Ventura County
Biographies
Adolpho Camarillo
Adolpho Camarillo was born in San Buenaventura, October 29, 1864. His father, Juan Camarillo, was a native of the city of Mexico, born in 1812. He came to California with a colony, in 1834, they having for their destination Monterey, and, becoming tired of the sea, land at San Diego and continuing their journey by land. Juan Camarillo left the party at Santa Barbara, and became a traveler and trader with the Indians from San Francisco to San Diego, selling them trinkets and receiving gold in return. The Mission Fathers were very obliging to travelers, and gave him a room in which to lodge, and there, when all was quiet at the mission, the Indians came to trade. In this trade with the Indians he accumulated $3,000, and with this money he opened a store in Santa Barbara, and there made his money.
Mr. Pedro Ruiz had a large government grant of land, and upon his death the heirs sold the property, 10,000 acres of beautiful land, to Mr. Camarillo. He also owned town property in Ventura. Mr. Camarillo's family consisted of four daughters and three sons. One of the latter is deceased. The father died December 4, 1880. The Ventura property was left to the daughters, who are now married and reside in Ventura, and the ranch was left to the widow and two sons. Mr. Adolpho Camarillo is the manager of, and resides upon, the ranch, while his mother and brother, Juan Camarillo, live in Ventura, the latter being engaged in the general merchandise business.
Adolpho Camarillo was educated in the public schools of Ventura, and graduated at the International Business College at Los Angeles. He has been on the ranch since his father's death, and is extensively engaged in the raising of sheep, keeping an average of 4,000 head. He also raises the horses and cattle required on the ranch. Mr. Camarillo rents 2,500 acres of land to be cultivated in corn and Lima beans, 800 acres being devoted to the latter. The renters furnish every thing and pay one-fourth of the crop for the use of the land.
The subject of this sketch was married, in 1888, to Miss Isabella Mancheca, daughter of Francisco Mancheca, a native of Spain. They have one child, a daughter, Minerva. Both Mr. Camarillo and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 584 Transcribed by Sandy Neder
A. Canet
A. Canet came to Ventura in 1873. His native place was France, where he was born in 1833. He sailed for New York, and while there was engaged eight or nine years in the manufacture of bonnet frames. He returned to France, and then came again, to California, where he took up his present location of 137 acres of Government land. He afterward bought 270 acres, and has since added to his property until he now has between 1,300 and 1,400 acres of rich pasture and grazing land. The land was wild and uncultivated, but he is improving it, and as the country grows it will increase in value every year. He is raising cattle, horses and sheep, but most of his time is devoted to sheep-raising, keeping from 1,000 to 2,000. He employs from two to five shepherds, according to season, and hound-dogs to keep the wild-cats from his flocks. They shot fifteen during the last winter. When they are in pursuit of a wild-cat they make the hills resound with their "music." In addition to his stock-raising, Mr. Canet raises corn and barley, to which the land is well-adapted; nor could it be surpassed for fruit.
Mr. Canet was married in 1864, to Miss Kate Brangan, who was born in Ireland. They have one son, Ed. C., born in New York, in 1865. In his political views Mr. Canet is mostly independent, but has lately voted with the Republicans. Mr. and Mrs. Canet are members of the Catholic Church.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 404 Transcribed by Sandy Neder