The Olivas
family harvested its own grapes
to make and sell wine.
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The family
made most of its clothing. Many hours
per day were spent spinning and weaving.
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Vaqueros (cowboys) were the backbone
of the ranching operation.
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Someone had to clean the vaqueros up for
social occasions.
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Laundry day was a big event for such
a large family.
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Because there was no indoor plumbing, cleaning
the chamber pots was an unpleasant but
necessary job.
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The family had to make most of its
furniture, so the carpenter was
a valued employee.
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The family ate five meals a day, and each meal
included tortillas.
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The horno (baking oven) was hot from
sunup to sundown baking bread
and other pastries.
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Teodora Olivas, the lady of the house,
welcomed visitors and lent charm
and grace to the ranching operation.
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Peddlers, itinerant salesmen, provided
entertainment as well as wares
to the far-flung ranches of
the district.
|
By the 1860s, the county sheriff was
responsible for providing law
enforcement for Rancho San Miguel.
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