<P> The area around the selected site was not empty . It was near the northeast corner of the territory of the Coast Miwok, Southern Pomo to the northwest, Wappo to the northeast, Suisunes and Ptwin peoples to the east . A detachment of soldiers from the Presidio of San Francisco would be provided to protect the Mission and guard the neophytes . </P> <P> Altimira with soldiers and neophytes primarily from Mission San Francisco de Asís returned to the Sonoma area near the end of August . Altimira decided there was a better place to build on the other side of the valley . Just after starting he received a letter from Father - President Sarria who refused Altimira permission to continue building . Fr . Altimira obeyed and the month of September saw continuing negotiations between California's civil and religious leaders . On September 30 an agreement was reached: a new mission could be built and Fr . Altimira would be its minister, but Mission San Francisco de Asís would not be closed and the San Rafael asistencia had already been designated as a full mission (Mission San Rafael Arcángel). </P> <P> Beginning in October 1823 Fr . Altimira had the opportunity to build his new mission at the location he chose but since Mission San Francisco de Asís would remain open this Mission needed a different patron saint . Altimira chose San Francisco Solano, a 17th - century Franciscan missionary to South America . His company of soldiers and neophytes set about building all the facilities needed in a California mission . His annual report for 1823 listed no baptisms, one marriage, one funeral, a population of 482 Indians (all transferred from other missions) and 1341 animals . The work had started too late in the year for anything to be planted and harvested . </P> <P> On April 4, 1824, Passion Sunday, Father Altimira proudly dedicated his church . It was a crude, temporary structure but it symbolized development at the Mission . The church was built of whitewashed boards but was well furnished and decorated . Many of the articles were gifts from the Russians at Fort Ross . It also held a canvas painting of San Francisco Solano which had been donated by the Father - President . Furthermore, the Mission had been promised a relic of the patron saint to put in the altar . </P>

Who lived at the san francisco solano mission