Octaviano Celaya Family History
A Documented Research Report by Bob Wirt
Version 1, October 5, 2011
A Documented Research Report by Bob Wirt
Version 1, October 5, 2011
NOTE: In this report, when the text refers to an event (e.g., a death) for which an associated document is available, a link will be provided to that document. If you see a word or words in bold text and underlined, just click on it. For example, in the first paragraph you will see "Octaviano died December 13, 1935." Click on "died" to see the death record. To return to the main report, simply click the back arrow (usually in the upper left of your computer screen).
Octaviano Celaya was born March 22, 1863 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He was the son of Macino Celaya and Petronila Minjarez. He married Francisca Medrano circa 1896 and in 1900 the couple and their first child immigrated to the United States. They initially settled in San Vicente, Texas, but by 1909 they were living in the Terlingua area. Octaviano worked for the Chisos Mining Company until about 1911. Octaviano and his children probably lived in the Study Butte area until around 1924, when they returned to San Vicente. Francisca died sometime between 1910 and 1920. Octaviano died December 13, 1935 and is buried in San Vicente. They had six children:
1. Son Toribio Celaya was born circa 1897 in Mexico. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1900 and in 1910 was living with them in Terlingua. From August 1916 through December 1918, he worked as a miner for the Study Butte Mining Company. He averaged over 27 shifts per month at $1.00 to $1.25 per shift, and in May 1917 he earned $2.05 for hauling hay for the company. Toribio was still living with his family in the Study Butte area in 1920, but no information is available on him after that time.
2. Son Pedro Celaya was born circa 1903 in San Vicente, Texas. He moved with his family to Terlingua, then to Study Butte. In 1917, at the age of 14, he went to work for the Study Butte Mining Company. He worked in the mines and on the furnace crew at $1.00 per shift through September 1918, averaging over 27 shifts per month. He was still living in the Study Butte area in 1920, but by 1930 he was living with his sister Maria and her husband Fermin Salas in San Vicente. In the early 1930’s he worked for John Daniels in Boquillas, Texas. He eventually moved to Fort Stockton, where he was living in June 1964. Pedro married Margarita Mongarro circa 1930, probably in San Vicente. She was born July 12, 1908 in Marathon, the daughter of Ramon Mongarro and Inocenta Maldonado. Margarita was a resident of Fort Stockton when she died March 12, 1973 in Kermit Memorial Hospital. She is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Fort Stockton. Pedro and Margarita had eight children:
A. Daughter Canuta Celaya was born January 19, 1931 in San Vicente.
B. Son Camilo M. Celaya was born July 18, 1932 in San Vicente. He married Esperanza Quintela in Fort Stockton September 12, 1955. She was born November 3, 1933 in Fort Stockton, the daughter of Julio and Antonia Quintela. Esperanza died in Fort Stockton October 25, 2006 and is buried in Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery. Camilo was still living in Fort Stockton at the time of her death. Camilo and Esperanza had six children:
(1) Son Israel Celaya was living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(2) Daughter Norma Celaya married Joe Bueno. They were living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(3) Daughter Carol Celaya married Michael Gonzalez. They were living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(4) Daughter Regina Celaya married Jesus Benavides. They were living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(5) Daughter Linda Celaya married Javier Tellez. They were living in Granite Shoals, Texas in October 2006. They had one child:
a. Son Javier “JJ” Tellez died in 1999.
(6) Daughter Rebecca Celaya married Frank Valenzuela. They were living in Austin in October 2006.
C. Son Gonzalo Celaya was born January 10, 1935 in Brewster County.
D. Son Ramon Celaya was born August 30, 1936 (a). From 1942 to 1966 he lived in Fort Stockton, where he worked as a service station attendant. He died of a gunshot wound February 8, 1966 in Fort Stockton and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery.
E. Son Emilio Celaya was born August 8, 1938 in Boquillas, Texas. He died there three days later of unknown causes – there was no medical attendant. He is buried in Boquillas.
F. Son Nasario Celaya was born July 28, 1939 in Brewster County. He married Nieves Rios and they had one child:
(1) Daughter Rosa Mary Celaya was born June 17, 1960. She died in Fort Stockton November 16, 1960 and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery.
