The Benancio "Ben" Sanchez Family
A Documented Research Report by Bob Wirt
Version 3, Revised February 3rd, 2011
Benancio “Ben” Sanchez was born in 1861 in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. He immigrated to the United States around 1900. Circa 1890 he married Jesusita Pena. They had six children. She died circa 1901, shortly after they had arrived in the United States. Circa 1902 Ben married Antonia Olivas. She was born circa 1890 in Mexico. They were living in the Terlingua area when Antonia died circa 1912. They had five children. Circa 1914 Ben married Florencia Olivas. She was born circa 1896 in Mexico and died in Alpine March 31st, 1959. They had seven children. Ben died of Pneumonia in Alpine on April 9th, 1932 and was buried in Alpine the same day.
In 1918 and 1919 Ben worked in various capacities with the Study Butte Mining Company. From September through December, 1918 he hauled 24,730 pound of freight for the company, earning $185.48. Between December 1918 and March 1919 Ben sold over 29 cords of fuel wood to the company, earning $291.25. And in March, 1919 he and Fabian Macias sold 15,315 pounds of lime to the company for $91.89 (a).
The Study Butte Mining Company closed in May 1919. Ben and his family apparently remained in the area into 1920, but by 1921 had relocated to the Castolon area, where Ben and son Ricardo went to work for the La Harmonia Company as tenant farmers (b). Company general ledgers (c) provide good insight into the activities of the tenant farmers and other local residents from September 1921 onward. Unfortunately, they are incomplete prior to that time.
Only partial information is available on Ben’s activities in 1921, when he grew wheat, beans and corn for cash crops. 1922 apparently was a subpar year for Ben. He continued to grow wheat, beans and corn, but received only $142.91 for his crops. After deducting farming-related expenses (seed, equipment rental, etc.) his net income from farming was only $77.64. He had small amount of additional income from labor, selling wood, and freighting, raising his total net income for the year to $93.52. Ben’s freighting activities involved hauling materials to and candelillia wax from the Mex-Tex Wax Company, which operated downriver from Castolon at a site called Sierra Chino (d). He made at least three trips to site late in 1922.
In 1923, the La Harmonia farm switched to cotton as its primary cash crop. One result was a greatly improved year for the tenant farmers, including Ben Sanchez. Ben received $488.16 for his cotton crop and $5.70 for a small corn crop, and his farming-related expenses were only $13.25 for a net income from farming of $493.96. He supplemented that by making five trips to the Mex-Tex Wax Co. ($17.75), farm labor ($15.00), rental of his mule teams ($35.20), and hauling freight for the La Harmonia store ($16.69) for a net income of $533.86 (e). Ben’s last full year in Castolon was 1924, when he earned $388.95 for his cotton crop and $2.15 from the sale of hides.
Money rarely changed hands in Ben’s dealings with the La Harmonia Co. He purchased virtually everything on credit and all of his income was credited to his account. However, he apparently was a good manager of his funds. When he left the area early in 1925 he had a positive balance of $81.06 in his account. He apparently never tried to collect it; it was still shown as a company account payable in the 1930 end of year report.
Benancio Sanchez has 18 children. He and his first wife, Jesusita Pena, had six children:
1. Daughter Simona Sanchez was born October 15th, 1891 in Mexico. She married Arcadio Salinas. He was a carpenter and musician. He died at his residence in Alpine February 24th, 1953. She died in Brewster Memorial Hospital on October 15th, 1969 of heart failure. Both are buried in Holy Angel Cemetery.
2. Daughter Merced Sanchez was born September 24th, 1893 in Mexico. In 1910 she was living with her father in the Terlingua area. She died November 14th, 1966 of chronic bronchial obstruction in Memorial Hospital, Pecos, Texas. She was buried November 17th, 1966 in Alpine Mexican Cemetery (Holy Angels). Her married name was Olvera.
3. Son Joaquin Sanchez was born in Mexico circa 1898. In 1910 he was living with his father in the Terlingua area. From August, 1916 through May 1919 he worked for the Study Butte Mining Co, both in the mine and on the furnace crew at $1.00 to $1.50 per shift. His earnings per year were:
1916 $78.50
1917 $180.10 plus $180.36 for hauling 31,899 pounds of freight.
