[p. 26.] San Luis Obispo de Toloso, p, 26
On the first of September, 1772, Fathers Junipero Serra and Cavaller founded San Luis Obispo, the fifth mission in California, in honor of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse. The history of this mission is a remarkable evidence of the energy and religious zeal of these men of God. Father Serra departed the second day, leaving Father Cavaller, two Lower California Indians, and five soldiers to commence the work of establishing a mission. Their supplies consisted of fifty pounds of flour, three pecks of wheat and a barrel of brown sugar-the sugar to be used in bartering with the native Indians for further supplies. The Indians proved friendly, supplied the missionary with venison, seeds and wild berries, and in many ways helped the Padres. A little chapel and dwelling were soon erected. But Father Cavaller remained alone at his post [p. 27] for one year. Then four immigrant families and a few unmarried Christians came to San Luis Obispo to make it their home. In November, 1776, the buildings, except for the chapel and granary were destroyed by fire, the Indians having thrown burning arrows upon the tule roofs. Twice again in ten years the buildings were on fire from the same cause. For this reason tiles were adopted for roofing, at all missions, instead of the dangerous but economical tules. The adobe church was finished in 1793; other spacious buildings such as barracks, a missionary's house, workhouse, guardhouse, granary, etc., were added the following year. Huts for the natives were comfortable and well built. A trained blacksmith, a carpenter and a millwright were sent to San Luis Obispo to instruct the Indians.
Father Luis Martinez labored long and earnestly for the welfare of this mission. He learned the Indian language and gave assistance, both to the troops and to other missions. Squirrels and locusts weere extremely troublesome, and one crop was entirely eaten up by mice. In the inventory taken 1836, an item is made of the library and musical instruments, $519, and the total valuation was given at $70,779. On September 10th, 1842, Governor Alvarado ordered the lands divided among the neophytes; amd two years later the mission was formed into a pueblo. It was sold the following year (1845) to Scott, Wilson & McKierey for $510. However, Governor Mason ordered the property returned to the Catholic Church.
[p. 27 San Luis Obispo de Toloso. 1908d]
The mission church is located near the business center of San Luis Obispo, county of the same name, and it is in a good state of repair, being used as it is, as the parish church.