The Leandro Silvas Family
Castolon farmers and freighters…..and a La Harmonia cook
A Documented Research Report by Bob Wirt
Leandro Silvas was born in February 1870 in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico. As a young boy, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1876. As a young man he worked as a cattle driver, bringing stock from Mexico to sell to individuals beginning ranching operations in the United States.
Leandro married Maria Deanda on September 5th, 1892. Although both were very likely living in Presidio County, Texas at the time, they were married at Jesus Nazareno Templo in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. Maria was born in Mexico in August 1872, the daughter of Francisco Deanda and Dominga Cano, and had immigrated to Presidio County with her parents in 1876. As a wedding gift, Maria’s father gave Leandro teams of mules and wagons, providing Leandro with the opportunity to get into the freighting business.
Leandro and Maria remained in Presidio County for a few years after their marriage. Their first child, daughter Magdalena, was born in Shafter, Texas on July 22nd, 1893. Their second child Jose de la Cruz as born on November 29th, 1894 and was baptized in El Indio, between the towns of Presidio and Ruidosa, on June 5th, 1895.
Nothing more is known about Leandro and Maria until 1900, when they had settled in the Castolon (then known as Santa Helena) area of southern Brewster County. With them were Leandro’s widowed mother Juliana, brother Juan, and sister Juliana, and Cipriano Hernandez and family. Cipriano was married to Leandro’s sister Juana. Leandro may have ranched near Mule Ears for a few years, but by 1919 he was farming in the Castolon area as a tenant farmer (share cropper) for the La Harmonia Company (a).
By 1910 both Leandro and Maria had become United States Citizens. Between 1903 and 1910 they were godparents for 10 local children, suggesting they were well known and respected members of the community.
Shortly after the La Harmonia Company went in to business in Castolon in February, 1919, Leandro was raising wheat and supplementing his income by selling wood and hauling freight. His income for the first seven months of 1919 was over $675.00, which was quite remarkable; the standard wage for farm and ranch labor was $1.00 to $1.25 per day in the area at that time, and they usually were not employed full time.
Little additional information is available on Leandro until September 1921, but he probably continued to work for La Harmonia Company as a tenant farmer and also continued hauling freight for the company.
One noteworthy event that occurred in 1921 was the planting of the first cotton crop, probably a small, experimental crop. Mr. Cartledge maintained detailed records of all costs associated with production of the crop and selected Leandro Silvas to grow the first cotton in the area. Leandro grew 1848 pounds of cotton in 1921, for which he was paid $97.59. He grew another small crop in 1922, for which he was paid $50.87.
Apparently satisfied that cotton farming could be profitable in the area, Mr. Cartledge made cotton his primary crop in 1923 and made the decision to purchase a cotton gin, which was installed near the present-day Cottonwood Campground. Leandro Silvas was selected as the local freighter to deliver the gin from the railroad depot to Castolon.
Leandro continued raising corn, wheat and beans in 1922, realizing a gross income from sale of crops of $387.61. However, the cost of producing his crops, seed, use of company equipment, etc., reduced his net income from farming to about $300.00. He continued to haul freight for the company, earning $233.71, and realized a small income of $10.93 from rental of his mules to other tenant farmers who did not have their own. His net income probably was about $545.00.
1923 was Leandro’s banner year with the La Harmonia Company. He received $1225.57 for his cotton crop, $4.80 for a small crop of corn and $107.69 for hauling freight (including $39.52 for delivering the cotton gin). After deductions for farming-related expenses, his net income was about $1175.00! In 1924 he also had the “privilege” of paying $4.83 in state and local taxes.
Leandro’s cotton production in 1924 was down significantly compared to 1923 (whereas the production of most of the other tenant farmers increased). Although the $814.17 he received for his crop certainly was respectable, his cost of production was much higher than in previous years, mostly due to increased expenditures for labor. His cost for cotton pickers was over $200.00, compared to about $100.00 the previous year, and he hired farm laborers to assist him throughout the season. Perhaps this was an ominous sign that Leandro’s health was failing. Furthermore, he was not involved in hauling freight for La Harmonia Co. in 1924.
There is no indication that Leandro was employed in any capacity for La Harmonia Company in 1925. However, in 1926 he was again hauling freight for the company, earning $160.00 for three round trips to Alpine, and in 1927 he made 5 round trips, earning $217.00
Leandro died late in 1927 or early in 1928. The last entry in the company ledgers in his name reads “Leandro doctor, $10.00”. According to his daughter Magdalena, Leandro and Wayne Cartledge had developed a very close friendship over their years of working together, and Wayne was at Leandro’s side during his final hours. Leandro is buried in the Castolon Cemetery, but his grave is not marked. Maria remained in the area into 1930, but no information is available on her after that time.
