, published in
Overland Monthly, 1895 Antonio Francisco Coronel was the son of
Ygnacio Coronel, born in
Mexico City in the last years of colonial
New Spain. Coronel was 17 years of age when he came to Alta California with his parents in 1834, as a part of the
Híjar-Padrés Colony. In 1838, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Tribunals for the
Pueblo de Los Ángeles. In 1843, he became
Justice of the Peace (
Juez de Paz, the equivalent of Mayor at that time). During the
Mexican–American War in 1846–47, Antonio was a captain and sergeant-at-arms in the Mexican artillery and took part in military operations against the United States. Participating in the
Battle of Dominguez Rancho, the
Battle of Río San Gabriel and the
Battle of La Mesa. He continued resistance under General
José María Flores until Flores decided to leave California. Coronel and others then surrendered while Flores and a small remnant retreated to
Sonora. Once the war had ended, Antonio Coronel was the first
Los Angeles County Assessor from 1850 to 1856. In 1853, Coronel became
Mayor of Los Angeles. Coronel was a ward councilman on the
Los Angeles Common Council (1854–1867) He was the
California State Treasurer from 1867 to 1871. In 1873, Coronel married Mariana Williamson. Coronel collected indigenous artifacts from California and Mexico, and mission-era relics. After his death his widow donated them to the Chamber of Commerce which put them on display in an exhibit of Californiana in their downtown headquarters. Coronel's donated collection made the basis for the
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Antonio Coronel became the owner of
Rancho Los Feliz. ==Personal life==