Manuel Nieto

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Jose Manuel Nieto (1734 - 1804) was a soldier from the Presidio of San Diego who was assigned to the Mission San Gabriel at the time his land was granted by the Spanish Empire in 1784. He came to Alta California with the Gaspar de Portolà expedition of 1769.

The 1790 census described him as a mulato, from Villa Sinaloa, New Spain. Presidio soldiers were permitted to raise cattle for food and make a small profit. As his cattle numbers increased, the need for more grazing land was required. He requested the land grant through the governor of Alta California.

Nieto retired from duty in 1795 and settled down on his rancho with his family. A small community called Los Nietos gradually built up around the Nietos adobe home, which was near the Indian village of Sejat on the San Jose Creek. At the time of his death in 1804, he was the wealthiest man in Alta California - not in money, but in land, cattle and horses. Today, the area of West Whittier-Los Nietos, California is located near the original rancho home site.

Upon Manuel's death, his rancho was inherited by his widow and five children as his eldest son Juan Jose became head of the rancho. Over time, smaller ranchos were carved out of this large estate including the Rancho Los Alamitos, Rancho Los Coyotes and the Rancho Los Cerritos.