Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Graves in Laredo, Tx

Cuesta tombstone in Laredo, Tx
Block 60; Graves 43 and 44 facing Meadows St. in the Catholic Cemetery:


Six burial spots numbered from left to right.
Grave 43:
Spot #1: Vacant
Spot #2: Vacant
Spot #3: Lorenzo Cuesta Ortiz (ashes)

Center area between Grave 43 and Grave 44:
   Juan F. Cuesta;
   Isabel Ortiz de Cuesta;
   Concepcion Cuesta Cantu (infant);
   and maybe Olivia Cuesta Ortiz (teen).

Grave 44:
Spot #1: Vacant
Spot #2: Vacant
Spot #3: Vacant

If 5 spots are vacant, why would anyone squeeze 4 bodies (2 adults, 1 teen, 1 infant) between 2 graves?

Date of death (burial):
1. Concepcion Cuesta Cantu - November 21, 1919 (11/22/1919)
2. Juan F. Cuesta - April 9, 1923 (4/10/1923)
3. Olivia Cuesta Ortiz - April 28, 1924 (4/29/1924)
4. Isabel Ortiz de Cuesta - October 7, 1947 (10/8/1947)
5. Lorenzo Cuesta Ortiz - November 25, 1995 (1995)

Olivia Cuesta Ortiz was always at 60-43/44. Originally, Juan F. Cuesta was located at 29-11-19, and Concepcion Cuesta Cantu was at 20-13-19.

Apparently both Juan and Concepcion were moved to 60-43/44, perhaps when a larger plot was purchased to bury Olivia Cuesta Ortiz, plus both Juan and Concepcion. A tomstone was added and it lists Juan and Isabel, only. On November 1995 the ashes of Lorenzo Cuesta Ortiz were added to the gravesite.

(Juan Cuesta Soto is still buried at Block 62. He died and was buried on July 20, 1947. He was the son of Jesus Cuesta Ortiz and Consuelo Soto; married to Alicia Guevara de Ortiz.)

Monday, December 15, 2008

First of my Saldana in Texas

Rafael SALDANA and Juanita VILLARREAL
On 7Jul1910 in Monterrey, NL, Juanita VILLARREAL VELA married Rafael SALDANA GARCIA. I knew of few isolated instances of any of their relatives migrating to the US.

On 19Aug1911, they had Salome SALDANA VILLARREAL. On 4Nov1943 she married Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ and both moved to Laredo, Texas to start their family.

Of Juanita VILLARREAL VELA I knew only that she was born in Cerralvo, NL, on 15Jul1894 and died during a trip to Laredo, TX, on 7Aug1969. Her father was Praxedis VILLARREAL (whose parents were Calixto VILLARREAL and Manuela CANTU). Her mother was Silvestre VELA, born 29Dec1871, died 6Jul1911 (whose parents were Francisco VELA and Pilar GARCIA).

I had heard that she had at least two brothers (Rafael, Praxedis, ?) and at least one sister (Maria, married to a CASTILLO in Houston, Tx).

Hearsay information is limited because it is well known that Juanita was not raised by her biological parents. An unknown aunt raised Juanita. The topic was never discussed.

Since I started reviewing the data in the "Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1903-1957" website on Ancestry.com, I have discovered some of Junita VILLARREAL VELA de SALDANA's relatives in the US. While reviewing the new Family Search Pilot (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html), I also came across a death certificate that added more information to Juanita's family.

Border-Crossing data indicates:
I. Calixto VILLARREAL VELA - Juanita's brother
Crossed: February 18, 1921, Rio Grande City, Tx
Age: 22 (b:1899?), laborer
From: Cerralvo, NL
Destination: Houston, Tx
Comment: A sister, Maria VILLARREAL, in Houston, Tx.
Purpose: Resuming residency

II. Praxedis VILLARREAL VELA - Juanita's brother
Crossed: April 1, 1924, Rio Grande City, Tx
Age: 21 (b:1903?), laborer
From: Cerralvo, NL
Destination: Ramiritos, Tx
Comment: Grandmother, Pilar GARCIA, in Ramiritos, Tx.
Purpose: Resuming residency

III. Rafael VILLARREAL - Juanita's uncle, (brother of Praxedis VILLARREAL CANTU?)
Crossed: June 29, 1928, Laredo, Tx
Age: 45 (b:1883?), laborer
From: Cerralvo, NL
Destination: Granger, Tx
Comment: Accompanied by a child (a US Citizen)
Purpose: Resuming residency

Death Certificate indicates:
IV. Rafael VILLARREAL VELA - Juanita's brother
Died: 2Sept1973, Robstown, Tx
Age: 68 (b:1905?), laborer
From: Rio Grande City, Tx (US Citizen?)
Comment: Was never married
Buried: Nueces County Cemetery

Some easy conclusions:
I. Juanita's grandmother, Pilar GARCIA, was living in Ramiritos, Tx on April 1, 1924.
II. Juanita's sister, Maria VILLARREAL, was living in Houston, Tx on February 18, 1921.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Cajero in Nochistlan

Iglesia de Nochistlan
The word CAJERO now means 'cashier', but in the 1700s it probably meant 'box maker'.

The town of Nochistlan was founded by 1531 in an area inhabited by the indigenous people named Caxcan. The 'x' in Caxcan is probably pronounced like the 'x' in Mexico in Spanish - as a soft 'j'. 'Cajero' sounds like 'Caxcan'????

By the 1540s the Chichimeca and the Zacateco indegenous groups were fighting against the Spaniards and their indegenous allies (e.g., the Caxcan). The indegenous people wanted the invading Spaniards out of their sacred grounds. The Spaniards wanted the silver ore from the area. The Spaniards struggled longer and harder with the Chichimecas than they ever did with the Aztecs. Hostilities lasted until the early 1600s.

In 1864, during the French Intervention Nochistlan was also involved in battles.

The following events all happened in Nochistlan, Zacatecas unless stated otherwise.

I. Isidro CAJERO married Ursula DONLUCAS (b:1760, conjectured).
The only offspring I know of is Jose Eugenio CAJERO (b:1780, conjectured).

II. Jose Eugenio CAJERO married Albina SANCHEZ on 25Sep1799.
They had 6 chilren:
  • Elijio (b:8Dec1806),
  • Maria del Carmen (b:1810; m:12Jan1825),
  • Severiano (b:1812; m:18Feb1830),
  • Sixta (b:28Mar1814; m:12Nov1829 and m:13Apr1831),
  • Fernando (b:1819; m:19Feb1835), and
  • Felipe (b:?; m:5Feb1842 and m:9Oct1850).

III. Severiano CAJERO married Dominga BORROEL on 18Feb1830.
They had 12 children:
  • Leandro (m:13Jan1848),
  • Juana (b:31De1832),
  • Natividad (b:10Sep1833; m:26Jul1849)
  • Jose Maria (b:30Dec1838; m:29Jun1854),
  • Timotea (b:20Sep1841),
  • Mercedez (b:27Sep1843),
  • Florentino (b:25Oct1844),
  • Nasaria (b:30Jul1845; m:26Feb1862),
  • Marsial (b:1Jul1848),
  • Reyes (b:9Jun1850),
  • Esiquio (b:18Nov1852), and
  • Felipe (b:6May1854).

IV. Nasaria CAJERO married Francisco ORTIZ on 26Feb1862.
They had 10 children:
  • Petronila (b:2Jun1863),
  • Isabel (b:6Nov1865),
  • Dario (b:22Dec1867; m:16Oct1891 in Monterrey, NL),
  • Juanita (b:1Nov1871 in Fresnillo, Zac.),
  • Pragedis (b:23Jul1879 in Rincon de Romos, Ags),
  • Teresa (b:1881),
  • Tereso (b:30Oct1883 in Monterrey, NL),
  • Antonio (b:16JUn1889 in Monterrey, NL),
  • Jesus (b:?), and
  • Victoria (b:?).

