Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

The history of San Diego County has been sorely deficient in recording the account of a remarkable man. Jose Panto, the capitan of the Indian pueblo of San Pascual, led his people over a period of at least 37 years through the last decade of the Mexican rule of California and into the era of American dominance. By turns a fighter and a peacemaker, Panto was a highly respected man, both by his own people and by the dominant power of the time, whether it be a Mexican governor or an American Indian agent. As later history has been written, Panto has been largely ignored, perhaps because he did seek the way of peace rather than rebellion. His trust in the authorities was sadly misplaced, as the onslaught of the American frontier prevailed to destroy his village and rout his people from their land.