A family reunion is typically not news-worthy.  When the family is one of the oldest and most influential families in Southern California, however, the rules change.  Thus the Capistrano Dispatch reports on a recent weekend reunion of member of the Forster family, descendants of the smartly named John “Don Juan” Forster.

According to the article, this year’s family reunion “coincided with the 200th anniversary of the birth of family patriarch John “Don Juan” Forster in Liverpool, England. After arriving in Southern California, by way of Mexico, Don Juan married Doña Ysidora Pico, sister of Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California, in 1837.”

At one point in his life, Don Juan Forster was the largest landowner in California with over 220,000 acres, including all of historic Rancho Mission Viejo .  He and his family once called Mission San Juan Capistrano their personal residence.

Thanks to Rancho Viejo for the great information

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