1918 $116.93
1919 $138.97
Joaquin married Crispina Baeza. In 1920 they were living in the Study Butte area. By 1929 they were living in Marfa, where Joaquin worked as a carpenter. He died on June 28th, 1936 in Marfa and was buried there the following day. They had one know child:
A. Reyes J. Sanchez was born January 7, 1920. He was raised and educated in Midland. He died at Hospice of Midland June 12, 2009 and in buried in Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland.
4. Son Ricardo Sanchez was born March 29, 1898 in Mexico. In 1910 he was living with his father in the Terlingua area. From June 1917 through April 1918 he worked as a miner at $1.00 per shift for Study Butte Mining Co. He earned $126.20 in 1917 and $96.90 in 1918. Additionally, he earned $56.75 from the company for hauling 9,458 pounds of freight.
After the Study Butte Mine closed in 1919, Ricardo moved to the Castolon (then known as Santa Helena) area. On June 28th, 1918 he married Josefa Pizaña. She was born in Mexico on March 19th, 1896, the daughter of Juan Pizaña and Juanita Fuentes.
In 1921 Ricardo was working as a tenant farmer for the La Harmonia Company, growing wheat, corn and beans as his cash crop. Records for 1922 show that Ricardo was only marginally successful as a farmer. He sold wheat and beans to the company store for $103.40, but after expenses (seed, equipment rental, etc.) his net income from farming was only $60.50. He supplemented his income by hauling freight ($99.19), which included two trips to the Mex-Tex Wax Company at Sierra Chino. He also earned small amounts for labor and selling wood for a total net income of $177.04.
With the introduction of cotton as the main cash crop, Ricardo’s fortunes improved somewhat. In 1923 his net income from crops was $362.64. This was supplemented with income from labor and freighting (including four trips to the Mex-Tex Wax Company) for a net income of $443.84 for the year. In 1924 his net income was $310.39, and in 1925 it was $284.29 from cotton and $58.10 for labor for a net income of $342.39. Ricardo left the Castolon area early in 1926. Like his father, he left with a positive balance in his La Harmonia account ($109.24), which he apparently never claimed.
When he moved to Alpine Ricardo opened the Oasis Bar on what is now called Gallegos Street. He supplemented his income by doing contract fence work in the Alpine and Big Bend areas. In 1958 he moved to Odessa to be near his family. Ricardo died in the Medical Center Hospital in Odessa on July 3rd, 1964 and was buried in Odessa on July 6th. Josefa died in Odessa April 24th, 1974. Ricardo and Josefa had three children:
A. Son Miguel “Mike” Sanchez was born in Castolon in 1923. He moved with his parents to Alpine in 1926. As an adult he worked for Flint Engineering and Construction Co. as a truck driver. In 1954 he moved to Odessa, where he worked as a truck driver for Three Rivers Pipeline. He continued working until 3 months before his death. He died in Odessa in February 2003.
On September 20, 1944 Mike married Genoveva Lara in Alpine. She was born in Terlingua in 1924, the daughter of Cipriano and Tomasa Lara. Mike and Genoveva had eleven children:
(1) Daughter Yolanda Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1945.
(2) Daughter Beatrice Sanchez was born in Alpine in January 1947. She died in June of the same year and is buried in Alpine.
(3) Son Ricardo Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1948.
(4) Daughter Guadalupe Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1949.
(5) Daughter Graciela Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1950.
(6) Daughter Sinderela Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1953.
(7) Son Armando Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1955.
(8) Son William Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1956.
(9) Son Ruben Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1957.
(10) Son Rudolfo Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1960.
(11) Daughter Ruby Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1962.
A. Daughter Liandra Sanchez was born in Castolon. She married Miguel Lujan Luna in Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Alpine on August 31, 1941. Miguel was born May 8, 1924 in Terlingua, the son of Gilberto Luna and Bonifacia Lujan. Miguel was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. While living in Alpine he worked on the railroad. He later worked for the Ector County School District until his retirement. Miguel died in Odessa on February 13, 2002 and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Odessa. Liandra and Miguel had 13 children.
