The Passage of the Guerra Family in a New Country

In March 2, 1836 the republic of Texas was created.1 The new country became independent of the republic of Mexico then governed by President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who had suspended the constitution dissolving the congress and taking total control of the government. The republic of Texas was created from part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas2 by a group of Anglo-Americans and Tejanos who did not support the centralized government system in Mexico City ruled by the dictatorship of Santa Anna. The first president of the republic of Texas was David G. Burnett, and the vice president was Lorenzo de Zavala. This was just for an interim period of March 16-October 22, 1936. The first congress of the republic convened in October 3, 1836 at Columbia (now West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas). It was formed by thirty representatives elected for one-year terms, and fourteen senators in a two-house congress (The House of Representatives and the Senate). Lorenzo de Zavala was the president of the Senate until October 22, when Mirabeau B. Lamar was inaugurated.3 The birth of a new country brought many challenges, especially for Texans who recently went from being Spanish-Tejanos to Mexican-Tejanos after Mexican independence was won in 1821. For many years they had established a strong economy and adapted themselves to the severity of the frontier. They were far from the New Spain and living in a rural environment with a semiarid climate and meager vegetation. They survived thanks to their inventiveness and great adaptation to Texas terrain. It was that tenacity that led them to begin a strong economy mainly based on the cultivation of cotton, sugar cane, and agriculture in general. Also, the livestock industry was a great business for Texas; Texas exported more than 5,000 head of cattle in 1834.4 However, the new country was not free of old practices of commerce. Freelance cargo delivery (and very often, smuggling) continued to be one of the most lucrative activities in the region. Nacogdoches had been part of the Old San Antonio Road since 1714; this road was a major route for pass through Texas. It served as a lifeline for the missions by enabling the transport of freight supplies and military protection, and it facilitated trade. In the eighteenth century the road was used frequently by Spanish ranchers to drive the cattle from different settlements in Texas to Mexico. This network of trails, with different routes used at different times was frequently used
1

Joseph Milton Nance, "REPUBLIC OF TEXAS," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mzr02), accessed August 07, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. 2 Constitucion de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, 4 de Octubre de 1824. (http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1824_121/Decreto_Constituci_n_federal_de_los_Estados-Unidos_Mexicanos.shtml), accessed August 07, 2012. 3 Ralph W. Steen, "CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS," Handbook of Texas Online(http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mkc01), accessed August 07, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. 4 o zO m E n yn V n n pp 997 Myths, misdeeds, and misunderstandings: the roots of conflict in U.S.-Mexican relations. Wilmington, Del: SR Books.

by smugglers who knew the region very well, especially to introduce prohibited goods from the port of New Orleans, Louisiana to Lampasas, Texas and then to Mexico. Also, the Old San Antonio road was an excellent migration route. All these activities were well known by the first settlers, the original pobladores who adapted themselves to the rigor of the frontier. Everyday life forced them to face epidemic diseases, frequent Indian attacks, lack of goods and services, besides the hostile climate. To survive in this environment they built adobe missions and presidios, drew drinking water and irrigation from dams, ditches and aqueducts patterned after those in both Spain and Mexico. The population growth in the province resulted from the castas and Mexican Indian soldiers in the presidios intermixing either with women in nearby communities or native Indians who had been Christianized in the Texas missions. From this practice, extra-legal settlements made up of families of soldiers or of settlers from Mexico sprung up around the missions and the presidios near Goliad, Nacogdoches, and the villa of San Antonio.5 The Spanish-Mexican population, excluding soldiers, numbered approximately 2,240 in 1821 and increased to over 4,000 by 1836. San Antonio, Goliad, and Nacogdoches remained the main Hispanic Settlements.6 The former descended from the Canary Islanders of the 1730s or from Spanish families that held government positions, while the latter derived from the mixedblood pobladores and performed common labor. Some of these Canary Islanders families7 were the ancestors of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado8. Casimiro Guerra was born on 1844, in Bexar, republic of Texas, and christened in the Catholic Church of San Fernando de Bexar, Texas, on 23 Mar 1844. He was the seventh child of Trinidad Guerra and Maria de los Dolores Hernandez9. Casimiro was a farm laborer. He and his family grew crops, making corn and beans a major part of their diet. Also, they raised milk cows, hogs, and chickens to provide food and for profit. His father died when Casimiro was a child. Afterward, he and his oldest brothers helped his mother in taking care of the family. Casimiro also worked as a laborer, and years later as arriero (freighter) for the U.S. government traveling to different routes. In that time, Texas exported great amounts of cotton crops by horse, mules and the old two-wheeled oxen carts as well as other goods and supplies to Houston, Galveston, and the republic of Mexico. The ancestors of Casimiro had been engaged in that activity for many years,10 which is why it was not difficult for him to perform this activity that he knew very well. He traveled the Old San

