The Baca / Douglas Genealogy and Family History Blog

31 May 2009

Descendants of Callentano and Maria Ines (Candelaria) Abeyta

Callentano Abeyta and Maria Ines Candelaria are my 4th great-grandparents. Their son Jose Albino Abeyta, and his wife Maria Miguela Sanchez were the parents of Manuela Abeyta who married Jose Casmiro Montoya (see my previous post.)

Today I decided to try to find a few more descendants of Callentano and Ines (Candelaria) Abeyta. I was successful in finding one more generation through their daughter Maria Encarnacion Abeyta who married Jose Tomas Gallegos. You can find the PDF file showing a descendant register report at this link.

In addition to baptismal records, I also found two United States Census records that show Jose Tomas Gallego(s) and his family in Paraje de Fra Cristobal, a stop-over point (or more likely a village during that time) about 35 miles south of Socorro.

The 1860 Census is in two parts here and here; while the 1870 Census is here.

References:

Tomas Gallego family, 1860 New Mexico Census, Socorro County, Post office: Fra Cristobal, pp. 44-45, dwelling # 445, family # 400, HeritageQuestonline, <
http://heritagequestonline.com/>, accessed 31 May 2009.


Tomas Gallego family, 1870 U. S. census, population schedule schedule, Socorro, New Mexico, Post Office: Socorro, p. 5, dwelling # 45, family # 44, accessed 31 May 2009.; digital image, HeritageQuest (http://heritagequestonline.com).

Met another cousin - Montoya family

I was researching at the Albuquerque Special Collections Library yesterday, when I bumped into a distant cousin of mine who I had not met before. She happened to be talking about her uncle Casey Luna, the former New Mexico Lieutenant Governor and car dealership owner. I mentioned that I was related to him also, and in comparing our genealogies we discovered that we are long-lost 3rd cousins.

My third cousin and I are related to each other through our 2nd great-grandparents Jose Casmiro Montoya and Manuela Abeyta. Casmiro and Manuela were married on 8 January 1875 in the San Miguel Mission in Socorro, New Mexico. They had at least four children: Sofia, Amadeo, Jose Liberado and Andrea. My cousin is descended from Sofia Montoya who married Amadeo Luna. I am descended from Andrea Montoya who married Ignacio Torres.

I've sent my cousin an e-mail with certain genealogical charts, photos and other information. I'm hoping that she sends me information back since I know little about this family.

Genetic disease found in descendants of NM settlers

In the Albuquerque Journal today, there is an article titled "Genetic Curse: Deadly brain disease may be traced back to early N.M. settlers". It is estimated that 10,000 New Mexicans - who are descended from a certain old New Mexican family - carry the gene that causes cerebral cavenous malformation, or CCM. The disease can potentially cause brain damage in carriers. New Mexico has the largest concentration of cases in the world.

Certain carriers have researched their genealogy and have discovered common ancestors: Antonio Baca and Monica Duran y Chaves, who were married in Albuquerque in 1726. Personally, this couple are my 6th great-grandparents on my father's side.

To read more about this disease, click on this link. If you do not have a subscription to the Albuquerque Journal, click on "Trial Premium Pass". This will direct you to an advertisement that you will have to watch before you are able to access the article.

30 May 2009

More articles from the El Defensor Chieftain

Okay, it's early morning and I really don't feel like working on the yard yet. So, I've been searching the El Defensor Chieftain website once again. Here are a few more articles about Socorro:

* Welcome, everyone, to the free state of ... Socorro? by Valarie Kimble. In 1953, a few residents decided as a joke they would declare that Socorro was not actually part of the United States. Apparently, it was meant to protest the fact that Santa Fe was short-changing the county in that year's budget process. The El Defensor Cheiftain decided to continue along with the joke by celebrating the 50th anniversary of the "event". However, there were a number of people who were upset about the newspaper trying to commemorate the joke. If you search the newspaper's website, you'll find a number of irrate letters to the editor regarding the anniversay celebrations.

