I do remember that my great-grandmother was full-blood Comanche Indian. I imagine she lived on reservation in the area around Del Rio, TX, since that is where my grandfather was born.
I don't remember our great-grandfather's name but he was supposedly French. I remember mother telling me that he was disinherited by his family for marrying an Indian.
I don't remember our great-grandfather's name but he was supposedly French. I remember mother telling me that he was disinherited by his family for marrying an Indian.
My son resembles the picture that I remember of my great-grandfather. He was very handsome.
Grandfather had many sisters and brothers, I only remember the names of a few. One of his brothers was one of the first "hispanic" ordained Presbyterian ministers in the state of Texas.
At that time, there was a lot of anger/hatred for "half-breeds" so they opted to "pass" as Mexican and never registered as Native Americans. Mother was in the process of doing so, before she became ill and was told that because of the small number of siblings that she had (none), she more than likely could be considered full-blood.
My grandmother came across the Rio Grand from Mexico with her husband and infant son. Her son became ill and died during the trip.
My grandmother came across the Rio Grand from Mexico with her husband and infant son. Her son became ill and died during the trip.
Her husband worked in a lumberjack camp in New Mexico. That is where she met grandfather, who was camp supervisor. Apparently wives did not stay in the same tents with their husbands, but shared a tent where they were responsible for the meals and washing for all the men.
Grandfather shared a tent with grandmother's husband and one night, someone attempted to kill my grandfather, but shot grandmother's husband by mistake in the dark. Once grandmother was a widow, the single men began to vie for her favors. There was one man who would bring her a cup of hot chocolate every morning. But because of her superstitions, grandmother would not drink the hot chocolate, giving it to an old woman that shared her tent, in case it was spiked by black magic. Grandfather would instead make sure that she never ran out of wood and kindling for her fire. So she ended up marrying my grandfather.
Grandfather shared a tent with grandmother's husband and one night, someone attempted to kill my grandfather, but shot grandmother's husband by mistake in the dark. Once grandmother was a widow, the single men began to vie for her favors. There was one man who would bring her a cup of hot chocolate every morning. But because of her superstitions, grandmother would not drink the hot chocolate, giving it to an old woman that shared her tent, in case it was spiked by black magic. Grandfather would instead make sure that she never ran out of wood and kindling for her fire. So she ended up marrying my grandfather.
Of course, he told her that he was an only child and all alone. She did not find out otherwise until after marrying him. When she had mother, he named her after one of his sisters and that is when grandmother discovered he had a large family.
I vaguely remember visiting some cousins of my grandmother. They lived in Sherman, TX. They were all very light complexioned and some had blue eyes. The last time we went to visit, I must have been around 11 years old.
I vaguely remember visiting some cousins of my grandmother. They lived in Sherman, TX. They were all very light complexioned and some had blue eyes. The last time we went to visit, I must have been around 11 years old.
I remember mother telling me that grandmother was Spanish and had red hair and hazel eyes. She had been born during the Revolution against Spain and was left orphaned along with an older brother. At that time it was not considered proper for a single man to raise a young girl, so her brother gave her to her god-parents. They apparently decided that it was okay to use her as cheap labor and made her a maid, only allowing her to bathe once a week and keeping her underfed. She eventually ran away and married. That is when she came across the river with her first husband.
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