Cave Johnson Couts Papers: Finding Aid

Processed by Huntington Library staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou and Diann Benti.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Cave Johnson Couts Papers

Dates (inclusive): 1832-1951

Collection Number: mssCT 1-2613

Creator: Couts, Cave Johnson, 1821-1874.

Extent: Approximately 16,000 pieces in 92 boxes; 171 volumes; 250 maps; and 1 roll

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection consists of the personal, family, and business papers of San Diego, California, rancher, businessman, and politician Cave Johnson Couts (1821-1874) and his son Cave Johnson Couts, Jr. (1856-1943). There is material concerning land and development in San Diego County and in greater Southern California, as well as significant amount of materials related to Native Americans in San Diego County.

Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Cave Johnson Couts Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Ida Richardson in 1958.

Biographical note on Cave J. Couts (1821-1874)

Cave J. Couts (1821-1874) was born near Springfield, Tennessee, in November 1821. He was recommended by Rep. James K. Polk to the United States Military Academy, which he attended from 1838 to 1843. For four years, Couts served at posts in Louisiana and what is now Oklahoma, during which time he rose from second lieutenant of Riflemen to first lieutenant of First Dragoons.

In November 1847, in the closing moments of the Mexican-American War, Couts was sent to Monterrey, Mexico, too late to take part in any real confrontation with the enemy. In June 1848, after uneventful months of occupation duty, Couts' company began a six-month march to California from Monterrey during which Couts kept a journal chronicling the hardships the company faced.

Upon reaching California, Couts was stationed at Los Angeles and San Diego for several months, and in late 1849, he headed up the escort for the United States Boundary Commission survey team, which was mapping the U.S. border from San Diego to the Colorado-Gila River junction.

In 1851, after several more months of occupation duty in San Diego, Couts married Isidora Bandini, daughter of the very prominent Californiano Juan Bandini. Shortly thereafter, in October 1851, Couts resigned his Army commission and took over the operation of the San Diego County ranch Guajome, a wedding present of the bride's brother-in-law Abel Stearns.

In late 1851, Couts was second-in-command of the volunteer force which brought under control the San Diego County Indian uprising known as the Garra Revolt. In January 1852, he was the presiding judge at the court martial of the man who instigated that revolt, Antonio Garra. Couts was further involved with San Diego Indians as sub-agent for the county from 1853 to 1855.

As Couts turned his attentions toward setting up his ranch, he put his primary efforts into raising cattle, with the help of Abel Stearns. He proved quite successful as a cattleman, and acquired great wealth. He was later able to add the nearby ranches Buena Vista and Los Vallecitos de San Marcos to his land holdings. He was also a very well-respected man throughout California. A staunch Democrat, he was very active in county and state politics. He was several times a delegate to the state Democratic Convention, and he held numerous county positions, including that of Justice of the Peace (which he held from 1853 to 1863).

With the passing of the No-fence Law in Sacramento in 1872, Couts received a financial blow from which he never recovered. California laws had always favored the rancher and open-range methods of cattle raising. This new law, which Couts fought, placed on the cattlemen the responsibility for any damage to farmers' crops caused by free-roaming cattle. Thus, rather than farmers having to enclose their fields, ranchers had to enclose their cattle, or sell. Couts was forced to sell his herds at ruinous prices. Two years later, in June 1874, Couts died of aneurism at San Diego.

Biographical note on Cave J. Couts (1856-1943)

Cave J. Couts (1856-1943), fourth child of Cave J. Couts (1821-1874), was born at Rancho Guajome in San Diego County, California, in 1856. He received his schooling at St. Vincent's Academy in Los Angeles and at Stewart College in Clarksville, Tennessee (now Southwestern Presbyterian University).

Couts became a civil engineer, and in 1883 he and his brother-in-law, Chalmers Scott, went to Guatemala and El Salvador to work on the Central American Pacific Railroad. After his return in 1884 Couts was appointed Deputy Surveyor for San Diego County, and he actively surveyed the public lands for more than twenty-five years.

In February 1887, Couts married Elizabeth B. Clemens, niece of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Their only child, Cave Johnson Couts, was born late that same year. In June 1897, Couts and his wife were divorced. She later remarried, to Dr. Charles Schrader.