* Whats (sic) in a name? Part I and Part II by Paul Harden. Harden explores the relationship between the families mentioned in Fray Angelico Chavez's book "Origins of New Mexico Families" and the Socorro families. I am particularily interested in what he has to say about the Torres family. I noticed one mistake, though. The Jose Torres that he mentions as being the son of Agustin and Felipa (Baca) Torres is actually their grandson. He is the son of Agustin and Felipa's son Ricardo Torres. He's right, though, in saying that Jose Torres had property on Cuba Rd. I've found that Jose's sister Maria Paubla (Torres) Zimmerly had some property her brother's land. Maria Paubla is, of course, my 2nd great grandmother. The article also mentions another one of my ancestors, my 2nd great grandfather Jose E. Torres. (By the way, just to make things a little bit more confusing, Maria Paubla's son Esteban Zimmerly married Jose E. Torres' daughter Delfina. They were my great-grandparents.)

* Tech's creation focus of professor's study - discusses the founding of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

28 May 2009

Articles found in the El Defensor Chieftain

I was a little bored, so I decided to search through Socorro's local newspaper El Defensor Chieftain for articles relating to New mexico history and genealogy. This is what I found:

* "1940 Socorro - The Business District" by Paul Harden. The is a description of many of the businesses in the area. Howevever, I noticed at least one mistake. It mentions that the Baca Haberdashery was owned by Robert Baca, assumedly my paternal grandfather. Actually, the Haberdashery was owned by my maternal grandfather Santiago Baca.

* "Socorro goes to the movies" by Paul Harden. A history of the Socorro movie theaters.

* "San Antonio School celebrates 80 years:A look at Socorro County rural schools" by Paul Harden

* "Mission Churches" Part I and Part II by Paul Harden. A history of Socorro area churches.

* "The Biggest Killer in the Southwest: Smallpox" by Paul Harden.

* "Character (and characters) have been part of Socorro's mystery and charm" by Valarie Kimble

* "Poet chronicled state history" by Marc Simmons. An article about Captain Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá's epic poem.

* "New Mexico family name boasts a glorious history" by Marc Simmons.

* "History travels the El Camino Real" by Marc Simmons

* "Miera and Pacheco was indeed a versitile fellow" by Marc Simmons

* "Rebel artillery fought hard in New Mexico battle" by Marc Simmons

* "Horses for Spanish soldiers" by Marc Simmons

... and many more. Want to search for other articles? Go to the El Defensor Chieftain website.

26 May 2009

Hammel Museum - Socorro, New Mexico

I found this link to the Hammel Museum in Socorro, New Mexico. From the website:

The HAMMEL MUSEUM started as a beer garden and, in the intervening century, became successively a brewery, an ice plant, a soda bottling plant, and finally ended as an active industry still making ice.

The museum is named in honor of the Hammel family, who came to Socorro in the early 1880's and built the brewery. Clarence Hammel was the last of the family to operate the business. He died in 1986. The structure was willed to the Socorro County Historical Society to become the Hammel Museum. The museum structure was built during the boom years in Socorro which began with the coming of the railroad in 1880 and ended with the closing of the mines by 1893. The museum chronicles the industrial and commercial history of those boom years.

Clarence's grandfather, Jacob Hammel emigrated to the United States from Munich, Bavaria in 1848. He was accompanied by his friend Eberhard Anheuser, who wanted Jacob to join him in building a brewery in St. Louis. Jacob, in his infinite wisdom, decided to start his own brewery across the Mississippi River in Lebanon, Illinois, close to East St. Louis. The plant across the rive in Missouri became, of course, the famous Anheuser-Busch company.

Nevertheless, Jacob did well with his brewery in Lebanon, calling it the Illinois Brewery. Relatives from Bavaria came over to work for the enterprising Jacob. Meanwhile, the company survived a spring flood even though survival required rebuilding the plant. In the early 1880's, Jacob's son, William G. Hammel was sent to New Mexico Territory for his health. He was diagnosed as having developed blood poisoning as a result of dental surgery. Living in New Mexico was supposed to prolong his life. It did! He was joined in Socorro by his brother Gustav....


To read more, click on this link.