5 6

Tijerina, Andrew Anthony. 1977. Tejanos and Texas: the native Mexicans of Texas, 1820-1850. Thesis--University of Texas at Austin. See map of the state of Coahuila and Texas 1833, published in Texas, by Mary Austin Holley (Armstrong & Plaskitt, Baltimore, 1933. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Map_of_Coahuila_and_Texas_in_1833.jpg?uselang=es 7 Canary Islands Descendants Association http://www.cida-sa.org/families.html 8 See the pedigree chart provided in the compiled lineage by Arturo Cuellar. 9 See the family group record of Trinidad Guerra and Dolores Hernndez compiled by Arturo Cuellar. 10 According to a newspaper note dated on 13 Jun 1925 in San Antonio Express, in the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. "Casimiro Guerra came from a pioneer family which emigrated to San Antonio from the Canary Island early in the 17th Century, belonging among the first settlers here. Of a family of freighters and ranchmen, he followed the occupation of his ancestors for many years." "He was away (Of San Antonio city) as a freighter for the American Government, hauling cotton and supplies between Houston, Galveston and Mexico, using both the old two-wheeled ox carts and mule teams." .

Antonio Road as well as many other roads in Texas. However, this kind of activity took him away from the city of San Antonio for some years until he finally made a permanent return.

Casimiro Guerra married Manuela Delgado on 23 Aug 1872. They raised a family of four boys and five girls, and had two other children that died in their infancy11. The boys were: Antonio (1874-1928), Santiago or James (1875-1961), Casimiro (1877-1960), and Jose, Joe, or J.D. (1889-1963). The girls were; Maria Ursula (1878-1903), Maria Adolfita or Alvina or Maria Delfina (1880-1951), Manuela or Emma (1882-1946), Maria de los Dolores or Laura (18841959), Rosa (1888-1966). The infants were: Sotero (1876) and Vicente (1886) who died very young. The city of San Antonio was growing rapidly and Casimiro worked as a laborer to sustain his big family. The family lived on Leigh Street, on the west side of the city, now known as the Lavaca historic district. On December 29, 1845 the republic of Texas was legally annexed to the United States of America, but the formal transfer of authority from the republic to the state was made on February 19, 1846. For the city of San Antonio de Bexar, the middle of nineteenth century was a period of formation and establishment of Spanish and Mexican settlement. However, after the USMexican war, the Anglo population gained dominance. This, along as the subsequent subordinating practices of marginalization, pushed the Mexican Tejano community from their native lands to the poor sector of the city, The west side barrios. D n s m y of San Antonio de Bexar was changing from small colonial outpost to an active and growing city. The old Spanish colonial adobe buildings gave way to new modern buildings. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the segregation and divided ethnic sectors of the population was remarkable. The west side of the downtown area was the home of the Mexican community. The Germans, who also were the great majority of the population, lived in the eastern and southern portions of the city. The second largest community was the Irish community, who lived in the Northeast. The Anglo Saxons community was settled in the northern and eastern sector of the city, while the Italians lived in the northwest area of the town. The blacks were moved to the eastern boundaries of the city, and the Chinese community was settled in the near west.12 The economy and demand for labor workers was increased and more immigrants kept coming to the city of San Antonio during the early twentieth century13, changing the face of the city and forming new families. The family of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado was also transforming. Two of their nine children were married before the 1900 U.S. census was taken in
11 12 13

See the family group record of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado, compiled by Arturo Cuellar. D n nol o 98 The Tejano community, 1836-1900. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. Most of the new Texans emigrated from Germany; the American citizens that emigrated from the United States, mostly from the south were the second group. During the late nineteenth century many immigrants came to the city of San Antonio, Texas from Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. See the 1900 U.S. census study, Enumeration District No. 105, Ward 7 of the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas: FHL Film: 1241611 elaborated by Arturo Cuellar.

this area (14 June 1900). The first one to marry was Maria Ursula Guerra, born on 1878, in Wilson County, Texas, United States. She married Antonio Lozano, who was born on 1867 in Mexico. They were married on 8 Jun 1895 in Bexar County. They were living in 718 S. Pecos St. San Antonio, TX. T s n b w n U s l p n s om n n w om s 8 miles. The reason of this distance was because they were living beside the home of her parentsin-law, who lived in 716 S. Pecos St. Just next to her home. No occupation was declared by Antonio Lozano in the 1900 U.S. Census, but his father stated his own occupation as peddler, maybe Antonio Lozano helped his father in this commercial activity. The peddler carried his goods in a pack, offering the products on the street. During the 1900s, it was not uncommon that people without specified occupation would make a living as peddlers. Antonio and Ursula had three children; Juan (1895), Margarita (1897), and Hilbert Domingo (1900). Unfortunately, Ursula died about 1903. Antonio Lozano married Juanita Contreras on 22 Apr 1908.14 The second child of Casimiro Guerra to marry was Casimiro Guerra Jr. or C.B. Guerra, born on 1877 in Wilson County, Texas, United States. He married Manuelita Camargo, Born on 1881 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. They were married on 12 Mar 1900 in Bexar County. They were living at 214 Devine St. San Antonio, TX. The distance between the C s m o p n s om n s n w om s 0 m l s j s around the corner. Most of the Hispanic families lived close to their parents om s after marriage, trying to maintain unity in their families, customs, traditions and values. Casimiro Guerra Jr. worked as a painter and years later as an independent contractor, always working the same occupation of painter during all his life. The high demand for labor in the region was increased due to the rapid growth of the city. This caused Casimiro Jr. to decide to establish his own painting business along with his older brother Santiago Guerra and later with more of his brothers and family. His wife, Manuela Camargo was always dedicated to housework. They had three children; Mamie (1902), Beatrice (1905)15, and Edward (1919). Casimiro Jr. and his family moved to the city of Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas before 1920. He worked there as a painting contractor. His nephew Hilbert Antonio Lozano was working and living with him and his family. They were living at 1001 W. Saint Francis Street, Brownsville, TX. Casimiro Jr. died on 1 Jun 1960 in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas due to coronary occlusion. He was buried in Buena Vista burial park, Brownsville, TX, on 2 Jun 1960.16 The city of San Antonio, Texas differed from all other medium-sized and large cities in the nation in having proportionately the largest Mexican-American community due in large part to natural fertility n p s -p ll f o s of m on Y s l no s on f tor was the immigration refugees from the Mexican civil war (Mexican revolution 1910-1921).17 The
14 15

See the family group record of Antonio Lozano and Maria Ursula Guerra compiled by Arturo Cuellar. Beatrice Guerra married Isidoro Asseo. For complete reference, see her family group record compiled by Arturo Cuellar. 16 See the family group record of Casimiro Guerra Jr. and Manuela Camargo compiled by Arturo Cuellar. 17 Martinez, John Ramon. 1971. Mexican emigration to the U.S., 1910-1930. San Francisco: R and E Research Associates.

Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado family was listed in the 1900 U.S. census as a nine member family. The children listed there were; Antonio (1874), James or Santiago (1876), Alvina or Maria Adolfita or Maria Delfina (1880), Emma or Manuela (1882), Laura or Dolores (1884), Rosa (1888), and Joseph or Jose or J.D. (1889). Casimiros occupation was not declared in this 1900 U.S. census, but the San Antonio city directory of 1899 and 1905 listed him as a laborer. Tejanos filled most unskilled laboring needs in the city, the expansion of the railroad in the United States and Mexico displaced the old arrieros. However, some of them shifted to work as laborers in the larger trains that transported goods along the Chihuahua trail and other old routes, others preferred to work as laborers in odd jobs. According to Arnoldo De Leon,18 T freighting carriers made an immense contribution to the state of Texas, and indeed, had shown that skill and commitment to purpose could wring out profits both from government and private contractors at a time when the general society looked upon Tejanos as un-American and not wo y of s During the early twentieth century, Casimiro Guerra was living in the same house that he and his family were living in s n 880 n W s S barrio in the city of San Antonio, Texas. According to the 1900 U.S. census, he was listed as head of the family, male, white, 66 years old, working as laborer in odd jobs, homeowner, free of mortgage and the address was 540 Leigh Street. He was married to Manuela (Delgado) for 36 years. His wife and children were listed too, but only her daughter Manuela (1882), and Joe or Jose (1889) remained living with him and his wife at the time lso C s m os n l nw ls lvn T yw 19 listed as; Logano [sic] John (1895), Margaret (1897), and Hilberto (1900).

