Los
Angeles County
Biographies
MRS. ALEXANDER SAVIN
Mrs. Alexander Savin,
of Los Angeles, was Josefa de la Guerra, a daughter
of Miguel de la Guerra, member of an early Spanish family of California. Her great uncle, Pio
Pico, was the last Mexican governor of this commonwealth. Don Jose Francisco Ortega, born in Buana Junto, Mexico, came with Junipero Serra as sergeant, then was a lieutenant, from 1773
was commandante of San Diego, founder and comandante of Santa Barbara and Monterey, retired as
brevet-captain in 1795 and died in 1798.
He had an excellent record and was the author of several documents of
the earlier California events and founder of one of the leading California
families. He had a son, Jose Maria
Ortega, born in 1759, who in 1779 married Maria Francisco Lopez. He obtained the Refugio Rancho and there
reared a large family, among them Concepcion, who married Don Jose Antonio de
la Guerra y Noriega, a native of Spain.
He came to California early in the eighteenth century from Mexico,
locating at Santa Barbara, where he engaged in ranching and in the cattle
business. He became widely known as the largest landowner in Santa Barbara
County and was considered the wealthiest man in that vicinity. At his death his remains were interred in
Santa Barbara. Don Pablo de la Guerra, a
son of Don Jose de la Guerra was born in the Presidio at Santa Barbara November
29, 1819. He served as state senator
from the district of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo for four terms and was a
member of the constitutional convention in 1849 and also served as lieutenant
governor of California. His terms as
district judge commenced January 1, 1864.
A short time prior to his death, which occurred February 5, 1874, he
resigned the judgeship of the first district because of ill health. With the exception of his father, Don Pablo
de la Guerra was by far the most prominent representative of the de la Guerra
family, being a gentleman of marked ability, education and culture who spoke
fluently both the Spanish and English languages. His family connections gave him a strong
influence in the south. Miguel de la
Guerra, brother of Don Pablo de la Guerra and father of Mrs. Alexander Savin, was also born in the Presidio at Santa Barbara,
California. He never care for public
office, although he served as justice of the peace, but devoted his entire
attention to his ranching and cattle interests, acquiring part of the extensive
land holdings, including the old homestead of his father. He died in 1874 and was buried at Santa
Barbara. In Los Angeles he married the
beautiful Trinidad Ortega, daughter of Don Joaquin and Maria (Pio) Ortega, the former being great-grandson of Don Jose
Francisco de la Ortega. Trinidad Ortega
was regarded as the most popular girl in the city and in her honor Primavera
Street was named. This thoroughfare
became Spring Street in 1849. Miguel and
Trinidad (Ortega) de la Guerra were the parents of eight children: Caspar, deceased; Ulplano,
deceased; Juaquina Sogno, decased; Maria Taylor, of Santa Barbara; Olympia Arrellanes, of Los Angeles; Josefa
Savin; Paulina Castaneda, of Los Angeles; Leon, of
Pasadena. They were all reared and
educated in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
On the 12th of April,
1920, in San Francisco, California, at the old St. Mary’s Cathedral, Josefa de la Guerra gave her hand in marriage to Alexander Savin, formerly Mexican consul for the Los Angeles
district. Mr. Savin
is now retired but still retains valuable property interests in Mexico. He resides with his
wife in a beautiful home at 1724 Westmoreland Boulevard, Los Angeles, which is
called Primavera House in honor of Mrs. Savin’s
mother.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 471-472, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES