First of my Saldana in Texas

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.

Urdiales of Monterrey

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.

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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.

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