(1) Daughter Teresa Luna was born April 27, 1942 in Alpine. In February 2002 she was living in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her married name is Alvarado.
(2) Son Eusebio Luna was born in Alpine December 19, 1943. In February 2002 he was living in Odessa.
(3) Son Arturo Luna was born in Alpine December 22, 1944.
(4) Daughter Lorina Luna was born in Alpine January 27, 1946. In February 2002 she was living in Odessa. Her married name is Lara.
(5) Daughter Juanita Luna was born in Alpine February 27, 1947 and died there June 24, 1947. She was buried in Alpine by her father.
(6) Daughter Margarita “Margie” Luna was born in Alpine May 1, 1948. In February 2002 she was living in Dallas. Her married name is Medina.
(7) Son Juan Manuel Luna was born September 29, 1949 in Alpine. In February 2002 he was living in Odessa.
(8) Daughter Josefa Luna was born in Alpine March 19, 1951. In February 2002 she was living in Odessa. Her married name is Alvarado.
(9) Son Miguel Luna, Jr. was living in Dallas in February 2002.
(10) Son Jesse Luna was living in Grand Prairie in February 2002.
(11) Son Rudy Luna was living in Dallas in February 2002.
(12) Son Jose Mauriso Luna was living in Houston in February 2002.
(13) Daughter Alice Luna was living in Stockton, CA in February 2002. Her married name is Norwood.
(14) Miguel’s obituary also listed a son, Guadalupe Olivas, who was living in Odessa in February, 2002.
C. Daughter Leonarda “Lee” Sanchez was born in Alpine. She married Roberto Gonzales Molinar, the son of Juan Baeza Molinar and Zenaida Gonzales. Leonarda and Roberto had five children. For details and more information on the Molinar family see http://www.lifebeforetheruins.com/antonio-molinar.html
5. Daughter Francisca Sanchez was born in Mexico circa 1901. In 1910 she was living in the Terlingua area with her father.
6. Daughter Florencia Sanchez was born in Texas circa 1901. In 1910 she was living with her father in the Terlingua area. On August 31st, 1920 she married Pedro Garcia, son of Miguel Garcia and Antonia Ortega. He was born in Camargo, Mexico in 1894. Florencia died in Parkway Manor Nursing Home March 1st, 1976 and in buried in Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park, Woodrow, Texas. Florencia and Pedro had three children:
A. Daughter Florencia Garcia was born in Brewster County on July 25th, 1931.
B. Son Domingo Garcia was born in Alpine on March 12th, 1933. He died of pneumonia in Alpine on October 25th, 1934 and was buried there the same day.
C. Son Pete Garcia was born in Brewster County on December 3rd, 1933.
Benancio Sanchez and Antonia Olivas had five children:
7. Daughter Catarina Sanchez was born circa 1902 in Texas. In 1910 she was living with her parents in the Terlingua area.
8. Son Jose Angel Sanchez was born in Texas on February 11th, 1904. He was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua on May 3rd, 1904. His godparents were Miguel and Amelia Navarette.
9. Son Pedro Sanchez was born in Texas on November 26, 1905. He was baptized in Big Bend by Father Brocardus. His godparents were Gregorio Mata and Guadalupe Ortega.
10. Daughter Angela Sanchez was born in Texas on October 25th, 1907. She was baptized in Terlingua by Father Brocardus on May 4th, 1908. Her godparents were Martianiano Catano and Maxima Anaya.
11. Son Benancio Sanchez was born in Texas on December 26th, 1909. He was baptized in Chisos on April 26th, 1910 by Father Brocardus. Nasario Olivas and Soledad Ontiveros were his godparents.
Benancio Sanchez and Florencia Olivas had seven children:
12. Son Faustino Sanchez was 15 Jan 1916 in Texas. He died May 25th, 1978 in Midland..
13. Daughter Paublita Sanchez was born June 22nd, 1918 in Texas. She married Pablo Rojo. She died in Lubbock, Texas on June 7th, 1996.
