[1] It was granted in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Antonio Aguirre and Ygnacio del Valle.
They chose instead to hire a "mayordomo" (ranch foreman) to be in full charge of the vaqueros needed to guard the cattle.
With the cession of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided that the land grants would be honored.
Aguirre sold his undivided half interest in Rancho El Tejón to Jonathan (Juan) Temple in 1857.
In 1865, Beale purchased Rancho El Tejón from Ygnacio del Valle and Juan Temple.