The rest of the children of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado were married on different dates. New families were created and grandchildren still illuminated their lives with joy and happiness, although they were not without challenges, like anyone else. During the year of 1902, three children of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado were married. The first one was Maria Adolfita or Alvina Guerra, born on 1880 in Grayton, Wilson County, Texas, United States; she married Jim or Santiago Valdez, born on 1877 in Losoya, Bexar, Texas, United States. They were married on 16 Feb 1902 in Bexar County, Texas. They were living at 528 Leigh Street, San Antonio, Texas. This address was located just beside the house of her parents, Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado. Jim Valdez was working as a wagon driver, an occupation closely related with his father-in-law Casimiro Guerra. The wagon drivers later became teamsters, one of the most powerful workers unions in the United States. After 1910, the teamsters entered into a period of aggressive organizing which resulted in a broadening of the
D n nol o 98 The Tejano community, 1836-1900. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. 1910 U.S. Census: Place San Antonio Ward 7, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T624_1532; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0053; Image: 763; FHL microfilm: 1375545.
18 19

membership base as well as increased revenue and recognition. The types of team drivers joining the union in large numbers expanded to include gravel haulers, beer wagon drivers, milk wagon drivers, and deliverymen for bakeries. Teamsters would soon move into representing drivers of n w mo o ks m k n m p on s n fl l n mo n nspo on 20 industry. Jim or Santiago Valdez and Alvina or Maria Adolfita Guerra had three children; Ernest (1905), Margaret (1906), and James (1909).21 According to the 1920 U.S. census, Margaret Lozano (1897), and John or Juan Lozano (1895) children of Ursula Guerra were living there. Also, John or Juan Lozano was married to Paula or Pauline Campos since 24 Sep 1919, and worked as contractor painting. Both were living there. Maria Delfina or Alvina or Adolfina Valdez died on 25 Nov 1951 in San Antonio, Texas. The cause of death was myocarditis; she was buried in Mission Burial Park on 27 Nov 1951. On 18 Feb 1902, Dolores or Laura Guerra, born in 1884 in Bexar County, Texas, United States married Nicolas or Nick Romero who was born in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, United States in 1882. They were married in Bexar County, Texas, United States. They were living at 640 Leigh Street, San Antonio, Texas, just .2 miles from her parents home. Nick Romero worked as a sales man in a grocery store, many opportunities for good sales men were given from different companies in a growing business environment. According to Arnoldo De Leon, T x stence of a large Mexican work force made for an atmosphere of familiarity akin to that in the rural areas where an Hispanic ambience allowed a Tejano community to function in a bicultural setting. In these urban areas, also, townspeople interacted with Spanish-speaking tradesmen who either worked for Anglo business men or had their own shops. Urban dwellers likewise became vendors of consumable products. Those without the advantages to invest in more formidable undertaking customarily gathered in a specified spot in town to set up shop as vendedores.22 Nicolas or Nick Romero & Laura or Dolores Romero had three children and two infants lost at the birth; Stella (1904), Mike (1905), and Julia or Gertrude (1906), and two infants (1903 & 1909), sex and name unknown.23 This family remains living at Leigh Street, in the west side of y of S n n on o T x s now known s v Ds v sn ym n 1902, up until 1942, and possibly even later. Nicolas or Nick Romero also worked as a laundry driver, a tailor, and as an owner of a laundry shop. The 1940 U.S. census stated that Dolores or Laura Romero (Guerra) died on 9 Sep 1959 in San Antonio, Texas. The cause of death was arteriosclerotic heart disease; she was buried at Mission Burial Park on 10 Sep 1959. The first child of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado was Antonio Guerra; he was born in 1874, in Bexar County, Texas. Antonio was married to Antonia Leal on 20 Oct 1902 in
Ex p s f om T ms s T E ly Y s http://www.teamster.org/history/teamster-history/early-years See the family group record for Santiago Valdez and Maria Adolfita Guerra compiled by Arturo Cuellar. 22 D n nol o 98 The Tejano community, 1836-1900. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. 23 See the family group record for Nicolas Romero and Maria de los Dolores Guerra, compiled by Arturo Cuellar.
20 21

