The Importance, Impact, and Representation of Names

Born in Yuma, Arizona in 1927 but his family moved to California due to his father losing his farm during the Depression. Chavez worked with his family as a child as a field worker and it is then that he was introduced to workers’ poor working conditions. He was a union leader that advocated for better working conditions for field workers In the 50s he began his work as a labor organizer but it wasn’t until the 60s that he became a labor leader of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) In 1972, he renamed his organization to the famous United Farm Workers (UFW) The Monterey County Superior Court Judge issued a warrant for his arrest after Chavez refused to put off the boycott on lettuce. Chavez was held in the old Monterey County Jail in Salinas where he stayed for 20 days.Because he was the only leader, there was no one to stop him from leading the way he wanted. He also did not want to be bothered with the work that it takes to actually run a union. He was willing to do the strikes and everything else that required action but failed to do the fundamental work; Chavez also did not allow others to run the union. Chavez was also a controversial figure because of his view on illegal immigration. He opposed illegal immigration. He and his cousin, Manuel Chavez paid 300 UFW members to go to the border in Yuma and persuade illegal immigrants to turn around and go back. Chavez believed that “if we can get the illegals out of California, we will win the strike overnight.” Many saw this as a problem given that a good portion of the field workers were illegal immigrants, his opposition gave a confusing message to some people.

Born in Monterey, California, to a highly respectable but not a wealthy family in 1835. His criminal career began in 1852 when the 17-year-old attended a local fandango with his older cousin, Anastacio Garcia.

Tiburcio Vasquez was keen, resourceful, a born leader. He hated the Americano with good reason and always in his mind was a thought, which had activated many of his race before him, that he could help get the Americans out and in some way regain California for Mexico. Hiding in the hills with Garcia, already a known outlaw, Vasquez soon picked up the “business” from his cousin. He soon joined a gang of other desperados, eventually becoming the leader of the group. Fearing the wrath of the Americans and certain retaliation, Vasquez and some of his young Mexican followers fled the town. Soon after this a robbery and murder at a mining camp nearby was laid to him and as he was no longer seen about Sonora it was said that he had joined the band of Joaquin Murrietta, then at the height of his career. Why did he rob people? Excusing his crimes by telling everyone that he was “punishing” the whites for discrimination against those of Mexican and Spanish descent. Tiburcio Vazquez was a bandit who stole from the rich to give back to the community. He wanted to revolutionize for his people. Many of his fellow Californios, then and now, embraced the legend of Tiburcio as a freedom fighter and social bandit. His sprees weren’t always violence-free. An August 1873 raid on a store in Tres Pinos resulted in the deaths of three innocent bystanders—and increased rewards for Vasquez’s capture. He protected his community and his community protected him. The stories say he was a Robin Hood, stealing from the "rich gringos" to give to the "poor peons". Vasquez encouraged that image: “I had numerous fights in defense of what I believed to be my rights and those of my countrymen.”

Health centers and schools are named for him. The Montebella Elementary school was name Tuburcio Vazquez at first but, the school was renamed within 3 years of opening

William Edward Petty Hartnell was also known as Don Guillermo Arnel, born in 1798 in England. Before coming to California in 1822, Hartnell worked in Peru for the business, John Begg & Co. With funding from the company, Hartnell and his partner Hugh McCulloch came to Alta CA to begin a hide-and-tallow trade business. Some time after being in CA, Hartnell turned 27 and married 16 year old Maria Teresa de la Guerra, who was the daughter of the richest man in the region at the time. The marriage is believed to be a strategic move by Hartnell to gain land and power. Throughout this time, Hartnell attempted to run his trade company alone, however after the passing of his beloved uncle, he struggled with drinking. His struggles with alcohol contributed to the failing of his business and left him heavily in debt. He was able to pay off his debts, with the help from his father-in-law. Hartnell is often mistaken for creating the first college, however it was a colegio, or a private school, that he established, and it was mainly for his children to attend, although others could send their children for a yearly fee. This school did not end up being the financial success that he had planned and he closed it. Hartnell was also able to obtain ranchos during his time, it is believed that he allowed Indigenous people to live on the rancho, but only as long as they worked for him, without pay. Hartnell worked many county jobs like tax collector and treasurer, and he was usually appointed by his friend, who was the governor at the time. One of the most important things Hartnell played a role in was the transition from Mexican to American rule. Because he was fluent in both English and Spanish, he translated important Mexican laws into English for John C Fremont, translated the first CA constitution and all of the laws drawn up in the Constitutional Convention of CA into Spanish.