14. Son Julian Sanchez was born in Terlingua on January 10th, 1922. He was a foreman in the oilfield construction industry and a resident of Kermit, Texas. He died in an automobile accident on route 67 about two miles north of Shafter, Texas on May 23rd, 1976. He is buried in Kermit.
15. Daughter Antonia Sanchez was born May 23rd, 1923 in Santa Helena (Castolon). She died in Parkview Hospital, Midland of Peritonitis August 4th, 1951 and is buried in Holy Angel Cemetery, Alpine. Circa 1939 she married Adan Portillo, the son of Epimenio Portillo and Ezequia Jimenez. Adan was born in Alpine August 14th, 1920 and lived in Alpine all of his life. He died at his residence in Alpine July 2nd, 1971 and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery. They had 13 children:
A. Son Leocardio Portillo was born February 1st, 1940 in Alpine.
B. Daughter Eva Primera Portillo, twin of Hortencia, was born October 17th, 1941 in Alpine and was living there in August 1969.
C. Daughter Hortencia Secunda Portillo, twin of Eva, was born October 17th, 1941 in Alpine.
D. Daughter Tomasita Portillo was born December 22nd, 1943 in Alpine. Her married name was Montelongo and in August 1969 she was living in Midland.
E. Son Adan Portillo, Jr., twin of Maria Ana, was born October 24th, 1945 in Alpine. He died April 28th, 1946 in Alpine, probably of Meningitis. He is buried in Alpine.
F. Daughter Maria Ana Portillo, twin of Adan, was born October 24th, 1945 in Alpine. She died May 18th, 1946 in Alpine and is buried there.
G. Daughter Mary Ann Portillo was born January 4th, 1947 in Alpine. Her married name was Gonzales and in August 1969 she was living in Alpine.
H. Daughter Elidia Portillo was born April 5th, 1949 in Alpine. Her married name was Llanez and in August 1969 she was living in Alpine.
I. Son Cruz Sanchez Portillo, twin of Adan, Jr. (#2), was born April 18th, 1951 in Alpine. He died January 4th, 1952 at his residence in Alpine of dehydration from long-standing diarrhea and is buried in Holy Angel Cemetery.
J. Son Adan Portillo, Jr. (#2), twin of Cruz, was born April 18th, 1951 in Alpine.
K. Daughter Angelita “Angie” Portillo was born October 2nd, 1952 in Alpine and was living there in August 1969.
L. Son Reymundo Portillo was born October 24th, 1953 in Alpine. He died July 12th, 1954 in Alpine and was buried there the same day.
M. Daughter Lorina Portillo was born prematurely March 29th, 1956 in Alpine and died the following day. She is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery.
16. Daughter Petra Sanchez was born March 6th, 1928, probably in Alpine. She died September 5th, 1995 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Midland.
17. Daughter Jesusita Sanchez was born in 1930, probably in Alpine. She married Jesse Lopez. She died May 20th, 1988 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Midland.
18. Daughter Maria Sanchez was born January 5th, 1930. She married Gregorio Lopez. Maria died October 30th, 1996.
Notes:
(a) Lime was used by the company for processing mercury and also for construction.
(b) The company provided irrigated farm land at no cost and access to farm equipment, mules, seed, etc. which the tenant could rent or purchase. In return, the tenant agreed to give half of the crop to the company.
(c) The ledgers are part of the Wayne Cartledge Collection, held by the Archives of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.
(d) The company letterhead indicated the address was “Sierra Chino Texas and Mexico”. The wax-making operation probably was in Mexico, while the headquarters and company store were in Texas.
(e) Compared to an average of $450-$500 for a full-time Terlingua miner.
Sources:
Version 3, Revised February 3rd, 2011
Benancio “Ben” Sanchez was born in 1861 in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. He immigrated to the United States around 1900. Circa 1890 he married Jesusita Pena. They had six children. She died circa 1901, shortly after they had arrived in the United States. Circa 1902 Ben married Antonia Olivas. She was born circa 1890 in Mexico. They were living in the Terlingua area when Antonia died circa 1912. They had five children. Circa 1914 Ben married Florencia Olivas. She was born circa 1896 in Mexico and died in Alpine March 31st, 1959. They had seven children. Ben died of Pneumonia in Alpine on April 9th, 1932 and was buried in Alpine the same day.
