Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1891 — The Rain of the California Missions. [ARTICLE]

The Rain of the California Missions.

Century. The ruin of the Missions was completed by the American conquest The few remaining Indians were speedily driven or enticed away, for the rough frontiersmen who came over the plains knew nothing of missionary friars or civilized Indians, they came here to squat on public land and respected no ! possession beyond 160 acres, and that | only in the hands of one familiar with j the English language and modern woapons. None of the establishments I retain its original character. ( Where population has grown up ! around the site, as at Santa Clara, San ! Francisco, and San Rafael |j they bej came parish churches. At other ! places squatters took possession of ! them, extruding priest and mayorI domo impartially, and in more than ! one case even the churches were sac. | rilegiously degraded to the use of ! stables and the like. In others many parts of the buildings were demolished for the sake of the timber, tiles, and other building material thev afforded.