Francisco Pliny Fisk Temple left Reading, Massachusetts for Los Angeles, California to join his half brother Jonathan Temple who he had never met. When reaching Santa Fe, New Mexico, Francisco joined up with William Workman and John Rowland, becoming the first immigrant caravan to cross the Santa Fe Trail trade route to Los Angeles. Jonathan–26 years older than Francisco–established himself as a merchant at the Pueblo de Los Angeles and hired Francisco as a clerk in his store.