In 1918 and 1919 Ben worked in various capacities with the Study Butte Mining Company. From September through December, 1918 he hauled 24,730 pound of freight for the company, earning $185.48. Between December 1918 and March 1919 Ben sold over 29 cords of fuel wood to the company, earning $291.25. And in March, 1919 he and Fabian Macias sold 15,315 pounds of lime to the company for $91.89 (a).
The Study Butte Mining Company closed in May 1919. Ben and his family apparently remained in the area into 1920, but by 1921 had relocated to the Castolon area, where Ben and son Ricardo went to work for the La Harmonia Company as tenant farmers (b). Company general ledgers (c) provide good insight into the activities of the tenant farmers and other local residents from September 1921 onward. Unfortunately, they are incomplete prior to that time.
Only partial information is available on Ben’s activities in 1921, when he grew wheat, beans and corn for cash crops. 1922 apparently was a subpar year for Ben. He continued to grow wheat, beans and corn, but received only $142.91 for his crops. After deducting farming-related expenses (seed, equipment rental, etc.) his net income from farming was only $77.64. He had small amount of additional income from labor, selling wood, and freighting, raising his total net income for the year to $93.52. Ben’s freighting activities involved hauling materials to and candelillia wax from the Mex-Tex Wax Company, which operated downriver from Castolon at a site called Sierra Chino (d). He made at least three trips to site late in 1922.
In 1923, the La Harmonia farm switched to cotton as its primary cash crop. One result was a greatly improved year for the tenant farmers, including Ben Sanchez. Ben received $488.16 for his cotton crop and $5.70 for a small corn crop, and his farming-related expenses were only $13.25 for a net income from farming of $493.96. He supplemented that by making five trips to the Mex-Tex Wax Co. ($17.75), farm labor ($15.00), rental of his mule teams ($35.20), and hauling freight for the La Harmonia store ($16.69) for a net income of $533.86 (e). Ben’s last full year in Castolon was 1924, when he earned $388.95 for his cotton crop and $2.15 from the sale of hides.
Money rarely changed hands in Ben’s dealings with the La Harmonia Co. He purchased virtually everything on credit and all of his income was credited to his account. However, he apparently was a good manager of his funds. When he left the area early in 1925 he had a positive balance of $81.06 in his account. He apparently never tried to collect it; it was still shown as a company account payable in the 1930 end of year report.
Benancio Sanchez has 18 children. He and his first wife, Jesusita Pena, had six children:
1. Daughter Simona Sanchez was born October 15th, 1891 in Mexico. She married Arcadio Salinas. He was a carpenter and musician. He died at his residence in Alpine February 24th, 1953. She died in Brewster Memorial Hospital on October 15th, 1969 of heart failure. Both are buried in Holy Angel Cemetery.
2. Daughter Merced Sanchez was born September 24th, 1893 in Mexico. In 1910 she was living with her father in the Terlingua area. She died November 14th, 1966 of chronic bronchial obstruction in Memorial Hospital, Pecos, Texas. She was buried November 17th, 1966 in Alpine Mexican Cemetery (Holy Angels). Her married name was Olvera.
3. Son Joaquin Sanchez was born in Mexico circa 1898. In 1910 he was living with his father in the Terlingua area. From August, 1916 through May 1919 he worked for the Study Butte Mining Co, both in the mine and on the furnace crew at $1.00 to $1.50 per shift. His earnings per year were:
1916 $78.50
1917 $180.10 plus $180.36 for hauling 31,899 pounds of freight.
1918 $116.93
1919 $138.97
Joaquin married Crispina Baeza. In 1920 they were living in the Study Butte area. By 1929 they were living in Marfa, where Joaquin worked as a carpenter. He died on June 28th, 1936 in Marfa and was buried there the following day. They had one know child:
A. Reyes J. Sanchez was born January 7, 1920. He was raised and educated in Midland. He died at Hospice of Midland June 12, 2009 and in buried in Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland.
