Civil War: Company C, 1st Native California Cavalry

Luís Vicente Ordaz y Ortega was born at Arroyo Hondo, Rancho el Refugio, Alta California, México, in December 1830 and he was baptized at Mission Santa Ynez on December 19, 1830 (SI Baptism 01311, ECPP). He was the "legitimate son" of an "unknown father" and María Soledad del Carmen Ortega y Rodríguez.* Godparents were María Soledad's mother, María Tomasa Rodríguez y Parra, and her uncle, José de Jesús Rodríguez y Parra; officiant and recorder was Fr. Blas Ordaz, who was Luís Vicente's father (SBMAL).

Luís Vicente became a U.S. citizen with the transfer of California's sovereignty in 1848. He married his first cousin, María Manuela Ortega y Lugo, at Mission Santa Ynez on February 27, 1854. Both of them were then residents at Rancho el Refugio (SBMAL). Luís Vicente and Manuela appear twice in the 1860 US Census; at Santa Barbara (June 8, 1860) and at Santa Ynez (July 16, 1860).

During the Civil War he enrolled at Santa Barbara July 25 and mustered in as a private of Captain Antonio María de la Guerra’s Company C, 1st Battalion, Native California Cavalry, July 26, 1864. Private Ordaz was promoted to corporal July 28, 1864, then commissary sergeant October 7, 1865. Commissary Sergeant Ordaz was mustered out at the Presidio of San Francisco April 2, 1866. (CMSR, NARA)

After the war he returned to Santa Barbara County. Luís and Manuela were living in Township 2 in 1870 (US Census). He registered to vote June 25, 1875 (1875 SB County Great Register). Luís Vicente died at La Patera (now Goleta) on May 19, 1879, and was first interred at Cieneguitas Cemetery May 21, 1879. He was re-interred to Calvary Catholic Cemetery by the Woman's Relief Corps of Star King Post, Grand Army Republic, in 1938 (Calvary Catholic Cemetery Records; Death Book 2, Burial 344, pg. 39).

* María Soledad del Carmen Ortega y Rodríguez (BP Baptism 00401) was the daughter of José Antonio María Ortega y López (LPC Baptism 00110) and María Tomasa Rodríguez y Parra (BP Baptism 00148). María Soledad and Padre Blas Ordaz had two children: Luís Vicente, and "legitimate daughter" Lorenza Manuela Juana Ordaz y Ortega (May 28, 1832 [SI Baptism 01326]-after 1888; m. José María Rochin y ...). María Soledad married Juan Féliz y Verdugo at Mission Santa Ynez November 17, 1835 (SI Marriage 00420).
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Children:
(with Micaela Cota y ...)
- Aravia Cristiana (1853-1883; married Manuel Francisco García y Zurita, who was also a veteran of the Native California Cavalry)

(with Manuela Ortega)
- José Antonio^+ (1854-Sep. 20, 1929?)
- Edelberto Julian^+ (Jun. 2, 1855/56?-Nov. 6, 1928?)
- María de Jesús Virginia^+* (Feb. 16, 1857-Jun. 30, 1897; m. Hermogenes Ortega y Gonzaga on Sep. 30, 1880)
- Maxima^+* (Dec. 1859-aft. 1880)
- María Soledad Candelaria+ (Feb. 4, 1863?-Jul. 6, 1960?)
- Vicente+ (Jan. 1?, 1864-Sep. 11, 1900; single)
- Josefa+* (Apr. 23, 1867-Mar. 25, 1943)
- María Sobeída+* (1869-Dec. 6, 1944?)
- Manuela* (1871-aft. 1880)
- Ynez* "Agnes" (Jan. 21, 1873-Jul. 10, 1912; m. José del Carmen Ruíz y Cota on Aug. 16, 1890)
- Euloísa* (1875-aft. 1880)
- Francisco Blas* (Sep. 3, 1879-Dec. 24, 1899, Ventura; m. María Lugarda "Lula" Espinosa y Salazar on Dec. 2, 1897)

^ 1860 Census
+ 1870 Census
* 1880 Census

CENOTAPH for Vicente Ordaz