Henry Clay Wiley (1829-1898) never lived in his namesake canyon – but he did discover oil there. Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Indianapolis, Wiley came to San Diego in 1852 after fighting in the Mexican–American War. There he worked as a constable and married Anita Pico (1837-1901), whose father Andrés had commanded Mexican troops during the war. The Wileys moved up to San Fernando in 1859, where H.C. worked for his powerful father-in-law. They then leased a ranch near present-day Newhall Ave. and Sierra Highway that was later owned by the Lyon twins. In 1865, Wiley struck oil in what would soon be called Wiley Canyon. (The road was named by 1892.) Now a rich man, he moved back to L.A., worked as county under sheriff, and started a realty firm with Daniel M. Berry, who brought out their fellow Indianans to found Pasadena. In 1879, Wiley relocated to Tucson, where he increased his wealth and fathered twin girls with a widow named Nellie Butler. The spurned Anita divorced him in 1882 and he came back to L.A. with his new wife and daughters. H.C. Wiley spent his golden years investing in property and running a pool hall.
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