4. Son Ricardo Sanchez was born March 29, 1898 in Mexico. In 1910 he was living with his father in the Terlingua area. From June 1917 through April 1918 he worked as a miner at $1.00 per shift for Study Butte Mining Co. He earned $126.20 in 1917 and $96.90 in 1918. Additionally, he earned $56.75 from the company for hauling 9,458 pounds of freight.
After the Study Butte Mine closed in 1919, Ricardo moved to the Castolon (then known as Santa Helena) area. On June 28th, 1918 he married Josefa Pizaña. She was born in Mexico on March 19th, 1896, the daughter of Juan Pizaña and Juanita Fuentes.
In 1921 Ricardo was working as a tenant farmer for the La Harmonia Company, growing wheat, corn and beans as his cash crop. Records for 1922 show that Ricardo was only marginally successful as a farmer. He sold wheat and beans to the company store for $103.40, but after expenses (seed, equipment rental, etc.) his net income from farming was only $60.50. He supplemented his income by hauling freight ($99.19), which included two trips to the Mex-Tex Wax Company at Sierra Chino. He also earned small amounts for labor and selling wood for a total net income of $177.04.
With the introduction of cotton as the main cash crop, Ricardo’s fortunes improved somewhat. In 1923 his net income from crops was $362.64. This was supplemented with income from labor and freighting (including four trips to the Mex-Tex Wax Company) for a net income of $443.84 for the year. In 1924 his net income was $310.39, and in 1925 it was $284.29 from cotton and $58.10 for labor for a net income of $342.39. Ricardo left the Castolon area early in 1926. Like his father, he left with a positive balance in his La Harmonia account ($109.24), which he apparently never claimed.
When he moved to Alpine Ricardo opened the Oasis Bar on what is now called Gallegos Street. He supplemented his income by doing contract fence work in the Alpine and Big Bend areas. In 1958 he moved to Odessa to be near his family. Ricardo died in the Medical Center Hospital in Odessa on July 3rd, 1964 and was buried in Odessa on July 6th. Josefa died in Odessa April 24th, 1974. Ricardo and Josefa had three children:
A. Son Miguel “Mike” Sanchez was born in Castolon in 1923. He moved with his parents to Alpine in 1926. As an adult he worked for Flint Engineering and Construction Co. as a truck driver. In 1954 he moved to Odessa, where he worked as a truck driver for Three Rivers Pipeline. He continued working until 3 months before his death. He died in Odessa in February 2003.
On September 20, 1944 Mike married Genoveva Lara in Alpine. She was born in Terlingua in 1924, the daughter of Cipriano and Tomasa Lara. Mike and Genoveva had eleven children:
(1) Daughter Yolanda Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1945.
(2) Daughter Beatrice Sanchez was born in Alpine in January 1947. She died in June of the same year and is buried in Alpine.
(3) Son Ricardo Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1948.
(4) Daughter Guadalupe Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1949.
(5) Daughter Graciela Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1950.
(6) Daughter Sinderela Sanchez was born in Alpine in 1953.
(7) Son Armando Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1955.
(8) Son William Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1956.
(9) Son Ruben Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1957.
(10) Son Rudolfo Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1960.
(11) Daughter Ruby Sanchez was born in Odessa in 1962.
A. Daughter Liandra Sanchez was born in Castolon. She married Miguel Lujan Luna in Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Alpine on August 31, 1941. Miguel was born May 8, 1924 in Terlingua, the son of Gilberto Luna and Bonifacia Lujan. Miguel was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. While living in Alpine he worked on the railroad. He later worked for the Ector County School District until his retirement. Miguel died in Odessa on February 13, 2002 and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Odessa. Liandra and Miguel had 13 children.
(1) Daughter Teresa Luna was born April 27, 1942 in Alpine. In February 2002 she was living in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her married name is Alvarado.
(2) Son Eusebio Luna was born in Alpine December 19, 1943. In February 2002 he was living in Odessa.
