Juan Jose Warner

Juan José Warner (1807–1890), a naturalized American-Mexican citizen, developed Warner's Ranch in Warner Springs, California. From 1849 to 1861, the ranch was important as a stop for emigrant travelers on the Southern Emigrant Trail, including the Gila River Emigrant Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line. Warner established the only trading post between New Mexico and Los Angeles. Warner's Ranch was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Early life Warner was born in 1807 as Jonathan Trumbull Warner in Connecticut. He went west, travelling with a trading party from St. Louis in 1830, bound for Santa Fe. The following year he traveled with fur trappers to California.

Career In California Warner first trapped beaver for several years. From 1834 to 1841 he worked in a merchandising store in Los Angeles. As Mexico had controlled California since Mexican independence in 1821, Warner became a naturalized Mexican citizen and changed his name to Juan José Warner. He established what became known as Warner's Ranch near Warner Springs, California. The ranch property included hot springs. After he started serving travelers in 1849 on the Southern Trail, Warner set up the only trading post between New Mexico and Los Angeles.

Warner's ranch was a historic territory of the Cupeño Indians, who had inhabited the area for centuries before Spanish missionaries entered the area. Their land was taken over, many of the Cupeños worked for Warner on the ranch and constructed a village nearby.

After California became part of the United States, taxes were imposed on the Cupeño, one of a series of issues that led in 1851 to the Garra Uprising. In the revolt, several of the Warner ranch buildings were burned down. Warner moved his family to Los Angeles but continued to manage the ranch for years. located in Pala Valley about 20 miles away.