José Antonio Estudillo

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Portrait of José Antonio Estudillo from about 1830
Portrait of José Antonio Estudillo from about 1830

José Antonio Estudillo (1805–July 20, 1852) was a Californio and an early settler of San Diego, California when California was part of New Spain.

José Antonio Estudillo was born 1805 in Monterey, Alta California to Captain José María Estudillo who was born in Andalusia, Spain. José Estudillo probably came to San Diego as a boy with his father in 1820.

Estudillo joined the Spanish Army at the Presidio of San Diego and eventually made lieutenant around 1824. He was granted Otay Rancho in 1829 and Temecula Rancho in 1835. He was member of the assembly 1833-35.

During 1837-38 he was Alcade and Juez de Paz of San Diego Pueblo. At various times he was also treasurer and tax collector for San Diego.

During the Mexican-American War he remained neutral. Under the U.S. Government, Estudillo was the first county assessor in 1850.

Estudillo's home La Casa de Estudillo is located in Old Town San Diego, at the southeast side of the town square. It was popularly known as "Ramona's Marriage Place," based on the fictional character in Helen Hunt Jackson's novel Ramona. Estudillo built the house in 1827 for his father. The family lived there until 1887. The house has been restored and is open to the public.

Estudillo married María Victoria Dominguez in the Presidio of San Diego on March 1, 1824. She was born c. 1799, and they had 7 sons and 5 daughters. Dominguez was daughter of Sergeant Cristobal and María de los Reyes Dominguez. Their daughter María Antonia married Miguel Pedrorena. Their son José Guadalupe Estudillo was State Treasurer.

Estudillo died 1852 and is buried at El Campo Santo Catholic Cemetery in Old Town San Diego. His wife died October 19, 1875. In his biography in Smythe's History of San Diego, he was mentioned as "a man of excellent character and large influence."

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