Couts' great pride, Rancho Guajome, was gradually acquired as a whole by him from other members of his family. The ranch had been divided up among the family following the death of the senior Couts. In times of financial reverses the family turned to Cave J. Couts Jr. for assistance, and in this way the land came into his hands. In 1927 he had the house and outbuildings completely restored. Couts' sense of history also led him to buy and renovate the Casa de Bandini in San Diego, home of his famous grandfather, Juan Bandini. Following its restoration in 1930 the house was opened as a hotel.

Couts owned or administered large parcels of land, a few of which gave him much worry and trouble. A heated battle over the Rancho Buena Vista caused Couts, as administrator of his father's estate, years of litigation (1889-1907). His problems were first centered around a dispute with the government over the final survey of the land, and later were focussed on an effort to buy the lands of the original ranch excluded from the final survey. There was also a great deal of family disagreement over the proper handling of the matter.

Another problem for Couts was the Ranchito Mine, a gold mine in the Julian District that he purchased in 1895. This was generally regarded as the richest mine in the Julian area, but it proved to be a great disappointment to Couts; he tried for many years to dispose of it, unsuccessfully.

In 1917 Couts nearly lost Rancho Guajome. In 1896, he had received a loan of a considerable sum from Richard O'Neill, Sr., manager of neighboring Rancho Santa Margarita y las Flores. At that time he had signed a note that amounted to a mortgage, although there was an unwritten understanding between the two friends that the note did not constitute a mortgage. At O'Neill's death in 1910 Richard O'Neill, Jr. inherited the Guajome note and insisted upon a literal interpretation of it. In 1917, the issue came to a head in a bitter legal battle.

Couts was involved in civic projects in San Diego city and county, including assuming the chairmanship of the committee which succeeded in establishing the famous Palomar Observatory. Couts was also quite active in the southern California business world. He took part in many ventures in San Diego and Los Angeles. The death of one of these figures, Arcadia (Bandini) Stearns Baker (Couts' aunt), involved a multi-million-dollar estate, including vast holdings of Los Angeles County land. Couts, as an heir, was caught up in the partition suits, which dragged on for more than nine years after the 1912 death of Mrs. Baker. Couts was a successful businessman, and he was a wealthy man most of his life. His business activity remained brisk until shortly before his death at the age of 87 in 1943.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of the personal, family and business papers of Cave Johnson Couts (1821-1874) and his son Cave Johnson Couts, Jr. (1856-1943). There is personal and business correspondence, army papers of Cave J. Couts (1837-1855), accounts, land papers, legal papers, survey correspondence and field notes of Cave J. Couts, Jr., family papers, photographs, ephemera, and 250 maps.

In this collection, the father, son, and grandson are distinguished as "a", "b" and "c":

Cave Johnson Couts a (1821-1874)
Cave Johnson Couts b (1856-1943)
Cave Johnson Couts c (born 1887)

Of note in the collection is a journal kept by Cave Johnson Couts (1821-1874) which documents his company's six-month march from Monterrey, Mexico, to California in 1848. Other military papers in the collection include the army papers (1852-1861) of Aaron B. Hardcastle, and correspondence between Couts and his siblings in Tennessee about the U.S. Civil War. Couts's letters give an informative view of the rigors of war in that state; Couts was a strong Confederate supporter.

The collection also contains a significant amount of materials related to Native Americans in San Diego County. Of note are papers about the 1851 San Diego County Indian uprising known as the Garra Revolt (led by Antonio Garra), and the involvement of Cave Johnson Couts (1821-1874) with the Indians as a sub-agent for the county from 1853-1855.

There is also material concerning land in San Diego County and in greater Southern California. It includes information on various ranchos, including Buena Vista, Guajome, among others, and the growth and development of various cities, including San Diego, Los Angeles, and Oceanside. There is also information about the San Luis Rey Mission, the creation of the Palomar Observatory (1930-38) and the activities of the Ranchito Mine in the Julian District purchased by Cave J. Couts, Jr. in 1895 (1895-1941). The land papers also contain materials regarding different estates, including the estate of Arcadia Bandini Stearns Baker, which included vast holdings of Los Angeles County land. Family papers in the collection include baptismal records, wedding announcements, biographical materials, etc. related to the Couts and Bandini families.

Additional correspondents represented in the collection include: John Forster, John S. Griffin, Benjamin I. Hayes, Charles Robinson Johnson, Ephraim W. Morse, George Allan Pendleton, Alfred Robinson, Abel Stearns, and Jonathan Trumbull Warner.

