Charles Maria Weber and Chief Jose Jesus
Part 1: Introducing “El Rancho del Campo de Los Franceses”
Charles Weber Biography
founded Stockton in 1847. He was born Karl David Weber in Steinwenden, Germany, in 1814. An immigrant to the United States from Germany, Weber traveled to Mexico-controlled California in 1841, moving to the town of San Jose. He adopted the name Carlos Maria Weber, as the main language of the town was Spanish. In partnership with a Mexican citizen, William “Guillermo” Gulnac, Weber became a successful businessman and was given a 48,000 acre ranch by the Mexican Governor of California. The ranch was named “El Rancho del Campo de Los Franceses,” or the Ranch of French Camp. Weber would found Stockton on this ranch in 1849. He would live in Stockton until he passed away in 1881.
The Mexican Government Gives Weber “El Rancho”
In 1843,Weber and his business partner in San Jose, William Gulnac, were granted 48,000 acres of land near the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Rivers, where a number of French beaver trappers had camped over the years. Gulnac was afraid of the local peoples, and so in 1843 Weber traveled to the area and met the chief of the Yokuts, Jose Jesus. In 1845, Gulnac would sell his part of the land to Weber. Jose Jesus and Weber would become close friends, which would allow for Weber to settle the French Camp Ranch in 1847.
The Yokuts and Miwok Peoples
pronounced in the local Yokuts language Hoza Hazoo, was the Chief of the local Yokuts and Miwok peoples of what is today San Joaquin County. The Yokuts and Miwok lived in villages across the Central Valley and San Joaquin County, relying on acorns, fish, and native plants for food. Their Chief Jose Jesus was known as a strong warrior and a thoughtful Jose Jesus saw that an alliance with Charles Weber would benefit the people he ruled, as it would allow for white settlers and indigenous people to live peacefully. In the second page of this exhibit, you will learn more about how Jose Jesus helped Charles Weber establish the town of Stockton.
Questions to Think About
- How did Charles Weber come to “own” “El Rancho del Campo de Los Franceses?”
- How do you think the indigenous Yokuts and Miwok people would have felt if they knew that the Mexican governor had given their land away?