6 CALIFORNIA JUST PRIOR TO THE GOLD DISCOVKKY,
among its numerous farmei^s several of them, notably the Scotch sailor, John Gilroy/ who in 1814 became the first foreigner permanently to settle in California, and Thomas W. Doak, who arrived two years later, the first American settler. North of San Jos^ and the adjoining Santa Clara mission,* where Padre Keal holds out manfully against claimants, are several set- tlors clustering round the present AI viso.' Westward liafael Soto has established a landing at San Fran- cisquito Creek, and Whisman has located himself a dozen miles below.*
Along the eastern slope of the peninsula leads a well-worn road past scattered ranchos, among which are those of John Cooper on San Mateo Creek, and John Coppinger on Canada de Raimundo; and near by are Dennis Martin and Charles Brown, the latter having just erected a saw-mill.^
San Francisco, at the end of the peninsula, however ill-favored the site in some respects, seems topographi- cally marked for greatness, rising on a series of hills, with a great harbor on one side, a great ocean on the other, and mighty waters ever passing by to the outlet of the wide-spread river system of the country. It is already in many respects the most thriving town in California, the prospective metropolis of the coast, with 200 buildings and 800 inhabitants, governed by Alcalde
^ The town beariDg his name, in the soathem pM^ of the valley, is ntoated on hlB former rancha Other early settlers were Mat. Fellom, Harry Bee, John Bnrton, J. A. Forbes, J. W. Weeks, and Wm GuIajm;, who in 1842 joined Weber in erecting a flour-mill.
Krannan & Co. had a tannery at this place.
' Including the families of Alviso, Ikrreyesa, Valencia, John Martiii, and Leo Norris, the latter an American, on Cherro rancho.
- Near the present Mountain View. J. W. Whisman was in 1848 j<Hiied
by I. Whisman. J. Coppinger lived for a tin>e on Soto's rancho, marned to his daughter. S. Robles had bought Santa Rita rancho from J. Pe&a.
^ CaHed Mountain Home. The last two had settled near the present Woodsijie. G. F. Wyman and James Peace were also in tlie same vicinity^ the latter as lumberer. The leading grautb were Las Pulgas of I^is Argiiello^ 35,000 acres; SanOregorioof A. Buelna, 18,000 acres; BuriBuriof L Sanchez, 14,600 acres; Caflada de Raimundo of J. Coppinger, 12,500 acres; Cafiadadel Corte do Madera of M. Martinez, 13,000 acres. Other grants, ranging from 9,000 to 4,000 acres, were San Pednj, Corral de Tierra, F^lix, Miramontes, ^Cafiada Verde, San Antonio, Batauo, and Punta del A^io Nuevo, following southward.