Note: Cave J. Couts b kept many papers together in groups by subject matter. These original groups have been kept together to preserve their relationships. For this reason the papers are not strictly alphabetical.

Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:

Correspondence, 1832-1941
Business correspondence of Cave J. Couts b., 1882-1943
Army papers of Cave J. Couts a., 1837-1855
Army papers of Aaron B. Hardcastle., 1852-1861
Accounts
Land papers
Legal papers
Survey correspondence of Cave J. Couts b
Field notes of Cave J. Couts b
Family papers
Photographs
Ephemera
Envelopes
Volumes
Maps

Indians of California indexing

Indexes

Indian Affairs - California

CT 83. Beale, Edward Fitzgerald. To General Tomás. 1854, Feb. 16
CT 145-146. Burton, Henry Stanton. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1854-1857
CT 297. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To Manuel Cota. 1853, Sep. 1
CT 308. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To Thomas Jefferson Henley. 1856, Feb. 29
CT 936. Godey, Alexis. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863, Jan. 2
CT 1066. Henley, George W. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1856, Mar. 26
CT 1067-1073. Henley, Thomas Jefferson. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1855-1856
CT 1268. Johnson, Charles Robinson. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1865, Apr. 13
CT 1544. Lawson, S S. To Chalmers Scott. 1881, Jan. 27
CT 1563. Lovett, William Edward. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1866, Jan. 17
CT 1634. Maltby, Charles. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1866, Apr. 5
CT 2118. Stanley, John Quincy Adams. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1865, Dec. 22
CT 2119. Stanley, John Quincy Adams. To Willie Blount Couts. 1867, Dec. 8
CT 2389-2390. Whiting, Billington Crum. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1871-1872
CT 2406. Wilson, Benjamin Davis. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1854, May. 15

