san_francisco land grant present day northwestern eastern california grant acres governor mexican army officer recognition service state related city san_francisco location popularly known finding gold southern_california area present day city lies boundary headquarters site gold find known today oak golden dream designated included portions ranges early history mission san established administrators realized need land agriculture livestock looked north establish mission subsequently living relocated mission baptized work built confluence santa river following mexican war independence missions land taken mexican government lieutenant assigned inventory property supposed returned governor friend instead january family moved buildings near died deathbed attempted reconcile estranged son writing letter offering entire inheritance died son received letter took possession land los_angeles area gold find march uncle second wife took rest oak tree dream floating pool gold pulled wild ground finding gold roots contrary portraits farmer discovery dumb luck studied actively searching gold evidence suggests gold previously found area thirty years prior gold find popularly documented incident area sparked gold rush smaller scale california gold rush people mexican state came gold knowledge gold find remained largely mexican territory sided governor power struggle imprisoned won battle release headed north saw mining operation determined search gold near later established mexican territory mexican american war destroyed prevent united_states gaining control tree took known oak golden dream registered later history treaty endorsed legitimate land titles held ceded land owners sued control prevailed judgment issued favor received westernmost portion acres took acres children received acres unfortunately time southern_california experienced great deal flooding forced mortgage properties order sustain needs producing food needs damages land buildings portion land returned portion exchange settling debts floods followed exacerbated problems finally forced sell land oil philadelphia headed keeping unable find oil san_francisco eventually landed hands closely associated area granted right way build rail line los_angeles sold portion land sprang new town company named town grew train station named hometown death heirs formed managed lands grandson law found oil property changed historic designations oak golden dream found gold
Rancho San Francisco