General History (for detailed chronology, see Historical Timeline below)
Jose Domingo Peralta
José Domingo Peralta Image: Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Oakland.
"Small in stature and dark in complexion like
his father,
as friendly and courteous but "with an
impulsive nature" that could manifest itself in
"moody and argumentative behavior." A
ranchero who together with his three
brothers had 8,000 cattle that roamed the
44,000 square acres of one of the largest
Spanish land grants, Peralta Rancho San
Antonio, Domingo Peralta built the first non-
Ohlone home in Berkeley, an adobe on
Codornices Creek. Like his brothers, he
was overwhelmed by the changes –
including squatters and swindlers – that
came with the Gold Rush. Eventually he sold
or lost almost all of his quarter-share of the
rancho and died a poor man. He is buried in
St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland.
”