Page 13 - robinson_storyofvalencia_1967

California's first gold rush takes place on
Rancho San Francisco

Francisco L/pez of Los_ Angeles, the uncle of Dona

I Jacoba, ofteh spent a week or more at his niece's Rancho San

i ~rancisco where he rented~ section for hi~ own stock. He was a
l
m~n of varied interests and had taken a cours~ it a minini college

in Mexico City, according to on~ of his lineal _descendants,
I
Francisca Lopez Belderrain (writing in the November, 1930, issu~

of-Touri~ Topics.)

One dayr March 9, 1842, Don Francisco was riding up

one of Rancho San .Fr~ncisco's canyons, now called Placerita Canyon.

He was either on a hunting tri~ or was rounding up stock the

stories vary. At noon-time he and his companion stopped beneath
,,
an oak for lunch and to rest. While doing so, Lopez took his

knife and du~•up some wild onions. Attachid to the roots

nugget of gold. Further digging revealed other nuggets.

There was great exci_teraent t_hat night in the del Valle

ranch house.~ The next morning the family rode to Mission t~~

Fernando to tell the good news. Francisco's brother, Don Pedro,

was then mayordomo a~ the Mission. The following day the two

brothers and some friends rode into Los Angeles to n6tify govern-

mental authori~ies.

In such rnanner California's first gold rush ~as launched,

11,

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