VICENTA CARRIED ON HER RANCHING operation until 1868, when she and her family moved to Anaheim, California, where she purchased the Mother Colony House in 1872. They resided there for twelve years after which she spent the remainder of her days with various sons and daughters.

Regarded in her day as one of the wealthiest women in California and a great beauty, Vicenta passed away in May, 1907 at the age of 94. She was well known and admired for her charity, hospitality and her stories of early Californio life.

In 1929, the Mother Colony House was saved from demolition and became a public museum.

William Heath Davis painted a marvelous picture of the widow Doña Vicenta during this time period when he visited Santa Ana. He wrote, "We stopped next at the rancho of Santa Ana, owned by the beautiful and fascinating widow of Don Tomás Yorba, who had extensive land possessions, and great numbers of cattle and horses. She managed her rancho with much ability. The lady was one of my best customers. In June, 1846, I sold her from $2,000 to $3,000 worth of goods, she having come to the vessel at San Pedro to buy them. Here we passed the night. She also insisted upon furnishing us with fresh horses to Los Angeles, having herself before we appeared in the morning dispatched ours and the vaquero back to Teniente Pico.

Returning the vaqueros and horses was frequently done when guests remained over night. She provided us with two horses and another vaquero. It had been raining for some days, and the Santa Ana river was high.

While we were making our preparations to start, Doña Vicenta, her fine hair streaming over her shoulders, a picture of womanly grace and beauty, gave orders to her mayordomo to group four or ve manadas, which was done. Having the horses together, the vaqueros drove them into the river, across to the other shore, and then immediately back to the same place. As they returned, Doña Vicenta said: 'The river is now prepared for you to cross.' The object of the movement of the large number of horses had been to trample down and harden the soft sediment or river quicksand at the bottom, so that we could cross on our horses with greater ease and safety, without risk to horse or man."

Composite rendition of Vicenta Carrillo (1813-1907) based on a portrait of her with her children, as well as her sisters and son.

Vicenta and her family were served well by her first husband who left the articles listed in the inventory below to her in his will. The list reflects Yorba's wealth and a reputation as one of the best dressed men in California due to his habit of wearing silk satin and velvet jackets, buckled shoes, and a hat trimmed in silver lace and braid.