Seventeen thousand six hundred and two acres of California’s most
fertile land, bordered by a large river, divided by two smaller ones and
with a billion dollar oil pool beneath—the Rancho Santa Gertrudes sold
under the hammer for $3.40 an acre.
The rancho was a part of the great Manuel Nieto grant made by the King
of Spain through the Spanish Governor, Pedro Fages. The Nieto grant was
divided among his heirs and Antonio Maria Nieto received the part
designated as the Rancho Santa Gertrudes and in 1834 the Mexican
Governor, Jose Figueroa, confirmed the title to Dona Josefa Cota, widow
of Antonio Maria Nieto.
Later the rancho was conveyed to Lemuel Carpenter, born a Missourian,
but for many years a resident of California when it was a part of
Mexico. For awhile Carpenter and his beautiful wife, Maria de Los
Angeles Dominguez de Carpenter, lived happily on the rancho. They
prospered under Mexico but failed under the United States and on
November 14, 1859, the rancho was sold by the Sheriff. One week before
the day of the sale Carpenter committed suicide.
John G. Downey and James P. McFarland, doing business as Downey,
McFarland & Company, were the purchasers at the sale, paying $60,000 for
the entire rancho. Both of these men were famous characters in
California history. Downey became the Civil War Governor of the State
and McFarland a leading State Senator. Together they opened the first
drug store in Los Angeles, and Downey, with Alvinza Hayward, organized
the first bank.
In 1865 the rancho was leased for twenty-five years to the Los Angeles
Pioneer Oil Company for exploration and development of oil. But,
although the oil company diligently explored, no oil could be found and
the lease was finally abandoned.
The Town of Downey was started in 1873 with a boom and predictions were
freely given that the new city would soon outdistance its sleepy
neighbor, Los Angeles.
Toward the east boundary of the rancho the Town of Fulton Sulphur
Springs and Health Resort was platted. But few lots were sold until 1886
when the Santa Fe Railway built its line through the town, bought up all
the lots and replatted them into smaller ones, planned a big hotel and
renamed the town Santa Fe Springs. How foolish the silver-tongued land
auctioneers made the purchasers appear when they bought lots, then at
$200 apiece. How foolish would the same auctioneers look today if they
could see their town of Santa Fe Springs—a city of derricks—a bonanza of
“Black Gold.”
[Illustration: _Night at Santa Fe Springs on the Rancho Santa
Gertrudes_]