Lieutenant Cave Johnson Couts, an Escort Commander with the International Boundary Commission set up the camp.

The California Historical Landmark reads: Cave Johnson Couts was born on November 11, 1821, in Springfield, Tennessee.

Couts was the leader of an expedition to the Gila River and was in charge of the Boundary Survey between the United States and Mexico in 1849.

Couts set up a post camp at the meeting spot of the Colorado and Gila Rivers.

He was elected as state delegate from San Diego on August 1, 1849, to attend California Constitutional Convention at Monterey in 1849.

In October 1851 Couts resigned his Army commission and then took an appointed a Colonel in the aide de camp of Governor John Bigler.

At his Ranch Guajome he found that San Diego County soil and climate could grow many types of agriculture crops.

At Mission San Luis Rey de Francia area, and Rancho Monserate he became the supervisor of the Indians there.

He gave three hundred Indians jobs in construction, building: adobe house, chapel, barns, stables, sheds, corrals and planting flowers, orange and lemon trees.