Tomas A. Sanchez
Tomas A. Sanchez was sworn in as sheriff in January 1860. He had served as a County
Supervisor since 1857. Having been born in Los Angeles into one of the original twelve
families, he became the first native son to hold the office of Sheriff.
Sanchez possessed certain qualities that made him atypical of the image most of us have
today of what a frontier sheriff should be. To begin with, Sanchez was quite wealthy when he
took office, having inherited vast land holdings from his father six years earlier.
Though he was only 34 years old when he was sworn-in as sheriff, he had already been
married 18 years and had a house full of children.
During the early years of his marriage, Sanchez also found time to fight in the Mexican War.
He served under General Andres Pico, and was a veteran of the Battle of San Pasqual,
described as the "bloodiest battle of the California conquest." Sanchez and General Pico
remained friends for many years following the war.