Vallejo and the Four Flags: A True Story of Early California by Esther J. Comstock, Illustrated by Floyd B. Comstock, revised and abridged by David A. Comstock

Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was born when California was part of Spain’s overseas empire. As a teenager he enlisted in the Mexican Army, eventually commanded all pueblos and missions north of San Francisco. Owned the 60,000-acre Petaluma land grant, founded cities of Petaluma, Sonoma, Vallejo and Benicia. A friend and ally of Indian chief Solano, he helped write California’s Constitution and represented Sonoma County in the first State Senate. 88 pages, 23 illustrations, paperback.