The Octaviano Lopez, Sr. Family

A Documented Research Report by Bob Wirt
Version 3, August 18, 2011

Octaviano Lopez, Sr. was born circa 1865 in Jimenez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was the son of Jesus Lopez and Santos Ramirez. On November 6th, 1903 he married Elijia Ramirez, daughter of Canuta Ramirez, in Jesus Nazareno Temple in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. Octaviano’s first child, Julia, was born in 1900, possibly of an earlier marriage. The couple apparently spent time in different parts of Mexico in their early years. Their second child, Rebeca, was born in San Carlos, Chihuahua in 1904, their fifth child Santos was born in San Vicente, Coahuila in 1912 and their sixth and seventh children were born in Ocampo, Chihuahua in 1913 and 1915.

 In 1915 Octaviano, Elijia and seven children (including Julia) immigrated to the United States and settled in the Terlingua area. He was working in the mines in 1920 and 1930 according to census records. On May 23rd, 1932, while working for Chisos Mining Company, his foot was injured when a mule stepped on it. As a result, he missed work for one week, during which time he received half pay. He continued working for Chisos Mining Company at least through June 1934. His employee number was 509. Octaviano and Elijia had seven children: 

1.     Daughter Julia Lopez was born in San Carlos, Chihuahua, Mexico in 1900. Since she was born three years before Octaviano and Elijia were married, she may have been the child of a previous marriage. She immigrated to the United States with Octaviano and Elijia in 1915 and was living with them in the Terlingua area in 1920. She married Juan Perez in Terlingua January 1st, 1921. They were married by Father Max Weyert from St. Agnes Church in Terlingua. Juan Perez was the son of Eulalio Perez and Pascuala Hernandez. He was born in 1896 in San Miguel Mexquitic, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He immigrated to the United States in 1917 and by 1920 was working for the mines in the Terlingua area. The couple lived in Shafter, Texas in 1925. It is not known how long they were there but by 1932 they had returned to Terlingua, where Juan worked for the Chisos Mining Co., employee number 484. He suffered three injuries while working for Chisos. In May 1934 he injured his foot and missed work for 10 days. In April 1936 he was working underground repairing shaft and timber work. A board fell and hit him on the foot. It became infected and he missed 15 days’ work as a result. In October 1937 he was working as a timber man bracing up some weak areas. While working at the 600 foot level in shaft 9, his back was injured when he was hit by some falling rocks. He missed three days’ work as a result. Julia and Juan had five children:

     A.    Daughter Sabina Perez was born in Texas October 27th, 1921. She lived in El Paso 1959-1967. She died there November 26th, 1967 as the result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. At the time of her death she was employed as a helper at Redford School. She is buried at Concordia Cemetery, El Paso. Her married name was Soto.

     B.     Son Quirino Perez was born in 1924. He died of Influenza in Shafter, Texas on April 14th, 1925 and was buried there.

     C.     Son Vicente Perez was born January 22nd 1932 in Terlingua and died there March 24th, 1933 of Inanition. He was treated by Chisos Mining Company physician Dr. E.A. Montenyohl for over a month prior to his death. Vicente is buried in the Terlingua Cemetery.

     D.    Daughter Elpidia Perez was born in Terlingua April 19th, 1934.

     E.     Daughter Antonia Perez was born in Terlingua September 18th, 1936.

 2.     Daughter Rebeca Lopez was born in San Carlos, Chihuahua, Mexico in 1904 and immigrated to the United States with her parents in 1915. ·She married Anastacio Gonzales April 26th, 1919 in Terlingua. They were married by Father Antonio Alonso from St. Agnes Catholic Church in Terlingua. Anastacio was the son of Gabino Gonzales and Leonarda Ortiz and was born in Zacatecas, Mexico in 1893. He immigrated to the United States in 1915 and was employed by the Chisos Mining Company in the 1930’s. On November 2nd, 1932 he strained himself when a car went off the track at the Scott Furnace. He was off for four days, during which time he received half pay. Rebeca died of Tuberculosis in Terlingua on May 8th, 1934 and was buried in the Terlingua Cemetery the following day. She was attended by Chisos Mining Company physician Dr. E.A. Montenyohl prior to her death. Anastacio lived in Fort Stockton, Texas at the time of his death on September 18th, 1968. He died of cancer and is buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Fort Stockton. Rebeca and Anastacio had seven children:

     A.    Son Domingo Gonzales was born circa 1921 in Texas. He was living with his parents in Terlingua Town in 1930.

     B.     Son Luis Gonzales was born circa 1924 in Texas. He was living with his parents in Terlingua Town in 1930.

     C.     Daughter Lena Gonzales was born September 24th, 1926 in Chisos. She died five days later and is buried in the Terlingua Cemetery.

     D.    Daughter Nieves Gonzales was born circa 1927 in Texas. She was living with her parents in Terlingua Town in 1930.

     E.     Daughter Manuela Gonzalez was born circa 1930 in Texas. She was living with her parents in Terlingua Town in 1930.

     F.     Son Elninio Gonzales was born on April 26th, 1931 in Brewster County. The name is as shown in the birth record.

     G.    Son Agustin Gonzales was born on May 5th, 1933. He died of Gastro Enteritis in Terlingua on May 2nd 1935 and was buried by his father in the Terlingua Cemetery the same day. He was attended by Chisos Mining Company physician Dr. E.A. Montenyohl prior to his death.

3.     Daughter Paula Lopez was born in Mexico circa 1905 and immigrated to the United States with her parents in 1915. She was living in the Terlingua area with her parents in 1920. She married Guadalupe Chavez circa 1926, the son of Encarnacion “Chon” Chavez and Severa Gomez. He was born in Mexico on December 12th 1900 and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1904. Guadalupe was employed by Chisos Mining Company in 1925 and was still employed as a mine laborer in 1930, probably with Chisos. He died of bronchial pneumonia in Alpine, Texas on February 19th, 1942 and was buried the following day in Alpine. Paula and Guadalupe had three children:

     A.    Daughter Guadalupe Chavez was born in Texas circa 1928.

     B.     Son Victoriano Chavez was born on March 5th, 1930 in Brewster County, TX (probably Terlingua).

     C.     Son Roberto Chavez was born on September 19th, 1934 in Terlingua. He died on July 26th, 1936 of diarrhea and infinites in Terlingua and was buried there by his father the following day. His name is shown as Alberto is his birth record and Roberto in his death record.

4.     Son Francisco Lopez was born in Mexico circa 1911 and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1915. In 1920 he was living in the Terlingua area with his parents. He married Elpidia Gonzales circa 1929 and in 1930 they were living in Terlingua with his parents. He was employed by the Chisos Mining Company, employee number 718. During the 1932-1935 period he was working on the company’s gas plant, where he was injured twice. On Jun 7th 1931 he burned his arms and face while taking cinders out of the gas plant condenser, missing 29 days of work. On February 10th, 1935 he burned a finger during a minor explosion at the gas plant, but he did not miss any work on that occasion. Francisco and Elpidia had five children:

     A.    Son Manuel Lopez was born in Terlingua on June 20th, 1930.

     B.     Daughter Margarita Lopez was born in Terlingua on January 23rd, 1932.

     C.     Daughter Juliana Lopez was born in Terlingua on January 18th, 1934.

     D.    Daughter Rebeca Lopez was born in Brewster County on March 11th, 1936.

     E.     Son Jesus Lopez was born in Brewster County on January 1st, 1938.

5.     Daughter Santos Lopez was born in San Vicente, Coahuila, Mexico in 1912. She immigrated to the United States with her parents in 1915 and in 1920 was living with them in the Terlingua area. She married Tomas Pichardo January 20th, 1929 in Chisos. Tomas was born in Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico in 1904, the son of Hilario Pichardo and Pascuala Gutierrez. Santos and Tomas apparently moved to Imperial, Texas soon after their wedding, but returned to Terlingua by 1933. They had two children:

     A.    Daughter Tomasa Pichardo was born in Imperial, Texas on September 9th, 1930. She died of bronchial pneumonia in Terlingua on March 20th, 1933 and was buried in the Terlingua Cemetery the same day. Prior to her death she was attended by Chisos Mining Company physician Dr. E.A. Montenyohl.