V. Isabel CAJERO ORTIZ married Juan CUESTA FLORES (in Monterrey, NL?)
They had 7 children described on the Cajero-Ortiz blog entry.

VI. One of these children was Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Ortiz-Cajero

Map of Mexico showing the State of Zacatecas
Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ was the son of Isabel ORTIZ and Juan CUESTA.

Isabel ORTIZ was the daughter of Francisco ORTIZ and Nasaria CAJERO.

Francisco ORTIZ and Nasaria CAJERO had 10 children:

French Intervention in México (1861-1867)
I. Those born in Nochistlan, Zac.
  • Petronila (born 2jun1863)
  • Isabel (born 6nov1865)
    On 28apr1944, Isabel crossed into US stating that she had a sister, Juanita, back in La Leona, NL, Mexico; and that she was visiting her brother, Antonio, in Brownsville, Tx. (La Leona may be an old name for Cerralvo.)
  • Dario (born 22dec1867)

II. Those born in Fresnillo, Zac.
  • Juanita (born 1nov1871)

III. Those born in Rincon de Romos, Aguascalientes
  • Ma. Pragedis (born 23jul1879)

IV. Those born in Monterrey, NL
  • Teresa (born 1881)
  • Tereso (born 30oct1883)
  • Antonio: married Eva Leyraud; had 5 children: Antonio, Eva, Aurora(b:1911), Ofelia(b:1aug1916), Oralia(b:1919)
  • Jesus
  • Victoria

Cristero War (1926-1929)
Other Border Crossing references to these family members:
On 22jan1931, Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ crossed into the US at Brownsville, Tx stating that he had his mother, Isabel, in Brownsville, Tx; and an uncle, Jesus, in Monterrey, NL.

On 22dec1933, Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ crossed into the US at Eagle Pass, Tx stating that he had an aunt, Victoria, in Torreon, Coahuila.

On 24feb1941, Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ crossed into the US at Brownsville, Tx, stating that he had his mother, Isabel, in Laredo, Tx; and an aunt, Victoria, in Monterrey, NL.

Map of State of Zacatecas, Mexico
Monterrey, NL is Northeast of this map on the way to Laredo, Tx.

The empty yellow square on this map indicates another important site related to the Cuesta family - Real de Angeles and Noria de Angeles, Zac.

Real del 14, San Luis Potosi is on the upper right hand corner of this map, just North of Charcas, SLP.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Border Crossing - Ancestry.com

Laredo International Bridge
Ancestry.com has more than 3 million border crossing records (Mexico to US, 1903-57). At that time the US needed cheap labor especially after it had lost so many men to wars.

It was easy for any Mexican to obtain the authority to cross the border in search of work. Many Mexicans were fleeing the dangers of the revolution, and it was extremely difficult to feed and raise a family.

A Form 548 was approve, filled, or updated at each crossing or as the laws were changed.

Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ (26Mar1908 - 25Nov1995) crossed the border alone numerous times maintaining a quasi dual citizenship.

I. July 11, 1927:
Age: 19 yr old student carrying $10.
Port: Laredo, Tx
From: Monterrey, NL, Mx
Destination: Laredo, Tx
Comment: Card read, "Return Mexico within 2 mos by Capt. Atkins of Salvation Army"

II. January 22, 1931:
Age: 22 yr old student carrying $12.
Port: Brownsville, Tx
From: Monterrey, NL, Mx
Destination: Brownsville, Tx
Comment: Uncle Jesus Ortiz in Monterrey; Mother Isabel Ortiz in Brownsville. Signed by him.
Purpose: Resuming residency.

III. December 22, 1933:
Age: 25 yr old musician
Port: Eagle Pass, Tx
From: Torreon, Coahuila, Mx
Destination: Eagle Pass, Tx
Comment: Aunt Victoria Ortiz in Torreon. Card reads, "Good health". Signed by him.
Purpose: Resuming residency.

