Guillaume Monteaux was born at Detroit about 1827, the son of French-Canadians Francois and Catherine Monteaux (both born in Quebec and of French-Basque descent). After his arrival in California during the Gold Rush his surname variously appears as Manteaux, Mantaux, Murtaugh, Mootah, Mutah, Muta, Muto, Mutau, and Mutaw! I chose to go with "Mutau," the variant that was used as the name for the creek and for the valley where he lived and was buried. "Mutaw" was ultimately used by his widow Vicenta and son Guillermo, jr. He married Vicenta Francisca Chapman y Villa at the Los Angeles Plaza Church on April 6, 1868, and appears as "William Manteaux" in the record (LA Marriage 00325). Along with their union came Vicenta's 13-year-old brother, Juan José Chapman y Villa, whom they raised. Right after their marriage he relocated his family to the San Joaquin Valley where he obtained a homestead patent northwest of Williams in Colusa County on December 1, 1868 ("William Mantaux"; BLM Govt. Land Office CACAA004849). He soon abandoned this homestead ("pursued by vigilantes" according to family lore) and set up camp in a remote valley in the Sespe Wilderness that eventually assumed another variant of his surname: Mutau Flat (34.63N, -119.05W). Mutau Creek, which passes through the valley, also uses this version of his surname. He worked as a teamster hauling freight between Fort Tejon and Ventura while establishing his ranch on Mutau Flat. On September 10, 1872, his wife gave birth to Guillermo Mutaw, Jr. A few months later, Vicenta registered the family's ear mark and brand with the Ventura County Recorder's Office (Ventura County Marks and Brands, Book 3). To provide additional income, Guillermo hired out his brother-in-law Juan as a "stock handler" (vaquero) at neighboring Rancho Sespe. Returning home from Rancho Sespe the evening of July 5, 1874, Juan found Guillermo drunk and especially abusive. Guillermo apparently had a "mean streak" and Juan did not appreciate the way Guillermo was treating his sister, who was than seven months pregnant. An argument ensued and harsh words were exchanged. Guillermo threatened to kill Juan and reached for his rifle, but Juan was quicker on the draw. He lingered for a few days, dying on July 8. William "Guillermo" Mutau was buried in the yard not far from the house.* The Ventura County Coroner conducted an inquest into the matter and concluded that Juan had acted in self defense (Inquest No. 4, dated July 17, 1874; Ventura County Probate Record P000015). His daughter Adelina was born a couple of months after his demise on September 3, 1874. By 1880 Juan had moved to Rancho La Ballona (now Venice) to live with his mother and sisters, María Cipriana and Senida Soíla, taking with him his young nephew Guillermo Mutaw, Jr. (1880 US Census). Family lore tells of frequent visits to the Mutau ranch by notorious Californio outlaws, who were given sanctuary there. One of the outlaws, Francisco "Menito" Lugo, was the uncle of Guillermo's daughter Adelina's future husband. After his death the family fell into debt and the taxes went unpaid. A Ventura County delinquent tax list for 1875-76 shows Mutau's estate consisted of 12 horses and 200 head of cattle. Mutau's widow, Vicenta, filed for a homestead patent for a portion of Mutau Flat in 1881 that was awarded February 1, 1882 (BLM, Govt. Land Office, CACAAA 076506). This isolated property is still privately owned and surrounded by the Sespe Wilderness. Vicenta moved to Saticoy long enough to have four more children before selling her Mutau Flat homestead to former Los Angeles County Sheriff James "Santiago" Thompson. Vicenta used the proceeds from the sale to purchase land on the former Rancho la Ballona (now Venice) in Los Angeles County, in 1886.

* At least two other individuals were buried there in August 1886; Jeff Thompson, son of James "Santiago" Thompson, and Francisco Martínez, a vaquero employed by Thompson.

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Children:

(at Mutau Flat)

- Guillermo, jr. (Sep 10, 1872-Apr 26, 1911)

- Adelina Maria (Sep 3, 1874-May 30, 1942; married Juan Alfredo Lugo y Machado at Santa Monica, Apr 13, 1903)

(Research and biography by Steve)