The Squatters In El Cajon

Who owned the land?

The Indians lived here first. The Padres in the missions showed the Indians how to farm and claimed the land for the missions. Then they wanted to divide the land among the Indians

Mr. Pedrorena was given the land by the Mexican Government and he sold it to Mr. Lankershim. The United States Government honored the gifts and sale. Major Chase was hired to help sub-divide the land to sell to settlers coming to the area.

In 1869 the U. S. Government had told people about missions lands on the West Coast. They were told they could claim the land for themselves. These people came west to stake out claims. Some of the soldiers who fought in the Civil War came west to find to new homes. When the settlers came into this valley and tried to take the land, people called them "squatters" or "land grabbers."

The boundary of the El Cajon Ranch was not very clear. This is why these squatters thought they could claim some of this land. Some of these "homesteaders" thought Mr. Lankershim's land did not include all of this area.

These squatters built small house or shacks and lived in them. Some of the squatters even lived for two years on the land in hopes of it being theirs. We are told they planted many of the trees we see today. They would plant trees around their homes for shade. On the west side of El Cajon Valley we see a row of Sycamore trees. This was a row of fence posts put in the ground that took root and grew into trees.

Sometimes these squatters would settle in the middle of a wheat field. Mr. Lankershim had planned to grow wheat and barley. He did not like to have his large fields broken up by squatters putting up houses and fences. Mr. Lankershim hired Major Chase to keep squatters out to the valley and make it legally his.

Copyright 2000 Kimberlyn @ Hillsdale Middle School

All right reserved.