(3) Son Arturo Luna was born in Alpine December 22, 1944.
(4) Daughter Lorina Luna was born in Alpine January 27, 1946. In February 2002 she was living in Odessa. Her married name is Lara.
(5) Daughter Juanita Luna was born in Alpine February 27, 1947 and died there June 24, 1947. She was buried in Alpine by her father.
(6) Daughter Margarita “Margie” Luna was born in Alpine May 1, 1948. In February 2002 she was living in Dallas. Her married name is Medina.
(7) Son Juan Manuel Luna was born September 29, 1949 in Alpine. In February 2002 he was living in Odessa.
(8) Daughter Josefa Luna was born in Alpine March 19, 1951. In February 2002 she was living in Odessa. Her married name is Alvarado.
(9) Son Miguel Luna, Jr. was living in Dallas in February 2002.
(10) Son Jesse Luna was living in Grand Prairie in February 2002.
(11) Son Rudy Luna was living in Dallas in February 2002.
(12) Son Jose Mauriso Luna was living in Houston in February 2002.
(13) Daughter Alice Luna was living in Stockton, CA in February 2002. Her married name is Norwood.
(14) Miguel’s obituary also listed a son, Guadalupe Olivas, who was living in Odessa in February, 2002.
C. Daughter Leonarda “Lee” Sanchez was born in Alpine. She married Roberto Gonzales Molinar, the son of Juan Baeza Molinar and Zenaida Gonzales. Leonarda and Roberto had five children. For details and more information on the Molinar family see http://www.lifebeforetheruins.com/antonio-molinar.html
5. Daughter Francisca Sanchez was born in Mexico circa 1901. In 1910 she was living in the Terlingua area with her father.
6. Daughter Florencia Sanchez was born in Texas circa 1901. In 1910 she was living with her father in the Terlingua area. On August 31st, 1920 she married Pedro Garcia, son of Miguel Garcia and Antonia Ortega. He was born in Camargo, Mexico in 1894. Florencia died in Parkway Manor Nursing Home March 1st, 1976 and in buried in Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park, Woodrow, Texas. Florencia and Pedro had three children:
A. Daughter Florencia Garcia was born in Brewster County on July 25th, 1931.
B. Son Domingo Garcia was born in Alpine on March 12th, 1933. He died of pneumonia in Alpine on October 25th, 1934 and was buried there the same day.
C. Son Pete Garcia was born in Brewster County on December 3rd, 1933.
Benancio Sanchez and Antonia Olivas had five children:
7. Daughter Catarina Sanchez was born circa 1902 in Texas. In 1910 she was living with her parents in the Terlingua area.
8. Son Jose Angel Sanchez was born in Texas on February 11th, 1904. He was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua on May 3rd, 1904. His godparents were Miguel and Amelia Navarette.
9. Son Pedro Sanchez was born in Texas on November 26, 1905. He was baptized in Big Bend by Father Brocardus. His godparents were Gregorio Mata and Guadalupe Ortega.
10. Daughter Angela Sanchez was born in Texas on October 25th, 1907. She was baptized in Terlingua by Father Brocardus on May 4th, 1908. Her godparents were Martianiano Catano and Maxima Anaya.
11. Son Benancio Sanchez was born in Texas on December 26th, 1909. He was baptized in Chisos on April 26th, 1910 by Father Brocardus. Nasario Olivas and Soledad Ontiveros were his godparents.
Benancio Sanchez and Florencia Olivas had seven children:
12. Son Faustino Sanchez was 15 Jan 1916 in Texas. He died May 25th, 1978 in Midland..
13. Daughter Paublita Sanchez was born June 22nd, 1918 in Texas. She married Pablo Rojo. She died in Lubbock, Texas on June 7th, 1996.
14. Son Julian Sanchez was born in Terlingua on January 10th, 1922. He was a foreman in the oilfield construction industry and a resident of Kermit, Texas. He died in an automobile accident on route 67 about two miles north of Shafter, Texas on May 23rd, 1976. He is buried in Kermit.
