Father José María de Jesús González Rubio

Painted portrait of the Very Reverend José González Rubio. University of Southern California Libraries, California Historical Society.

Father González Rubio was one of three Franciscan priests at Mission Santa Barbara when the Lone Woman was brought to the city in 1853. According to George Nidever, Father González received some of her belongings when the Lone Woman died seven weeks after her arrival. Nidever said that Father González sent her dresses, bone needles, and other items to Rome, with Nidever’s approval.

DATE OF BIRTH: June 6, 1804
PLACE OF BIRTH: Guadalajara, Mexico, New Spain
DATE OF DEATH: November 2, 1875
PLACE OF BURIAL: Santa Barbara, California, USA


References
Dittman, Carl. "Narrative of a Seafaring Life on the Coast of California." Unpublished manuscript, 1878. Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Ellison, William H., (ed.). The Life and Adventures of George Nidever [1802–1883]: The Life Story of a Remarkable California Pioneer Told in his Own Words, and None Wasted. Santa Barbara: McNally & Loftin, 1984: 88–89.

Geiger, Maynard. Franciscan Missionaries in Hispanic California, 1769–1848, a Biographical Dictionary. San Marino: The Huntington Library, 1969: 113, 118.

Hardacre, Emma. “Eighteen Years Alone: A Tale of the Pacific.” Scribner’s Monthly 20 (1880): 659.