Franco Family Discussion Post

10/22/2009

This photograph taken in 1899 of Luciano Franco, son of Colonel Antonio Franco, and his family. It was provided by William P. Franco. William's father, Luciano is the baby in the photograph.

This is the place to discuss the Franco families.

Franco History
It may end up that over time we will find that the Four or Five Franco lineages are all part of one Franco family but today no one knows how they are all related. There are the descendents of Crispín Franco from Coyame, Chihiuahua; the descendents of Domingo Franco from Shafter, Texas; The descendents of Francisco Franco from Terlingua; and more recently in 2012 we encountered Franco's who are now scattered in the West but descend from the Colonel in the Spanish army, Antonio Franco, who came from Spain in the early 1800's and settled in a large hacienda in San Pablo Meoqui.

Today there are Franco's who trace back to Coyame, which is not far from Meoqui. Perhaps they are related. The Coyame Franco's are descendent's of Crispín Franco and have a strong presence in Pecos, Texas and have had family reunions in Colorado City, Texas.

The descendents of Francisco franco have an oral tradition that the Franco's came from Spain in 1802 and settled shortly after that in San Pablo, Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico. There are some family members who remember a photo of Franciscio in military attire with "El Coronel Franco" written on the photo. He may have been in the Mexican army. Maybe being in the military was a family tradition.

There are records of many Franco's in Meoqui in the 1800's. This makes it seem likely that Francisco Franco may have been related to the Antonio Franco Lineage. Since, Coyame is not very far from Meoqui on the way to Ojinaga and Presidio, It would not seem far fetched to consider that Crispín Franco is related to the Meoqui Franco's. How Domingo Franco is related to either the Coyame or the Meoqui Franco's is not known but Shafter is so close to Terlingua where Francisoc settled and not too far from Coyame either.

Please send information and photos of the Franco's. Maybe we can unify them all in the future.

102 Comments

Antonio Franco

10/21/2009 05:28:53 pm

Thanks. It was my keying error. The original information supplied to me was correct. That shows the value of readers verifying the information. Your input is very valuable.

I have corrected the entry and linked Simon Sr. to his photos.

contessa franco

7/30/2015 11:53:05 pm

My grandpa is in C.C Tx his name is francisco franco, but he never talkes about his family, or where hes from can u help?

Juan P Franco jr

12/7/2017 05:03:23 pm

Please anyone email me. Im Franco family from Galveston and San Antonio. Living out in Rhode island. I took the 23 and me dna also my lineage is on ancestral. Com 4014288907 is my cell

Ines Franco Fatzinger

10/23/2009 12:16:42 pm

[originally posted on "First Post" on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:56:54]

Hi! I have copies of some "Franco" obituaries and other newspaper articles. If you like...I can scan them and email them to you.

Send me a message. FYI....I am the daughter to Florentino Franco (of Terlingua) and Esperanza Blanco (originally of Ft. Stockton).

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.

Brett Franco

10/23/2009 12:19:02 pm

[originally posted on "First Post" on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:11:02]

This is a great site. So much information already.

I have some pictures that show mainly my grandfather, Simon Sr., around the family homesite. I have seen a couple pictures of family members standing in front of the house with the arches that Bob wrote about in the first post. I will try to find them and others to send to you.

Bob Wirt

10/24/2009 12:24:21 am

Reference Jesus and Ventura Franco.
The El Indio you describe is incorrect. There was another El Indio in Presidio County along the Rio Grande between Presidio and Ruidosa. That's where Jesus and Ventura lived.

More info on them: Her family name was Franco also. Her parents were Jesus Franco and Fausta Sanchez. Jesus and Ventura were married 10 Mar 1920 in Jesus Nazareno Temple, Ojinaga.

Bob Wirt

11/6/2009 11:20:48 pm

Here is some additional information on the children of Francisco Franco and Juana Molinar, with children shown in order of birth:

1. Daughter Cruz, born circa 1878. She was still living with the family at Rancho del Alamo in Presidio Co. in 1880 but died sometime in the 1880's.

2. Son Antonio, nothing new

3. Son Jose, born 16 Sep 1886. Baptized 30 Oct 1886 in Presidio, TX. Godparents were Preciliano Flores and Severina Valenzuela.

4. Son Juan, nothing new

5. Son Jesus, born Dec 1891 in Texas. Married Ventura Franco 10 Mar 1920 in Jesus Nazareno Temple, Ojinaga. She was born in 1900, the daughter of Jesus Franco and Fausta Sanchez. Jesus lived and died in El Indio, Presidio Co., Texas.

6. Daughter Maria, born 5 Feb 1894 in Texas. Baptized 10 Mar 1894 in El Indio, Presidio Co., Texas.

7. Son Vicente, born 2 Jul 1897 in Texas. Died 25 Jan 1978 in Fort Stockton, TX

8. Son Francisco, born 2 Jul 1899 in Texas. Died in Providence Memorial Hospital, El Paso 21 Nov 1968. Buried in Holy Angels Cemetery, Alpine.