G. Son Lucas Celaya was born October 18, 1941 in Brewster County.
H. Son Pas Celaya was born May 23, 1943. He died of pneumonia in Fort Stockton September 2, 1943 and was buried there the following day.
B. Son Camilo M. Celaya was born July 18, 1932 in San Vicente. He married Esperanza Quintela in Fort Stockton September 12, 1955. She was born November 3, 1933 in Fort Stockton, the daughter of Julio and Antonia Quintela. Esperanza died in Fort Stockton October 25, 2006 and is buried in Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery. Camilo was still living in Fort Stockton at the time of her death. Camilo and Esperanza had six children:
(1) Son Israel Celaya was living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(2) Daughter Norma Celaya married Joe Bueno. They were living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(3) Daughter Carol Celaya married Michael Gonzalez. They were living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(4) Daughter Regina Celaya married Jesus Benavides. They were living in Fort Stockton in October 2006.
(5) Daughter Linda Celaya married Javier Tellez. They were living in Granite Shoals, Texas in October 2006. They had one child:
a. Son Javier “JJ” Tellez died in 1999.
(6) Daughter Rebecca Celaya married Frank Valenzuela. They were living in Austin in October 2006.
C. Son Gonzalo Celaya was born January 10, 1935 in Brewster County.
D. Son Ramon Celaya was born August 30, 1936 (a). From 1942 to 1966 he lived in Fort Stockton, where he worked as a service station attendant. He died of a gunshot wound February 8, 1966 in Fort Stockton and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery.
E. Son Emilio Celaya was born August 8, 1938 in Boquillas, Texas. He died there three days later of unknown causes – there was no medical attendant. He is buried in Boquillas.
F. Son Nasario Celaya was born July 28, 1939 in Brewster County. He married Nieves Rios and they had one child:
(1) Daughter Rosa Mary Celaya was born June 17, 1960. She died in Fort Stockton November 16, 1960 and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery.
G. Son Lucas Celaya was born October 18, 1941 in Brewster County.
H. Son Pas Celaya was born May 23, 1943. He died of pneumonia in Fort Stockton September 2, 1943 and was buried there the following day.
3. Daughter Maria Celaya was born August 28, 1903. In 1910 she was living with her family in Terlingua, and in 1920 in the Study Butte area. She married Fermin Salas October 11, 1923 in San Vicente, Texas and they had six children. See http://www.lifebeforetheruins.com/epifanio-salas.html for details and for more information on the Salas family.
4. Daughter Dominga Celaya was born December 11, 1906. She was baptized in Terlingua by Father Brocardus September 18, 1907. Her godparents were Tiburcio Martinez and Romalda Hernandez. In 1910 she was living with her family in Terlingua.
5. Son Francisco Celaya was born September 15, 1907. He was living with his family in Terlingua in 1910 and from 1945 to 1964 he lived in Alpine. He died June 11, 1964 in Brewster County Memorial Hospital and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery. |
6. Son Simon Celaya was born September 27, 1909 in Terlingua. He was baptized November 3, 1909 in Chisos by Father Brocardus. His godparents were Tiburcio Martinez and Romalda Hernandez. From 1924 to 1942 he lived in Brewster County and worked as a ranch hand for Bob Cerna on the K-Bar Ranch and for Waddy Burnham at Government Springs. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. After his military service he worked for Big Bend National Park. He died in Alpine November 7, 1989 and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery. |
Notes:
His death record indicates he was born in Castolon. That seems unlikely since the family was living in the San Vicente area at the time.
Sources:
Brewster, Pecos, Winkler County death records.
1910, 1920 and 1930 U.S. census records for Brewster County.
Big Bend National Park Oral History Program, Simon Celaya interview.
Study Butte Mining Company payroll records, W. Keesey Collection, Archives of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.
Brewster County birth records.
Brewster County marriage records.
Esperanza Quintela Celaya obituary, Fort Stockton Pioneer, October 27, 2006.
Copyright 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.
Individuals may use this information freely to develop and maintain family histories for their personal use.
This work may not be copied or used in whole or part for publication without the written consent of the author.
Individuals may use this information freely to develop and maintain family histories for their personal use.