15. Daughter Antonia Sanchez was born May 23rd, 1923 in Santa Helena (Castolon). She died in Parkview Hospital, Midland of Peritonitis August 4th, 1951 and is buried in Holy Angel Cemetery, Alpine. Circa 1939 she married Adan Portillo, the son of Epimenio Portillo and Ezequia Jimenez. Adan was born in Alpine August 14th, 1920 and lived in Alpine all of his life. He died at his residence in Alpine July 2nd, 1971 and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery. They had 13 children:
A. Son Leocardio Portillo was born February 1st, 1940 in Alpine.
B. Daughter Eva Primera Portillo, twin of Hortencia, was born October 17th, 1941 in Alpine and was living there in August 1969.
C. Daughter Hortencia Secunda Portillo, twin of Eva, was born October 17th, 1941 in Alpine.
D. Daughter Tomasita Portillo was born December 22nd, 1943 in Alpine. Her married name was Montelongo and in August 1969 she was living in Midland.
E. Son Adan Portillo, Jr., twin of Maria Ana, was born October 24th, 1945 in Alpine. He died April 28th, 1946 in Alpine, probably of Meningitis. He is buried in Alpine.
F. Daughter Maria Ana Portillo, twin of Adan, was born October 24th, 1945 in Alpine. She died May 18th, 1946 in Alpine and is buried there.
G. Daughter Mary Ann Portillo was born January 4th, 1947 in Alpine. Her married name was Gonzales and in August 1969 she was living in Alpine.
H. Daughter Elidia Portillo was born April 5th, 1949 in Alpine. Her married name was Llanez and in August 1969 she was living in Alpine.
I. Son Cruz Sanchez Portillo, twin of Adan, Jr. (#2), was born April 18th, 1951 in Alpine. He died January 4th, 1952 at his residence in Alpine of dehydration from long-standing diarrhea and is buried in Holy Angel Cemetery.
J. Son Adan Portillo, Jr. (#2), twin of Cruz, was born April 18th, 1951 in Alpine.
K. Daughter Angelita “Angie” Portillo was born October 2nd, 1952 in Alpine and was living there in August 1969.
L. Son Reymundo Portillo was born October 24th, 1953 in Alpine. He died July 12th, 1954 in Alpine and was buried there the same day.
M. Daughter Lorina Portillo was born prematurely March 29th, 1956 in Alpine and died the following day. She is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery.
16. Daughter Petra Sanchez was born March 6th, 1928, probably in Alpine. She died September 5th, 1995 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Midland.
17. Daughter Jesusita Sanchez was born in 1930, probably in Alpine. She married Jesse Lopez. She died May 20th, 1988 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Midland.
18. Daughter Maria Sanchez was born January 5th, 1930. She married Gregorio Lopez. Maria died October 30th, 1996.
Notes:
(a) Lime was used by the company for processing mercury and also for construction.
(b) The company provided irrigated farm land at no cost and access to farm equipment, mules, seed, etc. which the tenant could rent or purchase. In return, the tenant agreed to give half of the crop to the company.
(c) The ledgers are part of the Wayne Cartledge Collection, held by the Archives of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.
(d) The company letterhead indicated the address was “Sierra Chino Texas and Mexico”. The wax-making operation probably was in Mexico, while the headquarters and company store were in Texas.
(e) Compared to an average of $450-$500 for a full-time Terlingua miner.
Sources:
- 1910, 1920 and 1930 census records
- Brewster County birth records
- Study Butte Mining Company Payroll records, W. Keesey Collection, which is held by the Archives of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.
- Brewster, Presidio, Reeves and Ector County death records
- La Harmonia Company General Ledgers, part of the Wayne Cartledge Collection held by the Archives of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas
- Miguel Lujan Luna obituary, Odessa American, February 2002.
- Family information provided by Graciela Villanueva.
- St. Joseph’s Catholic Church baptism records, copies held by Archives of the Big Bend
Copyright ã 2011 by Bob Wirt; all rights reserved.
This work may not be copied or used in whole or part for publication without the written consent of the author.
Individual may use the information freely to develop and maintain family histories.