Antonio María de la Guerra

Antonio María de la Guerra (October 1, 1825 – November 28, 1881) was a Californio politician and military officer, who served in the California State Senate and twice as Mayor of Santa Barbara. He also commanded the 1st California Cavalry Battalion during the Civil War and later served several terms on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

Antonio María de la Guerra
Member of the California Senate from the 3rd district
In office January 5, 1852 – January 3, 1853
Preceded by	Pablo de la Guerra
Succeeded by	Pablo de la Guerra
Mayor of Santa Barbara
In office 1856–1858
Preceded by	H. B. Blake
Succeeded by	Guillermo Carrillo
In office 1859–1864
Preceded by	Guillermo Carrillo
Succeeded by	Francisco de la Guerra
Personal details
Born	(1825-10-01)October 1, 1825 Santa Barbara, Alta California, Mexico
Died	November 28, 1881(1881-11-28) (aged 56) Goleta, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Maria Antonia Carrillo
Children	14
Profession	Politician, military officer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1864–1866
Rank	Captain
Unit	1st California Cavalry Battalion
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Early life

Antonio Maria de la Guerra, a member of the prominent Guerra family of California, was born in 1825 in Alta California, as the youngest son of José de la Guerra y Noriega an officer of the Mexican army. His father became a wealthy and influential man with extensive landholdings and a great house in Santa Barbara. He was educated by California mission padres and then in a Chilean college for several years.

Career

In 1849, at the age of 24, he became secretary to the Santa Barbara ayuntamiento. In 1853, he served in the California Senate, and in 1857 was appointed Adjutant General for the Santa Barbara District of the California militia. He served as Mayor of Santa Barbara and was several times on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, including once being elected chairman.

On July 27, 1864, he became captain of Company C, 1st Battalion of Native Cavalry, California Volunteers recruited among the Californios of Santa Barbara for the United States Civil War. After training at Drum Barracks at Wilmington, California, he led his company to Arizona Territory in 1865. There they were stationed in Tubac and later at Fort Mason a little to the south where they were involved in the pursuit of troops the Mexican Empire that had raided into Arizona and fought against the Apache.

While in Arizona, Captain de la Guerra fell sick with a disease and was disabled, returning to Santa Barbara in February 1866. His health never recovered and he became totally blind in 1873. He eventually became paralyzed, affecting him greatly during the last years of his life. His family physician believed his health has ruined by the Mercury element used to treat him during his illness in Arizona. Never married, he died on November 28, 1881, at the age of 56. He was buried at the La Patera or Cieneguitas Catholic Cemetery, in Goleta, California on the Goleta Road, now Hollister Avenue.

See also

• Alfred Robinson - Anita de la Guerra de Noriega y Carrillo
• Guerra family of California
• Casa de la Guerra
  • José de la Guerra y Noriega
  • Pablo de la Guerra
• Hispanics in the American Civil War
• List of mayors of Santa Barbara, California

Sources

• Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867 By California. Adjutant General's Office, SACRAMENTO: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing. 1890.