The talk, presented in the past for the Chino Hills Historical Society, centers on Merced and Francisca Williams, the granddaughters of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino grantee Antonio María Lugo and daughters of ranch owner Isaac Williams.
When the latter died in 1856, the teenage siblings married Southerners John Rains and Robert Carlisle, both of whom were strong-willed, domineering, ambitious figures who died violent deaths within a few years of each other in the early to mid 1860s.
The paths of the sisters, already fraught with tragedy, diverged widely after that point, with Merced losing the Rancho Cucamonga that her husband purchased by selling her share of Chino and living a life of economic uncertainty, while Francisca kept Chino, sold it for a handsome sum, and lived the rest of our life in financial comfort.
The story of women, especially Latinas, in our region tends to be little-known and under-documented, so the story of Merced and Francisca Williams is an unusual example to the contrary.
To hear more of these remarkable women and their tumultuous lives, come out to the Ovitt Community Library at 215 E. C St., just east of Euclid Avenue and north of Holt Boulevard next Tuesday the 5th at 6:30 p.m.
Hope to see you there!
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