Immanuel (Manuel) Innocente was of the Chumash tribe and head cattle wrangler at El Sur Rancho in San Buenaventura. In 1868, Manuel moved with his wife, Francisca – who was likely Yokut – and two children to Big Sur and purchased a homestead in what would later become Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Hillsides of the Innocente Homestead.
This homestead included dry, scrub covered hillsides, as well as a valley of redwoods with a creek running through. The family subsisted on fish from the creek, wild game, as well as their own farming work and occasional beef from the El Sur Ranch.
Manual Peak Trail winds across the former Innocente homestead to Manuel Peak, named after Immanuel Innocente.
Manuel, Francisca, and their five children (Juan, Manuel, Jose, Maria, and Julio) remain in the park, buried by John Pfeiffer’s cabin. Visitor’s can still hike Manuel’s old homestead, now as the Manuel Peak Trail, which climbs to the top of Mt. Manuel, named after Manuel Innocente.
The Innocente family is buried near the still sanding Pfeiffer Homestead Cabin, however, their graves are no longer marked.
Related Patents
- Land Patent held by Manuel (Immanuel) Innocente [CACAAA 091119]
References
- “Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.” California State Parks. Sacramento, CA.