Indians of California

CT 53. Bandini, José María. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1861, Apr. 6
CT 56 (1-2). Bandini, José María. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1865
CT 83. Beale, Edward Fitzgerald. To General Tomás. 1854, Feb. 16
CT 133 (1-6). Brown, W. Haney. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1871
CT 145-146. Burton, Henry Stanton. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1854-1857
CT 193 (1-57). California. San Diego County. Justice of the Peace. Documents and related papers of legal cases brought before Cave Johnson Couts a, Justice of the Peace, regarding Indians of California. 1854-1862
CT 199 (1-11). California. San Diego County. Justice of the Peace. Documents and related papers regarding José Antonio Serrano, Blas Aguilar, and Juan Avila vs. Indians of Pauma, legal case brought before Cave Johnson Couts a, Justice of the Peace. 1859-1861
CT 204. California. San Diego County. Justice of the Peace. Judgement rendered by William Caswell Ferrell, Justice of the Peace, in case of Cave Johnson Couts a vs. Francisco, an Indian boy. 1858, May 6
CT 205. California. San Diego County. Justice of the Peace. Deposition made by Antonio Nieblas and José María Castillo regarding some stolen hides belonging to Cave Johnson Couts a. 1865, Dec. 16
CT 207. California. San Diego County. Justice of the Peace. Indenture wherein Indian woman, Jacinto, binds over her son to Isidora (Bandini) Couts. 1866, Aug. 13
CT 272-274. COTA, Manuel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1855-1858
CT 276-278. COTA, Manuel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1860-1863
CT 280. COTA, Manuel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1864?
CT 294. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To John Judson Ames. 1855, June 13
CT 297. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To Manuel Cota. 1853, Sep. 1
CT 309. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To Don A. Hollister. 1861, Jan. 10
CT 2543 (1-45). Couts, Cave Johnson a. Account books containing records of Indian servants. 1851-1874
CT 2614. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To James William Denver. 1857, Oct. 7
CT 2545 (2). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Letter book. 1894-1904
CT 2547 (30). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Survey field book re Sycuan Indian Reservation. 1894
CT 2547 (31). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Survey field book re Sycuan, Campo, La Posta, Manzanita, Cuyapipe, and Laguna Indian Reservations. 1894
CT 2547 (32). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Survey field book re Sycuan Indian Reservation. 1894
CT 2547 (38). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Survey field book re Capitan Grande Indian Reservation. 1894-1895
CT 2547 (47). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Survey field book re Campo, La Posta, Manzanita, and Pauma Indian Reservations. 1906
CT 2547 (50). Couts, Cave Johnson b. Survey field book re Campo, La Posta, Manzanita, Cuyapipe, and Laguna Indian Reservations 1908
CT 511 (1-5). Curtis, James Freeman. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1864
CT 546. Decker, John E. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863, Sep. 20
CT 627. Ensworth, Augustus S. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863, May 9
CT 629. Ensworth, Augustus S. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863, May 18
CT 896. Forster, John b. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1871, June 8
CT 900. Forster, John b. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1871, Aug. 4
CT 684. Forster, Isidora (Pico). To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1855, July 11
CT 686. Forster, Marcos Antonio. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Aug. 12
CT 936. Godey, Alexis. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863, Jan. 2
CT 938-939. Gomez, Silvestre. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1864-1865
CT 1015. Hayes, Benjamin Ignatius. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Nov. 26
CT 1017-1018. Hayes, Benjamin Ignatius. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Nov. 30-Dec. 3
CT 1020. Hayes, Benjamin Ignatius. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Dec. 10
CT 1022-1024. Hayes, Benjamin Ignatius. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863, Jan. 12-15
CT 1083 (1-7). Hollister, Don A. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862
CT 1268. Johnson, Charles Robinson. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1865, Apr. 13
CT 1483. Kendrick, J. J. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1859, Dec. 18
CT 1563. Lovett, William Edward. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1866, Jan. 17
CT 1585 (1-3). McCoy, James. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1864
CT 1625-1627. Magla, Francisco. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862-1864
CT 1634. Maltby, Charles. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1866 Apr. 5
CT 1664 (1-16). Mendoza, Juan. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1863
CT 1684 (1-2). Moreno, José de Jesús. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862
CT 1750. Parsons, Ben[jamin Franklin?]. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Mar. 12
CT 1956. Rouen, Louis A. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1857, Aug. 18
CT 1969. Sanchez, Tomás A. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Mar. 4
CT 2011. Scott, Chalmers. Recommendation of D. C. Collier as Commissioner to arrange settlement with Mission Indians. 1891?, after Jan. 19
CT 2075. Sexton, M. M. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1854, Sep. 14
CT 2118. Stanley, John Quincy Adams. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1865, Dec. 22
CT 2119. Stanley, John Quincy Adams. To Willie Blount Couts. 1867, Dec. 8
CT 2142-2143. Stearns, Abel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1853, Dec. 15-1854, Jan. 11
CT 2145. Stearns, Abel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1854, Apr. 4
CT 2153. Stearns, Abel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1855, July 6
CT 2199. Stearns, Abel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1861, Oct. 30
CT 2203. Stearns, Abel. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1862, Apr. 14
CT 2389-2390. Whiting, Billington Crum. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1871-1872
CT 2405 (1-3). Williston, Edward Bancroft. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1866
CT 2406. Wilson, Benjamin Davis. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1854, May 15
CT 2443. Wolf, Louis. To W Haney Brown. 1871, Aug. 31
CT 2605. Survey maps of Indian reservations in San Diego County. 1857-1908

Indians of California - Garra uprising

CT 85. Bean, Joshua H. To Cave Johnson Couts a. 1851, Dec. 14
CT 104. Bird, Ira W. To Edward Harold Fitzgerald. 1851, Dec. 15
CT 118. Brinley, Charles Henry. To Juan María Marrón. 1851, Dec. 1
CT 290. Couts, Cave Johnson a. List of San Diego Fitzgerald Volunteers. Approximately 1851, Dec. 1
CT 291. Couts, Cave Johnson a. List of positions held by members of the San Diego Fitzgerald Volunteers. 1852, Jan. 17?
CT 310. Couts, Cave Johnson a. To Lewis Irving. 1852, Jan. 17
CT 519. Davis, George Henry. List of subscriptions towards defraying the expenses of the prisoners, and for purchasing some clothes and provisions for those Indians who have shown themselves friendly.... 1851, Dec. 14
CT 723. Garra, Antonio. To José Antonio Estudillo. 1851, Nov. 21
CT 1511. Kurtz, Daniel Brown. To the officers and members of the San Diego Fitzgerald Volunteers. 1851, Dec. 10
CT 1522-1523. Kurtz, Daniel Brown. To Edward Harold Fitzgerald. 1851, Nov. 30-Dec. 4
CT 1628. Magruder, John Bankhead. To Edward Harold Fitzgerald. 1851, Dec. 4
CT 1755. Patterson, Francis Engle. To Edward Harold Fitzgerald. 1851, Nov. 30
CT 1973. San Diego Fitzgerald Volunteers. Documents dealing with the court martial of William Marshall and others by members of the San Diego Fitzgerald Volunteers for the crime of treason against the State of California and the murder of four American citizens. 1851, Dec. 9-12
CT 1974. San Diego Fitzgerald Volunteers. Court martial of Antonio Garra, Indian chief of the Cupeños. 1852, Jan. 10-17
CT 2321. Tule, Domingo. To Manuel Cota? 1851, Nov. 30

