José de Guadalupe Cantúa served in the army stationed at San Juan Bautista and lead the party that first explored Arroyo Cantúa area. He was among the first European explorers of the Crear Creek region. Cantua Creek is named in his honor. He was the son of Ygnacio Cantúa. The Cantua family traces its history in the Americas to Ygnacio Cantúa who served as one of the twenty hand picked Soldado de Anza Expedition in 1774. His father, Ygnacio settled at San Juan Bautista in 1788 and remained there the rest of his life.

Guadalupe later obtained a Mexican land grant, San Luisito at San Luis Obispo for his services in the military.

Two of his sons, Lupe and Domingo ran with the famous Joaquín Murrieta gang and lived at Arroyo Cantúa. One of his daughters, Maria Cantúa, married José Vásquez and thier son was Tiburcio Vásquez. Tiburcio become another of California's most famous criminals.