180th Anniversary of Leidesdorff Ranch, est. 1844, by William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.

Restoring the "Golden Legacy" of early California Pan African Pioneers begins with celebrating unsurpassed blessed journey of Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.

William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was born at Spring Garden Estates on October 23,1810, St. Croix, Danish Virgin Islands to his African-Cuban mother, Anna Marie Sparks and Danish-Jewish father, Wilhelm Alexander Leidesdorff, Sr.

The eldest child with 4 siblings as christened Lutheran and recognized as a Danish citizen, naturalized a U.S. citizen in 1834, New Orleans, Louisiana. Migrating to Alta California he obtained Mexican citizenship in 1843, Monterey, Alta California.

Leidesdorff died very suddenly, some say murdered, the morning of May 18, 1848, a day before a very public announcement of the Gold Rush along the American River, he is buried inside the front entrance to Ole Mission Delores de Asís, San Francisco, California.

Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was a very successful maritime captain who owned many profitable businesses and held valuable maritime and real estate holdings throughout Louisiana, Alaska, New York, Hawaii, and California. Leidesdorff was reported to be one of the wealthiest men in pre-Gold Rush California, elected San Francisco Treasurer, President of the School Board, agent for the Russian American Fur Company and U.S. Vice Consul to Mexican Alta California.

Most of his personal and official records are hidden, partial records are dispersed at universities, public libraries and private collections throughout the world, it is past time to share his "stolen legacy" and help facilitate collaboration to bring his story to life.

In 1844, Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. received a vast land grant called Rancho Rio de Los Americanos from Mexican authorities and built an enormous cattle and wheat ranch compound we honor today.

Unique to his Mexican land grant was an added stipulation to allow the native population to remain undisturbed upon a significant portion of his 35,521 acre property, Leidesdorff Ranch.

Today, ancient Maidu-Miwuk-Nisenan acorn grinding holes are present among the mile long portion of the American River Parkway, in 1848, recognized today as historic townsite of Negro Bar, first recognized site of vast deposits of gold in today's Sacramento County.

This area was an early Gold Rush mining community 4 miles downstream from Mormon Island and Negro Hills, El Dorado County as seen on Theodore Judah survey for the building of the Sacramento Valley Railroad.

Very rich gold deposits were found at Negro Bar due to centuries of a rivers natural swirling pattern caused by a limestone bluff on the northern bank. This steep geographical landmark contains layers of ocean life forms and peaks archeological interest, since the Pacific Ocean is 100 miles away, part of the hidden story of Historic Negro Bar - managed by California State Parks.

In 1847, Captain Leidesdorff purchased a steam vessel from the Russian American Fur Company to develop overnight steam transportation of agricultural products from the Sacramento Valley.

His famous steamship voyage of, The Sitka, is seen on our California State Seal. Probably his greatest historical legacy, one day will be viewed as, the founder of Public Education in California; he donated the land, organized construction and opened the first public school in California, at Portsmouth Square, San Francisco.

In 1848, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. commissioned a survey to verify vast quantities of reported gold on his land. He received favorable official written reports and tales of murder at Negro Bar prior to untimely his death from brain fever or far worse.

Several million dollars worth of gold was placer mined and later dredged upon his vast land, today a new Gold Rush is seen upon his prime real estate in the City of Folsom, south of William Alexander Leidesdorff Memorial Highway.

The voices of restless souls buried in the desecrated California Gold Rush Era cemeteries of early California Pioneers of Pan African Ancestry from the townsites of Negro Bluff, Negro Hill, Negro Bar, Negro Village; cry out to tell us their authentic story before it is all distorted, disparaged and destroyed.

Unyielding spirits of our Native, Mexican, Russian and Negro Pioneers along the American River Parkway are finally being acknowledged and the healing will soon begin, as prophesied long ago, this 180th Year Anniversary of Rancho Rio de Los Americanos is very special.