Bexar County, Texas. They were living at 493 Leigh Street, San Antonio, Texas, 3.3 miles from his parents home. Antonio was working as blacksmith, the rapid growth of the city of San Antonio, Texas demanded skilled artisans. Years later, Antonio worked as a painter, probably in the same company of his brother Casimiro Jr. or C. B. Guerra. The building of military bases around the city during World War I, in addition to commercial and residential growth of the city, created many new opportunities in painting, construction, transportation, and maintenance. Antonio Guerra and Antonia Leal had two children, Adolfo (1907), and Federico (1920). However, a girl was listed as daughter in the 1910 U.S. census, her name was Frascia (Maybe Francisca abbreviated?), female, white, 11 years old, attending school, born in Texas. Other two l n w no n m w fo n n T x s B C f s 903- 935 oll on on Family Search.org. I will need to continue looking for these three individuals.24

Antonio Guerra died in San Antonio, Texas on 6 Jun 1928. The cause of death was tuberculosis; he was buried at Mission Burial Park on 7 Jun 1928. The life in San Antonio, Texas during the early twentieth century was not easy for the Mexican-American community, gathered in barrios at the west side, the community was organized to face the challenges and opportunities of being American without forgetting their Hispanic Heritage. Spanish-language schools designed to help in the retention of first language skills emerged as a response to the concerns and fears of the Old Mexican Tejanos. Sociedades Mutualistas (Mutual aid societies) that provided medical emergency aid and family assistance in time of crisis also emerged to help the Hispanic community in the city. Many of these Sociedades Mutualistas emphasized economic protection, education, and community service. They provided sickness and burial insurance, loans, legal aid, social and cultural activities, libraries, classes, leadership opportunities, and safe quarters for barrio events. Some Mutualistas, however, were also trade unions.25 Santiago or James F. Guerra was born in Graytown, Wilson County, Texas on 1875. He married Esther Cantu Vara, a beautiful girl, daughter of Faustino Cantu and Esther Vara.26 These were old friends of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado. Their ancestors were among the first settlers of San Antonio de Bexar. Esther was born in this city of San Antonio on 14 Jan 1886. This marriage was on 10 Sep 1906 in Bexar County, Texas, United States. They lived at 103 Drexel Avenue in San Antonio, Texas. The home of his parents was 1.4 miles away. Santiago worked as painter and for some years, Santiago or James F. and his brother Casimiro Jr. worked together in their own contractor painting company, C.B. Guerra and Brothers.27 During the last years of his life, Santiago or James worked as policeman; also he served as peace officer up until
24 25

See the family group of Antonio Guerra and Antonia Leal, compiled by Arturo Cuellar. Zamora, Emilio. 1993. The world of the Mexican worker in Texas. College Station: Texas A & M University Press. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=18308. 26 See the family group record of Faustino Cantu and Esther Vara, compiled by Arturo Cuellar. 27 n s y om U S C y o s 8 - 989 [ b s on-line]. Provo, UT, USA.

his death. Santiago or James F. Guerra and Estela or Stella Cantu had two children; James (1917), and Helen (1923).28

Santiago or James F. Guerra was a good citizen; he died on 5 Oct 1961 in San Antonio, Texas. The cause of death was coronary occlusion due to arteriosclerosis; he was buried on 7 Oct 1961 in Mission Burial Park. Manuela or Emma Guerra29 was born in Bexar County, Texas, United States on 1882, she never married, but a young girl of 15 years old called Lula Guerra was listed as her daughter in the 1920 U.S. Census.30 I need to continue seeking more information on this matter.

The intermarriage was inevitable in the multicultural city of San Antonio, Texas. With more than a third of the population,31 Germans immigrants and descendants soon began to relate to other ethnic groups, despite the segregation of the city. On 28 Mar 1908, Rosa Guerra, who was born in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas on 1888, married Fred W. Gruen who was born on 1888 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas. They married in Bexar County, and their address was at 542 Leigh Street in San Antonio, Texas, just beside the house of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado. Fred worked in the laundry business as a dyer. It is possible that Fred and Rosa met each other because of the laundry industry. Many of the relatives of Rosa Guerra worked in that industry for many years. Fred Gruen and Rosa Guerra had five children, unfortunately four of these children died as infants. Their only raised son was John F. (1917).32 Fred and Rosa were living some years in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. They had their own laundry business there and some years later, they returned to the city of San Antonio, Texas and established the same kind of business.33 Rosa Gruen (Guerra) died on 23 Apr 1966 in San Antonio, Texas. The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage, she was buried at Mission Burial Park, on 25 Apr 1966.