Leandro and Maria had 10 children, many of whom remained in the area after Leandro’s death.
1. Daughter Magdalena Silvas was born in July 1893 in Shafter, Texas. She married Inez Ramirez circa 1911. Very little is known about him. He apparently died shortly after the fifth child was born in 1927. After his death Magdalena reverted to her family name Silvas. She eventually became the cook for the La Harmonia Company Mess, a small cafe that served meals for Wayne Cartledge and his family, other full-time staff, and people staying in the area (e.g., customs agents, Department of Agriculture employees). She died in Alpine, Texas 18 October 1977 and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery in Alpine. Magdalena and Inez had five children.
2. Son Jose de la Cruz Silvas was born in Texas on 29 November 1894 and was baptized in El Indio, Presidio County, on 5 January 1895. He was in Castolon with his parents in 1900 and 1910, but died before 1920. He is buried in the Castolon Cemetery but his grave is not marked.
3. Son Manuel Silvas was born in Texas in November 1897. He came to the Castolon area with his family and remained there through the 1920’s at least. In February and March 1919 he was employed by La Harmonia Company to operate the irrigation pump, receiving $1.50 per day. (This was premium pay; the standard wage for farm laborers was $1.00 per day). In 1924 and 1928 he hauled freight for La Harmonia Company, in all cases involving hauling candelilla wax to Marathon. On one noteworthy trip in 1924 Manuel hauled 3389 pounds of wax to Marathon and 5520 pounds of acid to “Cerro Chino”(Sierra Chino), undoubtedly for the MEXTEX Wax Company, which operated there in the early 1920’s. Manuel very likely continued the family freighting business after his father’s death, but details are not available.
4. Son Francisco Silvas was born in December 1899 in Texas. He came with his family to the Castolon area and remained there through 1920 at least. In 1918 he sold fuel wood to the Study Butte Mining Company for $73.70 and in the 1920 census his occupation is shown as :”laborer, general”. He married Paula Aranda in Alpine July 1, 1919. They were married by Justice of the Peace W.H. Ragin. Their Catholic Church wedding was in Terlingua February 15, 1925. It was performed by Father Julius Gremaud from St. Agnes Catholic Church in Terlingua. The witnesses were Magdalena Silvas and Rafael Acosta. Paula Aranda was born in July 1905 in Presidio, the daughter of Celedonio Aranda and Carolina Nieto.
5. Son Juan Silvas was born in Castolon circa 1901. He probably worked as a miner for the Study Butte Mining Company from November 1916 through August 1917; he averaged over 24 shifts per month in the mines at $1.00 per shift. In February and March 1927 he hauled freight for the La Harmonia Company, and in 1930 he was in Castolon and working as a farm manager, according to the census. Circa 1920 Juan married Celestina Avila, daughter of Rosendo Avila and Paula Garcia. Paula was the daughter of local farmer Isidro Garcia and his wife Isidora. Juan and Celestina had seven children:
6. Son Jose Silvas was born in Castolon on February 27th 1903. He was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua, Texas on May 17th, 1903. No additional information is available on Jose.
7. Daughter Petronila Silvas was born on May 31st 1905 in Castolon. She was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua, TX on September 11th, 1905. She married Francisco Ramirez circa 1926 in a double wedding with Tiburcio Garcia and her sister Merced Silvas at the Steele Ranch (now known as the James Sublett farm), about four miles west of Castolon. Petronila’s husband Francisco was the son of Tiburcio Tersero Ramirez and Jesus Olivares, who lived in the village of La Coyota, about two miles west of Castolon. Petronila died of acute Septicemia on October 28th, 1939. Prior to her death, she was treated by Chisos Mining Company doctor D. N. Kelley. She was buried in La Coyota Cemetery by her father-in-law, Tiburcio Ramirez,. Petronila and Francisco had five children: After their Petronila's death the children were raised by their grandparents, Tiburcio and Jesus Ramirez.