19 May 2009

June 20, 2009 NMGS Field Trip

Saturday, June 20, 2009, 10:00 A.M.
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas
This living history museum is in Las Cienega, NM
15 miles south of Santa Fe and 45 miles north of Albuquerque.

The New Mexico Genealogical Society
invites you on a Field Trip to attend:

A Family Reunion,
Families of El Rancho de Las Golindrinas


This day-long event will be hosted by the El Rancho de Las Golindrinas Museum in La Cienega, NM. This museum depicts life of Spanish Colonial New Mexico.

Speakers include local archeologist Dedie Snow, genealogist Henrietta Christmas, and former state historian Robert Tórrez. Additionally, historic interpreter Manuel López will portray Hispanic mountain man “Marcelino Baca”, relating life and times of this 1800’s resident of Colorado and New Mexico.

Advanced registration is required: basic fees are $5.00 per person. Children under five are free. Make checks out to El Rancho de Las Golindrinas and mail to 334 Los Pinos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87507. Please note “Reunion” on the outside of the envelope and include the names and number of family members who will be attending.

For more information, visit the museum website at http://www.golondrinas.org/. You may find a registration form at http://www.golondrinas.org/reunion09.pdf.

Directions: Las Golondrinas is 15 miles south of Santa Fe and 45 miles north of Albuquerque. Take Exit 276 and follow the brown "Las Golondrinas" signs. Please Note: due to RailRunner construction, Exit 276 may be closed approaching from Albuquerque. If so, From Albuquerque, you will need to take EXIT 271 and follow "Las Golondrinas" signs. Exit 276, from Santa Fe, will remain open.

The New Mexico Genealogical Society is not sponsoring of this event. We are merely offering information and inviting people to attend. For carpool information, please contact Robert Baca at (505) 299-7883. For a map to the site, visit our website at http://www.nmgs.org/workshop.htm

10 May 2009

Mom

Frances Baca, born August 1, 1934, married Robert C. Baca on October 27, 1954, and died on February 19, 1999. She had three children: Janis, Cindy and Robert. She was my mom.

Many of the photos below I've posted before.


My uncle Jimmy and my mom, dressed up for a parade



My mom, on her graduation day in 1953



My mom, her parents, and siblings. From left to right: Aunt Josie, my mom,uncle Jimmy (kneeling), Aunt Judy (the baby),grandma Paublita, and grandpa Santiago.



Frances and Robert, and their wedding party, October 27, 1954.



Clock wise from top left: Frances, Bobby, Janis and Cindy




Frances Baca, being surprised at her baby shower, sometime in 1968. That's me in her tummy.



Four generations of moms, and one little boy.

From left to right, sitting on the couch, my grandmother Paublita (Zimmerly) Baca, my great-grandmother Delfina (Torres) Zimmerly, my mother Frances (Baca) Baca, on the floor, my sister Janis (Baca) Schwartenberg, and the baby is my nephew Shawn Schwartzenberg.

09 May 2009

Genealogy Trivia Challenge

Question:

Philip Bourguignon and Tomasa Gonzales are my 2nd great-grandparents on my father's side. Jose Epitacio Torres and Maria Guadalupe Padilla are my 2nd great-grandparents on my mother's side.

In his e-mail to me, Larry G. wrote that these two couples were also his 2nd great-grandparents; interestingly enough they on the same sides of his family as me.

How are Larry G. and I related?

I know the answer. I just want to see who can answer this question first.

05 May 2009

Photos of my father's Baca Family, 1950

Below is a photo sent to me by my cousin Ed Baca:





This is a picture of Juan and Carolina (Bourguignon)Baca with their children, at their 50th Anniversary, April 1950.

Kneeling L to R: Martin B. Baca, Philip B. Baca
Standing L to R: Robert B. Baca, Priscilla B. Baca, Lorenzo B. Baca, Juan Baca y Luna, Carolina Bourguignon Baca

Juan and Carolina Baca were my paternal grandfather's parents. Robert B. Baca was my grandfather.


I have a similiar photo that shows Juan and Carolina alone. This was given to me by my aunt Theresa.



Based on the clothing and the background, it seems to have been taken at the same time.