History and Beauty Integrated into One

Mabel Yorba's early, Edward H. Bohlin (Hollywood, California) sterling silver and 3-color gold, mounted, filigreed saddle

Jose Antonio Yorba was born in Spain in 1746. In 1769, he came with the Portola expedition as one of the soldier escorts of the King of Spain, accompanying Father Junipero Serra to California, founding of the Franciscan Missions.

When Jose Antonio Yorba married Josefa Grijalva at Mission Dolores in San Francisco on May 17th, 1782, they united two families that were to remain forever on the soil of California. Josefa Grijalva was the daughter of a Spanish soldier, Juan Pablo Grijalva. Born in Terenate, Sonora, Mexico in 1767, she was one of nine children who journeyed with her parents to California as part of the Anza Expedition of 1776, her father being one of the leaders.

Jose Antonio Yorba and his wife Josefa were the parents of ten children. In 1810 Yorba and his nephew, Juan Pablo Peralta were granted 48,000 acres from the King of Spain, for their services to the crown. On August 1st, 1834, an additional 13,328 acres were granted to Jose’s son, Bernardo Yorba, much of which is now part of Yorba Linda.

Bernardo Yorba primarily worked the earth, irrigating his land with water from the Santa Ana River. A family man who seldom left his home, Bernardo married three times. First wife, Maria Alvarado, gave him four children. Second wife, Felipa Dominguez, was the mother of twelve children. His third wife, Andrea Elisalde, was the mother of four.

Bernardo Yorba built one of the finest adobe homes in California in the Santa Ana Canyon. He named his ranch Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana and his new house San Antonio, after his favorite saint. It remained standing until 1926. This spacious two-story adobe was home to the large Yorba family, as well as many retainers. While estimates of its size vary, it is believed to have had over 50 rooms. Artisans and tradesmen who worked at the rancho occupied twenty of these rooms. Additionally, there were more than 100 "lesser" employees. Some lived at the ranch, with most of the Indian workers living in their own village nearby.

Vicente Yorba, husband of Mabel Yorba (b. 1887), was the son of Bernardo Yorba and his second wife Felipa.

Vicente Yorba and Mabel Yorba