8. Daughter Merced Silvas was born in Castolon, Texas on September 23rd, 1907. She was baptized in Bigbend (b) on April 29th, 1908 by Father Brocardus. Merced married Tiburcio Garcia circa 1926 in a double wedding with Francisco Ramirez and her sister Petronila Silvas at the Steele Ranch. Tiburcio was the son of Jesus Garcia and Mariana Oliveros, who were residents of the village of La Coyota. Merced and Tiburcio lived in La Coyota until the late 1930’s, when they moved to Marathon, Texas. Merced and Tiburcio had ten children:
9. Daughter Santos Silvas was born in Castolon, Texas on August 20th, 1909. She was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua, Texas on November 1st, 1909. Her godparents were Filberto Dominguez and Braulia Baiza. Santos married Senon Chavarria circa 1929. Senon was the son of Severiano Chavarria and Rita Ramirez of La Coyota. Senon died in Fort Stockton, Texas on February 25th, 1981. Santos died in Fort Stockton on January 25th, 2008 and was buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Stockton, on January 29th, 2008. Santos and Senon had four children:
10. Daughter Agustina Silvas was born circa 1912 in Castolon, Texas. She married Pablo “Gordito” Chavarria(c), son of La Coyota residents Severiano Chavarria and Rita Ramirez, on June 30th, 1933. They were married in Terlingua, Texas by Terlingua Justice of the Peace Robert L. Cartledge. Pablo died of a heart attack on April 1st 1972 in Brewster Memorial Hospital, Alpine, Texas. He was buried in Holy Angels Cemetery, Alpine on April 5th, 1972. Agustina was living in Alpine in January 2008. Agustina and Pablo had two children:
(a) Sometime in 1918, a partnership was formed between Wayne Cartledge and Howard Perry to purchase the Castolon area farm and general store owned by two Texas Rangers, Carroll Bates and Will C. Jones. Mr. Perry was the owner of the Chisos Mine in Terlingua, the largest of the mercury mines in the area, and Mr. Cartledge was one of his managers. The new company was named La Harmonia (Spanish for harmony). Mr. Perry was the president of the company and Mr. Cartledge was the general manager. The company started operations in February 1919.
(b) When the priests from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort Davis first began visiting southern Brewster County in 1899 to perform mass and baptisms, the only locations shown in the records were Terlingua, Lajitas, and San Vicente. In 1906 “Bigbend” began to appear. Although the precise location denoted by “Bigbend” is not certain, the people who were baptized there lived in the vicinity of Study Butte and the area to the south of Study Butte along Terlingua Creek. 1908 “Chisos” appeared as a location, obviously referring to the Chisos Mining Company town, i.e., present-day Terlingua.
(c). The Chavarria’s had twin boys, both named Pablo. The larger of the two was known as Pablo Gordito, and the smaller one was Pablo Chiquito.
A Documented Research Report by Bob Wirt
Leandro Silvas was born in February 1870 in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico. As a young boy, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1876. As a young man he worked as a cattle driver, bringing stock from Mexico to sell to individuals beginning ranching operations in the United States.
Leandro married Maria Deanda on September 5th, 1892. Although both were very likely living in Presidio County, Texas at the time, they were married at Jesus Nazareno Templo in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. Maria was born in Mexico in August 1872, the daughter of Francisco Deanda and Dominga Cano, and had immigrated to Presidio County with her parents in 1876. As a wedding gift, Maria’s father gave Leandro teams of mules and wagons, providing Leandro with the opportunity to get into the freighting business.
Leandro and Maria remained in Presidio County for a few years after their marriage. Their first child, daughter Magdalena, was born in Shafter, Texas on July 22nd, 1893. Their second child Jose de la Cruz as born on November 29th, 1894 and was baptized in El Indio, between the towns of Presidio and Ruidosa, on June 5th, 1895.
Nothing more is known about Leandro and Maria until 1900, when they had settled in the Castolon (then known as Santa Helena) area of southern Brewster County. With them were Leandro’s widowed mother Juliana, brother Juan, and sister Juliana, and Cipriano Hernandez and family. Cipriano was married to Leandro’s sister Juana. Leandro may have ranched near Mule Ears for a few years, but by 1919 he was farming in the Castolon area as a tenant farmer (share cropper) for the La Harmonia Company (a).
By 1910 both Leandro and Maria had become United States Citizens. Between 1903 and 1910 they were godparents for 10 local children, suggesting they were well known and respected members of the community.
Shortly after the La Harmonia Company went in to business in Castolon in February, 1919, Leandro was raising wheat and supplementing his income by selling wood and hauling freight. His income for the first seven months of 1919 was over $675.00, which was quite remarkable; the standard wage for farm and ranch labor was $1.00 to $1.25 per day in the area at that time, and they usually were not employed full time.
Little additional information is available on Leandro until September 1921, but he probably continued to work for La Harmonia Company as a tenant farmer and also continued hauling freight for the company.
One noteworthy event that occurred in 1921 was the planting of the first cotton crop, probably a small, experimental crop. Mr. Cartledge maintained detailed records of all costs associated with production of the crop and selected Leandro Silvas to grow the first cotton in the area. Leandro grew 1848 pounds of cotton in 1921, for which he was paid $97.59. He grew another small crop in 1922, for which he was paid $50.87.
