Terrenos Illustrated History of the Otero Land Grant

Book excerpt: Terrenos chronicles the history of the January 10, 1789 Don Torivio de Otero Spanish land grant at Tubac, New Spain (present day Arizona). It details how Otero family descendants were able to prove their land claim to both the Mexican and United States governments despite Apache depredations, squatters, and multiple court challenges. The Otero land grant was comprised of two parcels of land, the Solar (house lot) located in the town of Tubac, and the Rancho de Otero, a farm and stock ranch located one mile north of Tubac known today as the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. The Don Torivio de Otero land grant was the first privately-owned permanent title to land in Arizona. Ancient documents reveal Don Torivio was the first recorded lay teacher and built the first recorded Spanish irrigation system during Arizona's Spanish colonial period. Otero family land grant heirs-at-law included Gabriella Otero, known as Sister Clara Otero an inductee to the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame, and Cattle Kings Sabino and Teofilo Otero. Terrenos also provides a brief history of Rancho de Otero ownership through present day, including the establishment of the Tubac Valley County Club under the direction of Chairman of the Board Hollywood legend Bing Crosby. Terrenos further details the purchase of dozens of properties throughout southern Arizona including the Sabino Otero land grant at Baboquivari (Elkhorn Ranch) near Tucson, the Maria Clara Martinez Otero land grant known as El Reventon Ranch (Agua Linda Farms) at Amado, AZ, and private land purchases by Teofilo Otero known as Otero Hall at the Presidio State Historic Park and Museum at Tubac and El Tiradito (Wishing Shrine) at Tucson. Anyone interested in Arizona history and southwest culture would find Terrenos of interest.