The Sebastian Indian Reservation was established on lands of in 1853 by Edward F. Beale in the far southeastern corner of the San Joaquin Valley in the Tejon Canyon. The reservation was within the Rancho El Tejon Mexican land grant, but Beale hoped if the land claims were upheld the land could be purchased by the federal government. The San Sebastian Reservation was named for William K. Sebastian, United States Senator from Arkansas, who supported Beale's plans to form a series of reservations, garrisoned by a military post, on government owned land. The Indians were to support themselves by farming.
The reservation became operational in September 1853, and many Indians moved in voluntarily.[1] Among the tribes the reservation held, were three hundred Emigdiano Chumash, who were the original natives of Tejon Canyon. In 1854, Lieutenant Beale reported that twenty-five hundred Indians were living on the Sebastian Reservation.
In 1854, Fort Tejon was built nearby to protect frontier settlements ranching and mining operations in Southern California, the Tehachapi Mountains and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains from native attacks and the natives on the reservation from attacks by white settlers. The Stockton - Los Angeles Road, newly constructed, skirted the western and northern sides of the reservation.
Farm equipment, cattle and sheep were brought to the reservation, and a staff of white employees hired to teach the Indians agriculture and supervise their activities. Hundreds of aces of land were plowed and planted with wheat, barley, and corn. Tejon Creek irrigated gardens, vineyards, and orchards. From the forest in upper Tejon Canyon Indians hauled timber from which they sawed the lumber needed at the reservation. Additionally there was wild game for the taking in the Tehachapi Mountains and the San Joaquin Valley.[2] In that year the Indians gathered an abundant wheat harvest.
In early 1854, with political change in Washington, Beale's detractors charged him with embezzlement of government funds. Settlers in the San Joaquin Valley resented the agricultural competition from the Indians, and claimed that too much land had been set aside for them. He was removed from his office but was exonerated of the charges. Colonel Thomas J. Henley, was Beale's replacement as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California. Henly created additional reservations throughout California, and Colonel James R. Vineyard became resident agent at the Sebastian Reservation.
In 1855, some Indians fled the reservation and Vineyard the new Indian agent requested the assistance of the soldiers at Fort Tejon in returning them. The commander of the Fort refused, stating their role was to protect the Indians and punish any that committed hostile acts not return Indians that voluntarily resided on the reservation. [3]
In 1856, rainfall was sparse but the harvest was enough for the seven hundred inhabitants that now remained. A flour mill, granary, storehouse, and dwellingd for the resident agent and for the chiefs were built. A physician was also provided.
In 1857, drought continued resulting crop failure except were irrigation saved them and grapevines and fruit trees began to yield a harvest. The Indians were also encouraged to collect wild food during the winter. Despite that setback new buildings were constructed and there were new arrivals increased the population to over one thousand. A post office was established at the reservation but it was moved in 1859, to Sinks of the Tejon one of the stations of the Butterfield Overland Mail began in September 1858.
By 1858 nearly all of the inhabitants were living in houses. Several families were raising livestock, and the women had learned to make clothing. Finally the winter of 1861 - 1862 was very wet causing flooding throughout the state but it broke the drought, the Reservations Indians planted larger fields of grain and there was a productive harvest during 1862. Additional Indians were encouraged to settle at the Sebastian Reservation, beyond the thirteen hundred that already lived there.
In the summer of 1863, over 900 Owens Valley Paiute were marched through the desert to the Reservation following their capitulation in the Owens Valley Indian War. Edward F. Beale had just purchased the Rancho El Tejon. The deed from the government required the Tejon Indians be allowed to continue to reside on the property. However Beale did not want to rent or sell the land to the United States to continue the Reservation. He had plans for developing the ranch and demanded immediate removal of the Owens Valley Indians from the Rancho. Therefore the Owens Valley Indians were moved to a site close to Fort Tejon. However conditions for them were deplorable, many died, and the Indians were very discontented. In 1864, nearly six hundred Owens Valley Indians were granted permission to go to the reservation on the Tule River, when Fort Tejon was abandoned[4]