Charles Maclay was a Methodist minister who made his first fortune in what we now know as the Silicon Valley. He had the gift of gab. In the 1860s, Maclay went into state politics – serving in the Assembly and the State Senate.

But he kept changing his party. First a Republican, then an Independent, then finally a Democrat. One newspaper opined: "there are kinks and quirks in human character that would bother a philoscopic angel to unravel."

Maclay went broke in Northern California, but saw opportunity down south in 1874 when land in the San Fernando Valley was put up for sale. Bill Robertson, director of L.A.'s Bureau of Street Services, says:

"He was the founder for the city of San Fernando. Now what most folks don't understand is he was backed by another gentleman who loaned him the money named Leland Stanford."

That Stanford, the wealthy California railroad baron. Maclay had backed Stanford's bid to be governor. Despite his entrepreneurial and political activities, Maclay remained a spiritual man. He founded a theology school in the Valley which today is affiliated with the Claremont School of Theology.

(Airdate: 11/8/2008)