Jose Francisco de Gracia Lopez (portrait) was an uncle of Don Antonio del Valle’s second wife, Jacoba Feliz. No ignorant vaquero, he studied mineralogy at the university in Mexico and knew how to search for gold. He may have also known local stories of gold being found in the valley as early as 1820. Nonetheless, his position as the first documented finder of gold in California remains secure.

In 1842, Francisco Lopez discovered gold in Placerita Canyon. The story goes that he was hunting for stray cattle, took a midday nap, and dreamed of gold. When he woke up and gathered some wild onions, he found gold clinging to the roots. A photograph shows the "Oak of the Golden Dream." Some dispute the romantic details and the precise tree, but no one denies that Lopez found gold that day. (Courtesy of Maggie Perkins and Courtesy of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society)

Images of America - Newhall.

Arcadia - Home of the iconic Images of America series and publisher of thousands of hyper-local hometown history books.