IV. February 24, 1941:
Age: 32 yr old musician
Port: Brownsville, Tx
From: Monterrey, NL, Mx
Destination: Laredo, Tx
Comment: Aunt Victoria Ortiz in Monterrey; Mother Isabel Ortiz de Cuesta in Laredo, 1020 San Jorge. Signed by him.
Purpose: Resuming residency.

V. On November 4, 1943 he and his new bride (Salome SALDANA VILLARREAL) married in Monterrey, NL and moved to Laredo, Tx as legal aliens in accordance with existing laws.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Heroes de Nochistlan

Monumento a Heroes de Nochistlan, 1864, Zac.

French Intervention in México (1861-1867)

In 1862 the Conservative Party in Mexico tried to institute a monarchy with the help of the French. Maximilian of Habsburg, an Austrian archduke, was brought in. The USA could not enforce the Monroe Doctrine because it was fighting its Civil War. After an initial loss at Puebla (Cinco de Mayo de 1862), the French troops easily took Mexico.

The French under Bazaine occupied Guadalajara on 7 January 1864, and troops under Douay occupied Zacatecas on 6 February. Nochistlan was also invaded leading to more than 35 deaths.

Among the death the following are honored with an obelisk in the main square: Felix Ortiz, Tomas DonLucas, and Porfirio Borroel.


I have relatives with those surnames in those years in Nochistlan.
Homenaje a los Martires de Nochistlan

Urdiales of Monterrey

Cerro Las Mitras, Monterrey, NL
The Hacienda de los Urdiales was founded northwest of Monterrey, NL, Mx a few miles from the present downtown zone. It is located between La Colonia Las Mitras and Sierra Las Mitras (mountain). It grew into a town and is now completely absorbed by metropolitan Monterrey.

Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821)
I. On 31Jan1832 at the Sagrario Metropolitano, Jose Angel URDIALES married Petra ESCOVEDO (daughter of Ygnacio ESCOBEDO and Ysidora DE AYALA).

Jose Angel and Petra had 5 children: Dolores, Apolinar, Eulalia, Jesus Maria, and Norverta.

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Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
II. On 18Jun1848 at the Sagrario Metropolitano, Dolores URDIALES married Casimiro SALDANA (son of Juan SALDANA and Carmen BELASTRE).

Casimiro and Dolores had 12 children: Gregoria de Jesus, Isabel, Antonio, Tomasa, Isidro, Benito, Rafael, Desiderio, Castula del Carmen, Dovigilda, Anastacia, and Micaela.

-----
French Intervention in México (1861-1867)
III. On 24Nov1880 in Monterrey, NL, Mx, Isidro SALDANA married Salome GARCIA (daughter of Esteban GARCIA and Epifania SANCHEZ). Isidro SALDANA was born on 19may1858 in Monterrey. Salome GARCIA was born 26oct1862.

Isidro and Salome had 5 children: Magdalena, Fortunato, Isidro, Rafael, and Nicolosa.

Salome GARCIA was Isidro SALDANA's first wife. Isidro SALDANA's second wife was Carmen ELIZONDO.

Isidro and Carmen had 6 children: Isidro, Jose, Salome, Julia, Jacinto, and Ramon.

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Mexican Revolution (1910-1921)
IV. On 7Jul1910 in Monterrey, NL, Rafael SALDANA married Juanita VILLARREAL. Rafael was born on 17aug1887 at La Hacienda Los Urdiales and died 24jan1973 in Monterrey. Juanita was born on 15jul1894 in Cerralvo, NL and died 7aug1969 in Laredo, Tx.

Juanita VILLARREAL was the daughter of Praxedis VILLARREAL and Silvestre VELA. Juanita was raised by an unknown aunt!

Rafael and Juanita had 5 children: Salome, Mario, Raquel, Irma, and Minerva.

-----
WWII (1942-1946)
V. On 4Nov1943 in Monterrey, NL, Salome SALDANA married Lorenzo CUESTA ORTIZ and moved to Laredo, Tx.