In the survey correspondence of Cave Johnson Couts b (Boxes 85-855) there is material re surveys of Indian lands in San Diego County and Indian reservations:

San Diego County

CT Box 85, Folder 5-6 (1877-1893)
CT Box 86, Folder 1-4 (1894)
CT Box 86, Folder 5 (1895)
CT Box 86, Folder 7 (1906-1908)
CT Box 86, Folder 8 (1909, 1911, 1916, 1930, 1940)

Indian Reservations

CT Box 87, Folder 8 Campo (1856-1858)
CT Box 87, Folder 9 Capitan Grande (1856-1876)
CT Box 87, Folder 10 Iñaja (1875)
CT Box 87, Folder 11 Manzanita (1856)
CT Box 87, Folder 12 Mesa Grande (1856)
CT Box 87, Folder 13 Santa Ysabel (1876)
CT Box 88, Folder 8

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Bandini, Arcadia, 1825-1912 -- Estate.

Couts, Cave Johnson, 1821-1874.

Couts, Cave Johnson, 1821-1874 -- Family.

Couts, Cave Johnson, 1856-1943.

Garra, Antonio, active 1851.

Hardcastle, Aaron B., active 1852-1861.

United States. Army -- Officers.

Palomar Observatory.

San Luis Rey Mission (Calif.)

Cattle trade -- California.

Cities and towns -- California -- San Diego County.

Cities and towns -- California -- Los Angeles County.

Civil engineers -- California -- San Diego County.

Indians of North America -- California -- San Diego County.

Indian reservations -- California -- San Diego County.

Land tenure -- California -- Los Angeles County.

Land tenure -- California -- San Diego County.

Ranches -- California -- San Diego County.

Ranchers -- California -- San Diego County.

Real property -- California -- Los Angeles County.

Real property -- California -- San Diego County.

Surveyors -- California -- San Diego County.

California, Southern -- History -- Sources.

Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- Sources.

Oceanside (Calif.) -- History -- Sources.

Rancho Buena Vista (Calif.)

Rancho Guajome (Calif.)

San Diego (Calif.) -- History -- Sources.

San Diego County (Calif.) -- History -- Sources.

San Diego County (Calif.) -- Politics and government.

San Diego County (Calif.) -- Surveys.

Forms/Genres

Accounts -- California.

Legal documents -- California.

Family papers -- California.

Letters (correspondence) -- California.

Maps -- California.

Military records -- California.

Personal papers -- California.

Alternate Authors

Bandini (Family)

Couts, Cave Johnson, 1856-1943.

Couts (Family)

Forster, John, 1814-1882.

Griffin, John S. (John Strother), 1816-1898.

Hayes, Benjamin, 1815-1877.

Johnson, Charles Robinson.

Morse, Ephraim W., 1823-1906.

Pendleton, George Allan.

Robinson, Alfred, 1806-1895.

Stearns, Abel, 1798-1871.

Warner, Jonathan Trumbull.

Correspondence 1832-1941

Physical Description: approximately 4100 pieces in 40 boxes

Includes the personal and business papers of Cave J. Couts a; the personal correspondence of Cave J. Couts b; and the correspondence of all other family members

Box 1

Correspondence, A-Bal

Box 2

Correspondence, Ban-Bo

Box 3

Correspondence, Br-Cas

Box 4

Correspondence, California

Box 5

Correspondence, Ch-Cot

Box 6

Correspondence, Cou-Couts, Cave J. (b)