     B.     Daughter Andrea Pichardo was born in Brewster County, Texas on February 4th, 1932.

6.     Son Octaviano Lopez, Jr. was born in Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico circa 1913 and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1915. In 1920 and 1930 he was living with his parents in the Terlingua area. According to the 1930 census, he was a laborer, quicksilver mine. In 1934 he was working for the Chisos Mining Company. He Married Juana Sandate in Terlingua August 2nd, 1931.They were married by Justice of the Peace Robert L. Cartledge. Juana was born in Terlingua June 16th, 1910, the daughter of Anastacio Sandate and Martina Perez.  Around 1935 Octaviano and his family moved to Coahuila, Mexico. Octaviano and Juana had at least four children:

     A.    Son Manuel Lopez was born in Terlingua on May 26, 1932 and died there the following day of pneumonia. He is buried in the Terlingua Cemetery. He was attended by Dr. E.A. Montenyohl, Chisos Mining Company physician.

     B.     Daughter Teresa Lopez was born in Brewster County, Texas on May 3, 1933. A.   She married Pedro N. Bernal. He was born December 4, 1923 and died in Fort Stockton September 25, 2003. Teresa died in Odessa Medical Center July 5, 2011 and is buried in East Hill Cemetery, Fort Stockton. Teresa and Pedro had eleven children:
          (1)   Daughter Irene Bernal was born January 30, 1960 and died at her residence in Fort Stockton November 24, 2010. She is buried in East Hill Cemetery, Fort Stockton. Irene and Pedro had two children:
               a.     Son Abraham Guevara was living in Fort Stockton in November 2010.
               b.     Daughter Nancy Guevara was living in Fort Stockton in November 2010. Her married name is Salazar.
          (2)  Son Dionicio Bernal was deceased by July 2011.
          (3)  Son Juan Bernal was deceased by July 2011.
          (4)  Son Ismael Bernal was deceased by July 2011.
          (5)  Son Jesus Bernal and his wife Socorro were living in Fort Stockton in July 2011.
          (6)  Son Pedro Bernal and his wife Rosa were living in Fort Stockton in July 2011.
          (7)  Son Cruz Bernal was living in Fort Stockton in July 2011.
          (8)  Daughter Pascuala Bernal married Oscar Cabello. They were living in Del Rio, Texas in July 2011.
          (9)  Daughter Zoila Bernal married Vicente Cabello. They were living in Fort Stockton in July 2011.
        (10)  Daughter Ernestina Bernal married Oscar Gonzalez. They were living in Fort Stockton in July 2011.
        (11)  Daughter Aracely Bernal married Salvador Garay. They were living in Fort Stockton in July 2011.

     C.    Son Jesus Lopez.

     D.     Son Simon Lopez.

7.     Son Jesus Lopez was born April 24th, 1915 in Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1915. He was baptized in Chisos June 29th, 1917 by Father Antonio Alonso of St. Agnes Church in Terlingua. His godparents were Ruperto Granado and Angela Valenzuela. In 1920 and 1930 he was living with his parents in the Terlingua area. On July 25th 1935 he was working for the Chisos Mining Company on the night shift. He was the top man on shaft number 9 when he was injured trying to untangle cable from the bucket. Two fingers on his left hand were mashed and the doctor had to amputate a quarter inch of bone from the middle finger. He was off from work for seven weeks. He received half pay until he returned to work on September 18th.

Sources:
    
     1920 and 1930 Brewster County census records Brewster County birth records
Brewster, El Paso and Pecos County death records
Marriage and baptism records from Jesus Nazareno Church in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico and sites in Zacatecas and Durango, Mexico accessed via the FamilySearch Web Site
Peter Koch collection, Archives of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas
Microfilm copies of records from St. Agnes Church in Terlingua, held by the Latter Day Saints Church.
Brewster County Marriage Records
Irene Guevara obituary, Odessa American, November 27, 2010
Teresa Bernal obituary, Fort Stockton Pioneer, July 21, 2011

Copyright ã 2010 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.