The last of the children of Casimiro Guerra and Manuela Delgado was Jose or Joseph or Joe or J.D. Guerra who was born in San Antonio, Texas on 1889. Jose Guerra worked as a painter for some years, possibly he learned the skills from his older brothers and maybe he worked with them for some time. Later, he worked as a fireman in the city of San Antonio Fire Department. Not all Mexican Tejanos in the city pursued manual labor; many served their
28

29 30 31 32 33

See the family group record of Santiago Guerra and Esther Cantu, compiled by Arturo Cuellar See the family group record of Manuela Guerra, compiled by Arturo Cuellar. 1920 U.S. Census, Place: San Antonio Ward 7, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T625_1779; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 94; Image: 1165. Line 47. See the 1900 U.S. census study, Enumeration District No. 105, Ward 7 of the city of San Antonio, Texas elaborated by Arturo Cuellar. See the family group of Fred Gruen and Rosa Guerra, compiled by Arturo Cuellar. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

community in government, city protection, and law enforcement capacities. Hispanics and other minorities were motivated to apply to those positions mostly after the World War I. Jose or J.D. Guerra was captain of the San Antonio Fire Department. I have been able to obtain some information from internet family trees about the marriage and divorce of Jose or J.D. Guerra, but until now, that information is not confirmed. More research needs to be conducted on this matter. Jose or J.D. Guerra was dead in San Antonio, Texas on 4 Jul 1963 due to carcinoma problems. The burial was on 6 Jul 1963 in Mission Burial Park.34

The change in the city of San Antonio, Texas was the most notorious in the state of Texas, but other cities in Texas had similar transformations during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The educational, housing, health and labor challenges of the MexicanAmericans were embroiled in local levels of government. This caused some citizens to organize themselves in order to manifest their discontent and make specific proposals to improve the lives of all the citizens. This included relatively young organizations like LULAC.35 In 1934, this organization identified that only 57% of Mexican school-age children were enrolled in public schools. During this period of time, LULAC began to spread rapidly in all Texas State, then, started to grow in other urban centers in the Southwest and elsewhere. One of the founders of LULAC, Alonso S. Perales36, a Tejano lawyer and diplomat inspired thousands of MexicanAmericans to push for their political and civil rights. As a national president of LULAC in 1930, he led this organization to establish councils in all United States. In the 1940s he worked to introduce a bill in the Texas legislature prohibiting discrimination based on race.

During the twentieth century, the city of San Antonio, Texas changed from a small city to a big multicultural metropolis. The rudimentary way of transportation that was the livelihood for Casimiro Guerra and his family for many years is now a museum piece. We can see this in the pictures attached to this research study at the bottom. The invaluable opportunity to learn about how he obtained his earnings during this specific period of time with all these changes motivated m o ns b n x p p f om book of nol o D on mon those residing in the urban areas and going out to earn a living were arrieros (mule and ox drivers), who in the middle of the nineteenth century worked with a pair of oxen and an improvised carreta (cart). With skills unmatched by white teamsters, they dominated the freighting business in the preCivil War years. In large carts mounted on a single pair of wooden wheels, they carried goods

34 35

See the family group record of Jose Guerra, compiled by Arturo Cuellar.

My personal experience as member of LULAC allowed me to know from the inside of this organization, the way of community service http://lulac.org/about/history/ 36 Cynthia E. Orozco, "PERALES, ALONSO S.," Handbook of Texas Online(http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fpe56), accessed August 14, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

from the Indianola and Matagorda Bay areas to the interior of the state. Under contract with the f l ov nm n y lso o n n p bl p op y o s v lf l pos s37

The passage of Casimiro Guerra and his family into a new country was quite different to the majority of those Mexican-Americans who lived here. I had the opportunity to learn about the legacy of this single arriero who taught, loved, and supported his family in a totally different situation than the ones his ancestors lived. Casimiro Guerra and his family were born in, lived in, and died in three different countries without immigrating anywhere or even leaving his original home.