Box 7

Correspondence, Couts, Cave J. c- Couts, James

Box 8

Correspondence, Couts, John F.-Couts, Poston

Box 9

Correspondence, Couts, Robert L.-Cro

Box 10

Correspondence, Cu-D

Box 11

Correspondence, E-Fe

Box 12

Correspondence, Fi-Ga

Box 13

Correspondence, Forster, John (1857-1865)

Box 14

Correspondence, Forster, John (1866-1870 June 30)

Box 15

Correspondence, Forster, John (1870 July 1-1874)

Box 16

Correspondence, Gi-Gw

Box 17

Correspondence, Ha-Hend

Box 18

Correspondence, Henl-I

Box 19

Correspondence, J-Johnson

Box 20

Correspondence, Johnson, Charles R. (1859-1864)

Box 21

Correspondence, Johnson, Charles R. (1865-1868)

Box 22

Correspondence, Johnson, Charles R. (1869-1870)

Box 23

Correspondence, Johnson, Charles R. (1871-1896)

Box 24

Correspondence, Johnston-Kr

Box 25

Correspondence, Ku-L

Box 26

Correspondence, Ma-Man

Box 27

Correspondence, Mar-Morr

Box 28

Correspondence, Mors-Ped

Box 29

Correspondence, Pen-Pol

Box 30

Correspondence, Por-Raimond, R. E. (1854-1868)

Box 31

Correspondence, Raimond, R. E. (1869-1874)-Roa

Box 32

Correspondence, Rob-Sch

Box 33

Correspondence, Scrader, Elizabeth B. (Clemens) Couts

Box 34

Correspondence, Scott

Box 35

Correspondence, Se-Step

Box 36

Correspondence, Stearns, Abel (1853-1861)

Box 37

Correspondence, Stearns, Abel (1862-1871)

Box 38

Correspondence, Stew-T

Box 39

Correspondence, U-We

Box 40

Correspondence, Wh-Y

Business correspondence and of Cave J. Couts b. 1882-1943

Physical Description: approximately 5500 pieces in 22 boxes

Box 41

A-Banc

Box 42

Bank-Br

Box 43

Bu-Cl

Box 44

Co-Cave J. Couts (b) (1889-1923)

Box 45

Cave J. Couts (b) (1924-1942)

Box 46

Cr-Fa

Box 47

Fi-Go

Box 48

Gr-J

Box 49

Hunsaker, William J. (1888-1903)

Box 50

Hunsaker, William J. (1904-1928)

Box 51

K-L

Box 52

M-Merc

Box 53

Merr-O

Box 54

O'Melveny-O'Neill

Box 55

P-Rob

Box 56

Roe-Ru

Box 57

Box 58

Sc-Sto

Box 59

Stearns, Frederic W. (1897-1907)

Box 60

Stearns, Frederic W. (1908-1928)-SW

Box 61

T-U

Box 62

V-Z

United States Army papers of Cave J. Couts a. 1837-1855

Physical Description: 658 pieces in 2 boxes

Box 63

1837-1849

Box 64

1850-1853

United States Army papers of Aaron B. Hardcastle. 1852-1861

Physical Description: 306 pieces in 2 boxes

Box 65

1852-1860

Box 66

18661

Accounts

Box 67

Tax bills and assessments; medical bills; livestock bills

This box contains:

Tax bills, assessments, 1850-1942 (approximately 230 pieces)
Medical bills, 1853-1872 (12 pieces)
Livestock bills, 1862-approximately 1875 (17 pieces)

Box 68

Miscellaneous accounts: 1850-1861

Physical Description: Approximately 375 pieces

Box 69

Miscellaneous accounts: 1862-1869

Physical Description: Approximately 300 pieces

Box 70

Miscellaneous accounts: 1870-1889

Physical Description: Approximately 275 pieces

Box 71

Miscellaneous accounts: 1890-1909

Physical Description: Approximately 200 pieces

Box 72

Miscellaneous accounts: 1910-1919

Physical Description: Approximately 375 pieces

Box 73

Miscellaneous accounts: 1920-1943

Physical Description: Approximately 375 pieces

Land papers

Box 74

Estates: Baker, Arcadia (Bandini) Stearns

Consists of:

Estates

Arcadia (Bandini) Stearns Baker, 1914-1935 (54 pieces)

Box 75

Estates: Clemens, Jeremiah W. and Couts, Cave J. (a); Ranchos: Agua Hedionda; Buena Vista (1845-1896)

Consists of:

Estates

Jeremiah W. Clemens, 1894-1896 (10 pieces)
Cave J. Couts a, approximately 1865-1926 (24 pieces)

Ranchos

Agua Hedionda, 1859-1930 (7 pieces)
Buena Vista, 1845-1896 (125 pieces)

Box 76

Rancho Buena Vista (1897-1906 September)

Consists of:

Ranchos

Buena Vista, 1897-September 1906 (90 pieces)

Box 77

Ranchos: Buena Vista (1906 October-1907); El Cajón; Guajome (1892-1917)

Consists of:

Ranchos

Buena Vista, 1906 October-1907 (7 pieces)
El Cajón, approximately 1875 (1 piece)
Guajome, 1892-1917 (23 pieces)

Box 78

Ranchos: Guajome (1918-1926)-Valle de San Jose; Cities: Coronado-Moosa

Consists of:

Ranchos

Guajome, 1918-1926 (5 pieces)
La Joya, 1898 (3 pieces)
Monserrate, approximately 1932 (7 pieces)
La Nación, 1890 (1 piece)
San Francisco (San Diego County), 1864 (1 piece)
Santa Margarita y las Flores, 1904 (1 piece)
Temecula, 1876 (1 piece)
Valle de San José and Valle de Pamo, 1870 (2 pieces)

Cities

Coronado, Calif., 1873-1888 (5 pieces)
Fallbrook, Calif., 1932-1939 (2 pieces)
Los Angeles, Calif., 1916-1942 (48 pieces)
Moosa, Calif., 1925 (1 piece)

Box 79

Cities: Oceanside-San Diego

Consists of:

Cities

Oceanside, Calif., 1885-1939 (28 pieces)
La Presa, Calif., 1887-1900 (3 pieces)
San Diego, Calif., 1850-1943 (303 pieces) (in both boxes 79 and 80)
- Colorado House, 1850-1862 (22 pieces)
- Roseville, 1853-1909 (7 pieces)
- Horton's Addition and City Heights Annex No. 1, 1873-1930 (9 pieces)
- Middletown, 1887-1890 (5 pieces)
- Inspiration Heights, 1926 (3 pieces)
- Casa de Bandini, 1928-1943 (94 pieces)
- City Heights Annex No. 1, 1928-1943 (7 pieces)
- Week End Villas, 1930-1942 (5 pieces)
- Fairmount Theater, 1932-1943 (144 pieces)

Box 80

Cities: San Diego-Vista; San Bernardino County; San Diego County (O-Palomar Park Observatory, 1930-1934)

Consists of:

Cities

San Diego, Calif. (continued from box 79)
Tijuana, Mexico, 1872 (1 piece)
Vista, Calif., 1912-1918 (26 pieces)

Counties

San Bernardino, 1890-1898 (4 pieces)
San Diego County
- Oriflamme Mine, 1876 (1 piece)
- Pala Indian Reservation, (5 pieces)
- Palomar Park Observatory, 1930-1934 (87 pieces)

Box 81

San Diego County (Palomar Park Observatory, 1935-1938; Ranchito Mine, 1895-1902)

Consists of:

Counties

San Diego County
- Palomar Park Observatory, 1935-1938 (53 pieces)
- Ranchito Mine, Correspondence, 1895-1914 (343 pieces)

Box 82

San Diego County (Ranchito Mine, 1903-1941)

Consists of:

Counties

San Diego County
- Ranchito Mine, Correspondence, 1903-1941 (202 pieces)
- Ranchito Mine, Bills and assay reports, 1896-1928 (82 pieces)

Box 83

San Diego County (Miscellaneous)

Consists of: Miscellaneous (described by range and township), 1875-1939 (107 pieces).

Legal papers

Box 84

Legal Papers

Consists of documents related to:

Estate of Cave J. Couts a, 1887-approximately 1908 (15 pieces)
Estate of Isidora (Bandini) Couts, 1898-1908 (4 pieces)
Divorce of Cave J. Couts b and Elizabeth B. (Clemens) Couts Schrader, 1897-1899 (33 pieces)
Miscellaneous legal papers, >1875-1930 (42 pieces)

Survey correspondence of Cave J. Couts b

Box 85

1877-1893

Physical Description: 134 pieces

Box 86

1894-1940

Physical Description: 106 pieces

Field notes of Cave J. Couts b

Box 87

Ranchos; Indian reservations; Counties (Riverside-San Diego)