Apparently satisfied that cotton farming could be profitable in the area, Mr. Cartledge made cotton his primary crop in 1923 and made the decision to purchase a cotton gin, which was installed near the present-day Cottonwood Campground. Leandro Silvas was selected as the local freighter to deliver the gin from the railroad depot to Castolon.
Leandro continued raising corn, wheat and beans in 1922, realizing a gross income from sale of crops of $387.61. However, the cost of producing his crops, seed, use of company equipment, etc., reduced his net income from farming to about $300.00. He continued to haul freight for the company, earning $233.71, and realized a small income of $10.93 from rental of his mules to other tenant farmers who did not have their own. His net income probably was about $545.00.
1923 was Leandro’s banner year with the La Harmonia Company. He received $1225.57 for his cotton crop, $4.80 for a small crop of corn and $107.69 for hauling freight (including $39.52 for delivering the cotton gin). After deductions for farming-related expenses, his net income was about $1175.00! In 1924 he also had the “privilege” of paying $4.83 in state and local taxes.
Leandro’s cotton production in 1924 was down significantly compared to 1923 (whereas the production of most of the other tenant farmers increased). Although the $814.17 he received for his crop certainly was respectable, his cost of production was much higher than in previous years, mostly due to increased expenditures for labor. His cost for cotton pickers was over $200.00, compared to about $100.00 the previous year, and he hired farm laborers to assist him throughout the season. Perhaps this was an ominous sign that Leandro’s health was failing. Furthermore, he was not involved in hauling freight for La Harmonia Co. in 1924.
There is no indication that Leandro was employed in any capacity for La Harmonia Company in 1925. However, in 1926 he was again hauling freight for the company, earning $160.00 for three round trips to Alpine, and in 1927 he made 5 round trips, earning $217.00
Leandro died late in 1927 or early in 1928. The last entry in the company ledgers in his name reads “Leandro doctor, $10.00”. According to his daughter Magdalena, Leandro and Wayne Cartledge had developed a very close friendship over their years of working together, and Wayne was at Leandro’s side during his final hours. Leandro is buried in the Castolon Cemetery, but his grave is not marked. Maria remained in the area into 1930, but no information is available on her after that time.
Leandro and Maria had 10 children, many of whom remained in the area after Leandro’s death.
1. Daughter Magdalena Silvas was born in July 1893 in Shafter, Texas. She married Inez Ramirez circa 1911. Very little is known about him. He apparently died shortly after the fifth child was born in 1927. After his death Magdalena reverted to her family name Silvas. She eventually became the cook for the La Harmonia Company Mess, a small cafe that served meals for Wayne Cartledge and his family, other full-time staff, and people staying in the area (e.g., customs agents, Department of Agriculture employees). She died in Alpine, Texas 18 October 1977 and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery in Alpine. Magdalena and Inez had five children.
2. Son Jose de la Cruz Silvas was born in Texas on 29 November 1894 and was baptized in El Indio, Presidio County, on 5 January 1895. He was in Castolon with his parents in 1900 and 1910, but died before 1920. He is buried in the Castolon Cemetery but his grave is not marked.
3. Son Manuel Silvas was born in Texas in November 1897. He came to the Castolon area with his family and remained there through the 1920’s at least. In February and March 1919 he was employed by La Harmonia Company to operate the irrigation pump, receiving $1.50 per day. (This was premium pay; the standard wage for farm laborers was $1.00 per day). In 1924 and 1928 he hauled freight for La Harmonia Company, in all cases involving hauling candelilla wax to Marathon. On one noteworthy trip in 1924 Manuel hauled 3389 pounds of wax to Marathon and 5520 pounds of acid to “Cerro Chino”(Sierra Chino), undoubtedly for the MEXTEX Wax Company, which operated there in the early 1920’s. Manuel very likely continued the family freighting business after his father’s death, but details are not available.
4. Son Francisco Silvas was born in December 1899 in Texas. He came with his family to the Castolon area and remained there through 1920 at least. In 1918 he sold fuel wood to the Study Butte Mining Company for $73.70 and in the 1920 census his occupation is shown as :”laborer, general”. He married Paula Aranda in Alpine July 1, 1919. They were married by Justice of the Peace W.H. Ragin. Their Catholic Church wedding was in Terlingua February 15, 1925. It was performed by Father Julius Gremaud from St. Agnes Catholic Church in Terlingua. The witnesses were Magdalena Silvas and Rafael Acosta. Paula Aranda was born in July 1905 in Presidio, the daughter of Celedonio Aranda and Carolina Nieto.