S p s of T x s T nspo on M s m; S n n on o T nspo on H s o y; Ox Mule, and Horse Drawn Era 1845-1910. http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/history-oxmule-horse.php

37

Ex

p f om T

Tejano Community, 1836-1900, page 89. D

nol o

98

Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

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98

The Tejano community, 1836-1900. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Tijerina, Andrew Anthony. 1977. Tejanos and Texas: the native Mexicans of Texas, 1820-1850. Thesis--University of Texas at Austin. Martinez, John Ramon. 1971. Mexican emigration to the U.S., 1910-1930. San Francisco: R and E Research Associates. o zO m E n yn V n n relations. Wilmington, Del: SR Books. pp 997 Myths, misdeeds, and misunderstandings: the roots of conflict in U.S.-Mexican

Zamora, Emilio. 1993. The world of the Mexican worker in Texas. College Station: Texas A & M University Press. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=18308 Sanchez, George J. 1993. Becoming Mexican American: ethnicity, culture, and identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945. New York: Oxford University Press. Meyer, Michael C., Susan M. Deeds, and William L. Sherman. 2003. The course of Mexican history. New York: Oxford University Press. Martinez, John Ramon. 1971. Mexican emigration to the U.S., 1910-1930. San Francisco: R and E Research Associates.

Websites:

Joseph Milton Nance, "REPUBLIC OF TEXAS," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mzr02), accessed August 07, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Constitucin de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, 4 de Octubre de 1824. (http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1824_121/Decreto_Constituci_n_federal_de_los_Estados-Unidos_Mexicanos.shtml), accessed August 07, 2012. Ralph W. Steen, "CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS," Handbook of Texas Online(http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mkc01), accessed August 07, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Map of the state of Coahuila and Texas 1833, published in Texas, by Mary Austin Holley (Armstrong & Plaskitt, Baltimore, 1933. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Map_of_Coahuila_and_Texas_in_1833.jpg?uselang=es accessed August 07, 2012. Canary Islands Descendants Association http://www.cida-sa.org/families.html accessed August 07, 2012. http://www.familylink.com/viewnewspaperarchivepage.aspx?highlight=Casimiro%20Guerra&pdfurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearchapi.newspaperarchiv e.com%2fPDTTracking.aspx%3fAPIKEY%3d7cdfe695-082c-4340-a196-f64189e96331adk5164e1%26IMAGEID%3d68218100&title=San+Antonio+Express%2c+Saturday%2c+June+13%2c+1925%2c+San+Antonio%2c+Texas%2 c+United+States+Of+America accessed August 07, 2012. n s y om U S C y o s 8 -1989 [ b s on-line]. Provo, UT, USA. http://www.ancestry.com/ accessed August 07, 2012.

Ancestry.com 1920 U.S. Census, Place: San Antonio Ward 7, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T625_1779; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 94; Image: 1165. Line 47. http://www.ancestry.com/ accessed August 07, 2012. F m lyS o 900 U S https://familysearch.org/ ns s En m on D s No 05 W 7 of y of S n n on o T x s FH F lm 4 6 1

F m lyS o 1910 U.S. census, Enumeration District No. 0053 W https://familysearch.org/ accessed August 07, 2012. T ms s T E ly Y

7 of

y of S n n on o T x s FH F lm

375,545

s http://www.teamster.org/history/teamster-history/early-years accessed August 07, 2012.

http://lulac.org/about/history/ accessed August 07, 2012. Cynthia E. Orozco, "PERALES, ALONSO S.," Handbook of Texas Online(http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fpe56), accessed August 7, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Texas Transportation Museum http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/history-ox-mule-horse.php accessed August 7, 2012.

Miscellaneous:
The 1900 U.S. census, Enumeration District No. 105, Ward 7 of the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas: FHL Film: 1,241,611 HIST 317 immigration & occupation study case elaborated by Arturo Cuellar. Casimiro Guerra (1844-1925) Pedigree Chart. Manuela Delgado (1851-1931) Pedigree Chart. Casimiro Guerra & Manuela Delgado Family Group Record. Casimiro Guerra & Manuela Camargo Family Group Record. Trinidad Guerra & Maria Eulogia de Jesus de los Dolores Hernandez Family Group Record. Antonio Lozano & Maria Ursula Guerra Family Group Record. Isidoro Asseo & Beatrice Guerra Family Group Record. Santiago Valdez & Maria Adolfita Guerra Family Group Record. Nicolas Romero & Maria de los Dolores Guerra Family Group Record. Antonio Guerra & Antonia Leal Family Group Record. Faustino Cantu & Esther Vara Family Group Record. Santiago Guerra & Esther Cantu Family Group Record. Manuela Guerra Family Group Record. Fred Gruen & Rosa Guerra Family Group Record. Jose Guerra Family Group Record. My personal experience and memories as member of LULAC in Texas (2008-2011).