A prominent French pioneer has emerged from an obscure page of California history as the man for whom Don Pedro Dam is named. His name was Pierre Sainsevain.

His first adventures in the state are unrecorded, but by 1839 he had made his way to Los Angeles, where he joined his famous Uncle, Don Luis Del Aliso, in winemaking. He proved himself to be a very talented vintner and soon he loaded a ship with wines and sold them from port to port, up and down the California coast.

In 1843, Sainsevain was granted the Canada del Rincon rancho near Santa Cruz. He spoke no English, but was fluent in Spanish and easily met the requirements to receive land from the Mexican government. These requirements included his naturalization as a Mexican citizen.

Information Courtesy of -The Modesto Bee \“Don Pedro – There Really Was One\”