5. Son Juan Silvas was born in Castolon circa 1901. He probably worked as a miner for the Study Butte Mining Company from November 1916 through August 1917; he averaged over 24 shifts per month in the mines at $1.00 per shift. In February and March 1927 he hauled freight for the La Harmonia Company, and in 1930 he was in Castolon and working as a farm manager, according to the census. Circa 1920 Juan married Celestina Avila, daughter of Rosendo Avila and Paula Garcia. Paula was the daughter of local farmer Isidro Garcia and his wife Isidora. Juan and Celestina had seven children:
6. Son Jose Silvas was born in Castolon on February 27th 1903. He was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua, Texas on May 17th, 1903. No additional information is available on Jose.
7. Daughter Petronila Silvas was born on May 31st 1905 in Castolon. She was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua, TX on September 11th, 1905. She married Francisco Ramirez circa 1926 in a double wedding with Tiburcio Garcia and her sister Merced Silvas at the Steele Ranch (now known as the James Sublett farm), about four miles west of Castolon. Petronila’s husband Francisco was the son of Tiburcio Tersero Ramirez and Jesus Olivares, who lived in the village of La Coyota, about two miles west of Castolon. Petronila died of acute Septicemia on October 28th, 1939. Prior to her death, she was treated by Chisos Mining Company doctor D. N. Kelley. She was buried in La Coyota Cemetery by her father-in-law, Tiburcio Ramirez,. Petronila and Francisco had five children: After their Petronila's death the children were raised by their grandparents, Tiburcio and Jesus Ramirez.
8. Daughter Merced Silvas was born in Castolon, Texas on September 23rd, 1907. She was baptized in Bigbend (b) on April 29th, 1908 by Father Brocardus. Merced married Tiburcio Garcia circa 1926 in a double wedding with Francisco Ramirez and her sister Petronila Silvas at the Steele Ranch. Tiburcio was the son of Jesus Garcia and Mariana Oliveros, who were residents of the village of La Coyota. Merced and Tiburcio lived in La Coyota until the late 1930’s, when they moved to Marathon, Texas. Merced and Tiburcio had ten children:
9. Daughter Santos Silvas was born in Castolon, Texas on August 20th, 1909. She was baptized by Father Brocardus in Terlingua, Texas on November 1st, 1909. Her godparents were Filberto Dominguez and Braulia Baiza. Santos married Senon Chavarria circa 1929. Senon was the son of Severiano Chavarria and Rita Ramirez of La Coyota. Senon died in Fort Stockton, Texas on February 25th, 1981. Santos died in Fort Stockton on January 25th, 2008 and was buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Stockton, on January 29th, 2008. Santos and Senon had four children:
10. Daughter Agustina Silvas was born circa 1912 in Castolon, Texas. She married Pablo “Gordito” Chavarria(c), son of La Coyota residents Severiano Chavarria and Rita Ramirez, on June 30th, 1933. They were married in Terlingua, Texas by Terlingua Justice of the Peace Robert L. Cartledge. Pablo died of a heart attack on April 1st 1972 in Brewster Memorial Hospital, Alpine, Texas. He was buried in Holy Angels Cemetery, Alpine on April 5th, 1972. Agustina was living in Alpine in January 2008. Agustina and Pablo had two children:
(a) Sometime in 1918, a partnership was formed between Wayne Cartledge and Howard Perry to purchase the Castolon area farm and general store owned by two Texas Rangers, Carroll Bates and Will C. Jones. Mr. Perry was the owner of the Chisos Mine in Terlingua, the largest of the mercury mines in the area, and Mr. Cartledge was one of his managers. The new company was named La Harmonia (Spanish for harmony). Mr. Perry was the president of the company and Mr. Cartledge was the general manager. The company started operations in February 1919.
(b) When the priests from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort Davis first began visiting southern Brewster County in 1899 to perform mass and baptisms, the only locations shown in the records were Terlingua, Lajitas, and San Vicente. In 1906 “Bigbend” began to appear. Although the precise location denoted by “Bigbend” is not certain, the people who were baptized there lived in the vicinity of Study Butte and the area to the south of Study Butte along Terlingua Creek. 1908 “Chisos” appeared as a location, obviously referring to the Chisos Mining Company town, i.e., present-day Terlingua.
(c). The Chavarria’s had twin boys, both named Pablo. The larger of the two was known as Pablo Gordito, and the smaller one was Pablo Chiquito.
Copyright ã 2010 by Bob Wirt; all rights reserved.
This work may not be copied or used in whole or part without the written consent of the author.
This work may not be copied or used in whole or part without the written consent of the author.