History Lesson 9- Who is Forster anyway? Why do I live on his Ranch?
John “Don Juan” Forster (born John; 1814 – February 20, 1882) was an English-born California ranchero and merchant. Born in England, he emigrated to Mexico at age 16. Soon after, he moved to California (then a province of Mexico), where he married into the prominent Pico family of California and eventually held vast rancho grants across Southern California.
Plagued by personal debt, Pio Pico (Mexican Governor) sold Rancho Santa Margarita and Las Flores in 1864 to John Forster. Forster came to Mexico on his own in his late teens from there he worked his way overland arriving in Los Angeles just as the mission lands were up for grabs. He saw an opportunity. But, to legally own land one needed to be a Mexican citizen. So Forster became a Mexican citizen, converted to Catholicism, and married the sister of the politically connected and well-known Pico brothers. Her name was Y’sidora Ygnacia Pico.
As Forster continued to gain wealth and prestige he became known as Don Juan Forster. Don Juan’s holdings in Orange County grew to well over 200,000 acres. Part of which I now live (Forster Ranch). His land made up the the largest ranch in California. However, a terrible multi-year drought in the late 1860’s and defending himself from a suit brought by his brother in law Gov Pio Pico, depleted Don Juan’s finances. Don Juan’s heirs sold the huge ranch to an Irishman named Richard O’Neill (So O’Neill parkway is named after Richard not the surf company💁🏼♂️)
Fun Fact- In 1844 Forster and James McKinley purchased the 44 acres and the buildings of the former Mission San Juan Capistrano at public auction for $710.00! Forster made his home here until 1864 when the Mission was given back to the Catholic Church by President Abraham Lincoln.
