be held in the Old Plaza Church on Monday afternoon. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery."
"At Ninety-one Answers Call:
Former Owner Of Vast Estate Passes Away:
Juan Pedro Olivera, born in Los Angeles ninety-one years ago, was stricken with pneumonia Thursday and died early yesterday morning, after an illness of only a few hours, at the home of his son, P. D. Olivera, No. 1110 West Second street. His grandfather was one of the original Spanish settlers in Southern California, having come here as a captain of the invading Mexican army about 1785. For a number of years his father was commander of various stations, and came to Los Angeles in 1818. As an officer in the army he acquired large land holdings in this vicinity, which at his death, when Juan was 20 years old, reverted to his only son. Of all the properties, the Rancho Tepesquet, consisting of several thousand acres and located where Santa Barbara now stands, was the largest. There was also the entire block in Los Angeles, bounded by Main, First and Temple streets and Broadway. On October 3 of 1856, Juan Pedro was married with the greatest ceremony possible at the Old Plaza Church to Venina de la Paz, the daughter of one of the ruling dons of this section. The feasting lasted for days and was an event in the history of the then little community. Mrs. Olivera is still living. A few years after the wedding Mr. Olivera removed to a large ranch in the Santa Maria Valley. He built the first public schoolhouse in that district, and his charity was widespread. Not realizing the great change that was to come, he sold his holdings in Southern California. Several years ago, Olivera gained notoriety by bringing suit to regain the titles to the Los Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Los Coyotes ranchos, which, it is claimed, belong to his widow, as they were owned by her father under one of the old land grants. Mr. Olivera leaves two daughters and seven sons. The youngest of his children is 31. There are also ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, but it will probably be held in the Old Plaza Church on Monday afternoon. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery."
Juan Pedro Olivera was a pioneer resident of Los Angeles, California, the son of Tomas and Maria Antonia (de Cota) Olivera. Official records vary for the year of his birth, ranging from 1819 to 1830, but his California death record and obituary give the date as 1819. His family owned the Rancho Tepusquet in what is now Santa Barbara, California. From his obituary in the Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1909:
"At Ninety-one Answers Call:
Former Owner Of Vast Estate Passes Away:
Juan Pedro Olivera, born in Los Angeles ninety-one years ago, was stricken with pneumonia Thursday and died early yesterday morning, after an illness of only a few hours, at the home of his son, P. D. Olivera, No. 1110 West Second street. His grandfather was one of the original Spanish settlers in Southern California, having come here as a captain of the invading Mexican army about 1785. For a number of years his father was commander of various stations, and came to Los Angeles in 1818. As an officer in the army he acquired large land holdings in this vicinity, which at his death, when Juan was 20 years old, reverted to his only son. Of all the properties, the Rancho Tepesquet, consisting of several thousand acres and located where Santa Barbara now stands, was the largest. There was also the entire block in Los Angeles, bounded by Main, First and Temple streets and Broadway. On October 3 of 1856, Juan Pedro was married with the greatest ceremony possible at the Old Plaza Church to Venina de la Paz, the daughter of one of the ruling dons of this section. The feasting lasted for days and was an event in the history of the then little community. Mrs. Olivera is still living. A few years after the wedding Mr. Olivera removed to a large ranch in the Santa Maria Valley. He built the first public schoolhouse in that district, and his charity was widespread. Not realizing the great change that was to come, he sold his holdings in Southern California. Several years ago, Olivera gained notoriety by bringing suit to regain the titles to the Los Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Los Coyotes ranchos, which, it is claimed, belong to his widow, as they were owned by her father under one of the old land grants. Mr. Olivera leaves two daughters and seven sons. The youngest of his children is 31. There are also ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, but it will probably be held in the Old Plaza Church on Monday afternoon. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery."
"At Ninety-one Answers Call:
Former Owner Of Vast Estate Passes Away:
Juan Pedro Olivera, born in Los Angeles ninety-one years ago, was stricken with pneumonia Thursday and died early yesterday morning, after an illness of only a few hours, at the home of his son, P. D. Olivera, No. 1110 West Second street. His grandfather was one of the original Spanish settlers in Southern California, having come here as a captain of the invading Mexican army about 1785. For a number of years his father was commander of various stations, and came to Los Angeles in 1818. As an officer in the army he acquired large land holdings in this vicinity, which at his death, when Juan was 20 years old, reverted to his only son. Of all the properties, the Rancho Tepesquet, consisting of several thousand acres and located where Santa Barbara now stands, was the largest. There was also the entire block in Los Angeles, bounded by Main, First and Temple streets and Broadway. On October 3 of 1856, Juan Pedro was married with the greatest ceremony possible at the Old Plaza Church to Venina de la Paz, the daughter of one of the ruling dons of this section. The feasting lasted for days and was an event in the history of the then little community. Mrs. Olivera is still living. A few years after the wedding Mr. Olivera removed to a large ranch in the Santa Maria Valley. He built the first public schoolhouse in that district, and his charity was widespread. Not realizing the great change that was to come, he sold his holdings in Southern California. Several years ago, Olivera gained notoriety by bringing suit to regain the titles to the Los Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Los Coyotes ranchos, which, it is claimed, belong to his widow, as they were owned by her father under one of the old land grants. Mr. Olivera leaves two daughters and seven sons. The youngest of his children is 31. There are also ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, but it will probably be held in the Old Plaza Church on Monday afternoon. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery."
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