At the head of Bee Canyon in Jamul, a story unfolds that reads like something from a Wild West thriller—complete with buried treasure, unsolved murders, and a fugitive who may have haunted the local hills for years.

The Dunham Homestead Begins

In 1892, Isaac Dunham established one of the earliest homesteads in Bee Valley, marking a foundational chapter in Jamul's rugged frontier history. But Dunham's time on the land would be tragically short. When he died just two years later in 1894, he left behind more than property—he left a mystery that would captivate his sons and fuel local legend for decades.

The Search for Buried Fortune

Isaac Dunham was known as an eccentric man, and rumors swirled that he had buried money somewhere on the property. When Charles and James Dunham returned to settle their father's estate, they embarked on a determined search for the hidden treasure. Despite their efforts, the money was never found. The secret of its location—if it ever existed—died with Isaac.

James soon returned north to Santa Clara County, but his departure from Jamul would not be the end of his connection to the area. In fact, it would mark the beginning of something far more sinister.

A Series of Horrific Crimes

In 1896, James Dunham stunned the nation by committing a series of horrific murders in Santa Clara County. The crimes shocked communities throughout California, but what happened next added another layer to the dark tale: James disappeared without a trace.

Authorities searched extensively, but James C. Dunham seemed to have vanished into thin air. Or had he?

The Legend of the "Wild Man"

In the years following the murders, whispers began circulating through Dulzura and the surrounding Jamul foothills. Locals reported signs of a "Wild Man" living in the wilderness near the old Dunham ranch. The evidence was unsettling:

• Barefoot tracks appearing in remote areas
• Abandoned campfires in the backcountry
• Food stolen from nearby properties
• Sightings of a tall man carrying a rifle

Many believed that James had returned to hide out in the rugged terrain around his family's land. The wilderness of Bee Canyon provided perfect cover for someone seeking to disappear, and who would know the land better than someone who had grown up there?

The sightings and strange occurrences continued for years, feeding the legend and keeping the story of the "Wild Man" alive in local folklore.

A New Chapter: The Gregg Family Era

Eventually, the homestead passed into new hands and took on a completely different character. Dr. Robert J. Gregg, a health enthusiast who had befriended locals in San Diego, acquired the ranch and brought his own unique vision to Bee Canyon.

Together with his young wife Gertrude, Dr. Gregg cultivated olive groves on the property and became known throughout the area for his unorthodox health practices. He was an early advocate of what we might today call "alternative wellness," drinking and rubbing olive oil daily as part of his health regimen.

Dr. Gregg also imported a herd of Nubian goats and promoted goat's milk as a cure for various diseases—an idea that was considered quite radical at the time. His reputation for physical strength and unusual remedies made him a colorful and memorable figure in Jamul's history, though certainly less notorious than the property's previous connection to James Dunham.

A Legacy Etched in Folklore

The Bee Valley homestead, with its dual legacy of the Dunham mystery and the Gregg family's pioneering health practices, became permanently woven into the enduring folklore of Jamul. It's a place where history blends with legend, where tales of hidden treasure, fugitive murderers, and eccentric health advocates all share the same piece of land.

Today, the story serves as a reminder that beneath Jamul's peaceful rural landscape lies a rich and sometimes dark history. The question of whether James C. Dunham truly returned to haunt the hills around his father's homestead may never be answered, but the legend itself has become an indelible part of the area's past—a piece of local lore that continues to fascinate those who call these hills home.

The Dunham homestead story represents just one of many fascinating historical threads that make up the rich tapestry of Jamul's past. From frontier homesteaders to health pioneers, the area's history is filled with colorful characters and enduring mysteries.