The Old Spanish Trail Association (OSTA) announces their book; “Stories of our Ancestors from the Old Spanish Trail” is currently a featured top new release on Amazon.

The book, released on August 4, 2023, was written by members of the Descendants & Travelers of the Trail Chapter of the OSTA.  The Old Spanish Trail, established in 1829, followed a network of Indigenous routes used over centuries for trading.  These trails brought a diverse group of settlers west, including merchants, trappers, and eventually families.  The book is full of stories handed down to the descendants of settlers who traveled the Old Spanish Trail until 1853.  These daring stories are brought to life with early photographs of ancestors who faced insurmountable obstacles during their travels to Alta, California.

The Peña and Vaca families are included in two of the profiles: “Maria Nestora Peña Rivera”, by Peña Adobe Historical Society Board Member, Cecelia Peña, and “Juan de Jesus Teofilo Peña and Maria Anastasia Baca “ by Richard Lyon, a Peña Vaca descendant.  The Peña Adobe is also featured in “Helpful Tips for Families and Teachers” by Conchita Marusich, Old Spanish Trail Association President.

Also included in the book, from southern California, are the stories of the Trujillo family, an extension of the Peña family.  George Yount makes an appearance in “William Wolfskill” by Conchita Marusich.  Conchita’s great great grandfather, William Wolfskill, was a trailblazer over the very route the Peñas and Vacas would later travel!  John Reid Wolfskill, her great great uncle, was Peña’s closest northern neighbor on Putah Creek.  The 150 year old sweet orange tree at Peña Adobe was a gift from the Wolfskill family.

Cecelia Peña reflects her only regret is that she didn’t write more stories about some of our other local Old Spanish Trail Travelers, Antonio Armijo, founder of the first commercial Old Spanish Trail route and owner of Rancho Tolenas in Fairfield, or Dr. John Henry Knight of Knights Landing, or William Gordon of Gordon Valley.

Purchase your copy of “Stories of our Ancestors from the Old Spanish Trail”, at Amazon.com.  Proceeds will benefit Old Spanish Trail Association and the Descendants & Travelers of the Trail Chapter.  Please contact ancestortraveler@gmail.com for more information.