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Note: MARRIAGE: Mission San Diego de Alcala, Matrimonios, 1769-1880, Book II DEATH: Death certificate on file at the San Diego County Recorder, County Administration Building, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 260, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 237-0502; state file no. 34-040062, Luis Serrano, birth date - 20 March 1845 in North San Diego, CA
BURIAL: Lot 12, Block B, Section 2, Calvary Cemetery [now a part of Calvary Pioneer Memorial Park, aka Pioneer Park; aka Catholic Cemetery, aka Mission Hills Cemetery, aka Old Catholic Cemetery], 1501 Washington Place, San Diego, CA 92103; same stone with Serafina Stewart Serrano et al
CENSUS: 1850 San Diego County, California, page 278B
1880 San Diego, San Diego Township, San Diego County, California, E.D. #68, sheet 42B
1900 Ward 1, San Diego, San Diego Township, San Diego County, California, E.D. #189, sheet 12A, page 94A; enumerated as Louis Serrano, born May 1850
1920 - 4124 Wallace Street, Precinct 9, San Diego, San Diego Township, San Diego County, California, E.D. #254, sheet 2A, page 235A
1930 San Diego, San Diego Township, San Diego County, California, E.D. #37-90, sheet 2A, page 67A
GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTION: http://www.sandiegohistory.org/findaid/Calvary images c024/op13030-353.jpg http://www.sandiegohistory.org/findaid/Calvary images c024/op13030-354.jpg
[front of monument] HERE RESTS A WOODMAN OF THE WORLD
JAMES J. SERRANO BORN JUNE 3, 1884 DIED JAN 28, 1913 REST IN PEACE
SERRANO
[right side of monument] MICHAEL SERRANO BORN JULY 5, 1871 DIED SEPT. 10, 1912 REST IN PEACE
JOHN SERRANO JULY 27, 1878 AUG. 5, 1930 REST IN PEACE
[back side of monument] LUIS A. SERRANO BORN MAR. 20, 1845 DIED JULY 14, 1933 PRAY FOR HIM
[left side of monument] SERAFINA STEWART SERRANO BORN JAN.31, 1851 DIED JAN. 18, 1929 PRAY FOR HER
NEWSPAPER: The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, November 11, 1920
OBITUARY: The San Diego Union, San Diego, California, Monday, July 15, 1933, page 1 and 2 RESIDENT OF CITY 88 YEARS DIES AT OLD TOWN HOME
Luis Serrano, said to have been San Diego's oldest resident in point of years, died yesterday. For almost 88 years Serrano, beloved and respected by all who knew him, lived at 4124 Wallace street, Old Town, where he died early in the morning. He had been in failing health about two weeks.
Serrano was one of San Diego's most colorful and picturesque citizens. He was born under the Mexican flag, and remembered clearly virtually all of San Diego's early history. Hundreds of writers, seeking data on the early life of San Diego visited him at his quiet Old Town home and found him a fountain of information. Entire books have been written upon facts which Serrano drew from his memory at will.
The body of the aged pioneer is at Johnson-Saum mortuary. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Serrano home and requiem mass will be sung in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Old Town, at 9 a.m. Monday. Interment will be in the old Catholic cemetery, Old Town.
In March, 1846, historians say, Serrano, the son of Jose Serrano, was born in a adobe house in Old Town. The house stood on the same spot where now stands the Serrano home. Serrano's grandfather, Leandro Serrano, came to San Diego from Spain as a government official. Serrano's father played an important part in the early history of California, serving under Pio Pico in the Mexican war and participating in the battle of San Pasqual.
A part of Serrano's early life was passed at his father's ranch at Paumo, famous in history for the Paumo massacre of December, 1846. But it was in Old Town that Serrano went to school, attended church, danced at all the Saturday night dances and particiapted in bull fights, which were held in what now is Old Town plaza.
About 60 years ago, Serrano was married to Serafina Stewart, daughter of John C. Stewart, a Maine Scotchman. The officiating clergyman was Father Ubach, the "Father Gaspara" in Helen Hunt Jackson's story, "Ramona."
Serrano recalled many thrilling incidents of early San Diego history. Thieving and banditry, he once told a historian, became so bad here at one time that a law was enacted which inflicted the death penalty for stealing. The first victim under the law was a hard character known as James Robinson who stole the only row boat on the bay. He was convicted and hanged.
Serrano recalled vividly when A. E. "Father" Horton moved San Diego, then Old Town, to New Town, now San Diego.
Serviving Serrano are three daughters, Miss Nevis Serrano, Mrs. Earl Ensign and Mrs. Rose Fournier, and three sons, Tony, Louis and Lee Serrano, all of San Diego. He also leaves 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Photo caption - Mourned by Many Luis Serrano, for 88 years a resident of San Diego, died yesterday at his home in Old Town.
*****
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, July 15, 1933, page A3 SAN DIEGO'S OLDEST NATIVE SON PASSES SAN DIEGO, July 14. (AP) - Born under the Mexican flag in San Diego, eighty-eight years ago, Luis Serrano, the city's eldest native son, died at his home today. Serrano's grandfather, Leandro Serrano, came to San Diego from Spain as a government official, and his father, Jose Serrano, served under Pio Pico in the Mexican army which opposed the invading Americans at San Pasqual.
Great Register of Voters, San Diego County, 1880 - 1887, San Diego Genealogical Society, San Diego, California, 1988, page 400. Luis Serrana, 34 years, born in Califronia, teamster, San Diego County voter registration 17 May 1880
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