ESPINOSA, Juan
ESPINOSA, Juan (1861-?) “Cuate” [Sp., twin], old California vaquero and younger brother of José (El Viejo), who spent a large part of his life on Santa Cruz Island. According to Company records, Cuate worked on the island as early as 1884. He rode the island with Clifford McElrath to acquaint him with the country when McElrath was hired as assistant superintendent in 1919.
The 1920 census lists John 'Quati' Espinosa, 60, single, hired man, living on Santa Cruz Island with:
- Clifford McElrath, 28
- Hercules Picos, 47
- Charles A. Valdez, 50
- John Leon, 41
- Alesandro Delloca, 55
- Jeacoma Bortalozzo, 43
- Abelino Lugo, 65
- Francisco Pogliasotti, 72
- Henrique Lopez, 47
- Jiovanni Dianez, 53
- Walter Maglio, 15
- Jiovanni Cognazzi, 43
- Petro Olivari, 33
- Angelo Traina, 64
- Angelo Larenzetti, 23
- Thomas Lewelling, 20
- Louis Pasquotto, 26
In 1920, a group of hunters staying at Eaton’s Pelican Bay camp used Cuate as their guide in pig hunting. Cuate was often times sent along to ride with the Caire girls who said he was a great story teller, and “only needed an audience to get started.” Clifford McElrath wrote: “Cuate Espinosa was a great lover of dogs. He treated his dogs as though they were children. He supported a crippled brother in Santa Barbara on the meager pay of a vaquero and would give you the shirt off his back if he liked you.”
» Hogg, J. E. Boar Hunting on Santa Cruz in Outer’s Recreation 63: 194-196, 238-240, 1920
» Caire, Helen The Last Vaqueros in Santa Cruz Island Foundation Occasional Paper #1:1994, 107-120.