Consists of:

Ranchos

Agua Hedionda, 1854-1912 (3 pieces)
Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa de Padre Barona, 1856 (2 pieces)
Misión Vieja o la Paz, 1858-1884 (1 piece)
Pauma, 1868 (2 pieces)
La Puente, 1857 (1 piece)
San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana, 1876 (1 piece)
Santa Ysabel and Valle de San José, 1866-1896 (3 pieces)

Indian reservations (San Diego County)

Campo, 1856-1858 (1 piece)
Capitan Grande, 1856-1876 (2 pieces)
Iñaja, 1875 (1 piece)
Manzanita, 1856 (1 piece)
Mesa Grande, 1856 (2 pieces)
Santa Ysabel, 1876 (1 piece)

Counties (described by range and township)

Riverside, 1868-1879 (2 pieces)
San Diego
- Ranges 1 and 2 West, 1853-1893 (continued in Box 88)

Box 88

Counties (San Diego); Miscellaneous

Consists of:

Counties (described by range and township)

San Diego
- Ranges 1 and 2 West, 1853-1893 (29 pieces) (continued)
- Ranges 2-5 West, 1854-1893 (18 pieces)
- Ranges 1-9 East, 1850-approximately 1889 (10 pieces)
- Lists of land ownership, approximately 1886 (9 pieces)

Miscellaneous

Notes, sketches, etc. re Indian reservations in San Diego County (21 pieces)
Miscellaneous notes, reports, sketches of Cave J. Couts b (12 pieces)
Scratch papers, unidentified field notes of Cave J. Couts b (15 pieces)

Family papers

Box 89

Genealogical and biographical materials

Consists of:

Biographical sketches of Cave J. Couts (a and b) (5 pieces)
Baptismal records, wedding announcements, etc., of Couts, Bandini families, 1857-1940 (22 pieces)
Miscellaneous biographical and genealogical material re Couts, Bandini, etc., families (25 pieces)
Newspaper clippings re Couts, Bandini, etc., families (57 pieces)
List of books at Rancho Guajome, after 1941 (20 pieces)
School papers, 1838-1882 (41 pieces including 25 pieces of school papers of Cave J. Couts a while at the United States Military Academy, 1838-1843)
Recipes, 1851-approximately 1930 (6 pieces)

Box 90

Photographs

Physical Description: 182 pieces

Box 91

Ephemera

Consists of:

Social invitations, calling cards, etc. (90 pieces)
Unidentified material (32 pieces)
Newspaper clippings (47 pieces)
Printed matter (72 pieces)
Ephemera (49 pieces)

Box 92

Envelopes

Physical Description: approximately 250 pieces

Volumes

Physical Description: 171 pieces

Box 94

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2543 (3-13)

Box 95

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2543 (15-18, 20-26)

Box 96

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2543 (27-45), 2544 (1-4)

Box 97

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2544 (6-27)

Box 98

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2545 (1-5), 2546 (1-3)

Box 99

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. 2546 (4-16), 2547 (1-7)

Box 100

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. 2547 (8-35)

Box 101

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. 2547 (36-55), 2548 (1-2)

Box 102

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2549-2550, 2552-2557

Box 103

Accounts; Letterbooks; Diaries. CT 2557-2560, 2611-2612

Loose volume

CT 2541 (fac) Facsimile of Cave J. Couts (a) Journal

Envelope

CT 2543 (19) Account book: cattle and servants, 1854-1857

Envelope

CT 2544 (5) Couts, Cave J. b account of expenses while in the employ of the Central American Pacific Railway and Transportation Co. 1884

Envelope

CT 2561 Wilson, Clarendon J.L. and Couts, Cave J. a. Returns of provisions received and issued, purchases, sales, etc. by the Acting Assistant Commissaries of Subsistence, United States Army at San Luis Rey. 1850-1851

Book case

CT 2551 Benjamin Ignatius Hayes, Diary, 1875

Microfilm

CT 2541 (2) Positive microfilm of Cave J. Couts (a) Journal

Loose volume

HM 59966 Transcription of CT 2551 by Ellen L. Sweet, 1999

Roll

CT 2613 Schoolwork of Cadet Cave Johnson Couts (a), United States Military Academy at West Point, between 1838 and 1843

Maps

Physical Description: 250 pieces