Olivia Reyes Vaughn

5/14/2019 12:11:49 pm

Juan Franco (Reyes) was my grandfather. Unsure when he changed his name to Reyes. He married Maria Guadalupe Carrasco in 1921. They lived in Southland, Texas and then moved to Slaton, Texas. He worked for the railroad. He had one daughter with another wife, Adela Castaneda. Maria had Jose C. Acosta. Children they had together, Victor, Mary, Cruz, Manuel, Louis snd Josephine.

Bob Wirt

11/8/2009 01:10:10 am

More on Francisco Franco, son of Francisco Franco and Juana Molinar.

Francisco's wife was Tomasa Hijonos, who was born circa 1912 in Texas and died 3 Nov. 1978. She was the daughter of Macario Hinojos and Severiana Alvarado. Her brother, Macario Jr., was the accused killer of Felix Valenzuela, according to the Alpine Avalanche account of the even. Macario Jr. reportedly fled into Mexico and was never arrested for the killing.

Minerva Franco

9/30/2018 09:10:28 pm

This is my grandpa! Please let me know if I can get any extra info for you. He was in the army (US). The francos recently had a reunion in terlingua (2018) I can provide photos if needed? I'm also looking for information on Antonio Molinar family from terlingua

Louisa

12/14/2009 03:21:38 am

I found some information on Maria Franco Loyless. I had the wrong last name. Her husband was Roy Loyless.
Her children:
Roy, Henry, Robert,Laura, & Irene.
Robert was born 4/5/1929 in El Paso,Tx
died 7/30/2003.Houston,TX
His wife Bobbie Jean.children:Terry Lynn.
Kendall Wayne.
Maria's great grand son, Sean Loyless has a web site, The Daily Haggis.

Antonio Franco

2/18/2010 07:49:46 am

There was an oral tradition in the Franco family that the Franco's came from Spain in 1802 into southern Mexico and migrated north.

Around 1961 I interviewed, my father's aunt, Santos Franco to ask her about this.
(http://www.familiasdeterlingua.com/franco---vicente-y-maria-santos-chavarria.html

She said she had heard that story since she was young but didn't have any more details to add.

I notice that she was born exactly 90 years after the alleged arrival of the Franco's from Spain. That would mean about four or five generations separate the alleged arrival of the Francos from her birth.

I asked Manuel Franco where in Mexico the Franco's had lived before coming to the Big Bend/Terlingua area.
http://www.familiasdeterlingua.com/franco---manuel.html

He said he heard of them being from a place near the city of Chihuahua which he knew as Meoquis.

I repeated this to Rita Sanchez (Manuel's sister) last weekend and asked her what she knew about it. She remembers mention of San Pablo Meoquis.

A search for "Meoquis" on Google maps shows there is a Pedro (not Pablo) Meoqui about 40 miles southeast of Chihuahua on Carretera 45 which has a suburb called Meoqui Residencial and another just Meoqui.

Perhaps just as "The Hamptons" on Long Island refer to several villages such as East Hampton and Southampton, the Terlingua people may have referred to the collection of Meoqui villages as "Meoquis."

This is all oral tradition. We are not aware of any of this being supported by formal governmental or church records.

WILLIAM P. FRANCO

3/5/2012 09:36:24 am

MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT HIS GREATGRANDFATHER, ANTONIO FRANCO, WAS A COLONEL IN THE SPANISH ARMY.
I NOTICED THAT YOUR GREAT GREATGRANDFATHER WHO'S NAME WAS ALSO "ANTONIO FRANCO" AND THAT HE SETTLED IN MEOQUI, MEXICO COULD HE BE THE SAME ANTONIO FRANCO AS MY GREAT, GREATGRANDFATHER?
HE ALSO SETTLED IN MEOQUI,MEXICO..?
FACTS THAT I KNOW IS HE HAD A SON NAMED LUCIANO, AND LUCIANO HAD SONS NAMED; MATEO, GUILLERMO AND DIEGO AND A DAUGHTER NAMED CRUZ.
MY FATHER WAS LUCIANO M. FRANCO . HE PASSED AWAY IN 1991.

Antonio Santiago Franco

3/7/2012 01:25:33 am

Just to clarify, my grandfather was Antonio Franco, but he was born in Texas and never lived in Meoquis. His father was Francisco and he was born in 1849 in Mexico. Your antecedents, Luciano Franco and Josefa Ramires [sic] were married in Meoqui in Nov 1849.

By the way, I was named for my grandfather who died a few months before I was born. Were you named after Guillermo (Spanish for William)?

patricia m hyatt (Franco

3/11/2022 01:43:04 pm

I also have this family picture in front of the house with the arches. My father was Guillermo Leoncio Franco. He was born in Meoqui Chichuahua Mexico. My father's great aunt was Maria de la Cruz Franco who raised him after her brother/his father Luciano was murdered.

patricia hyatt

10/23/2022 01:57:29 am

My father was Guillermo Leoncio Franco born in 1912. His Father was Guillermo Franco whose father was Luciano Franco. Please email me.

Ayda Pena-Perez

2/18/2010 09:24:49 am

Regarding Meoquis Chihuahua,
is it possible that the name is Musquis where Tony Romo(Dallas Cowboys)was born?

There are a lot of Fort Stockton folks whose hometown is Musquis.

Also, my mother Martina has a family of Francos on her maternal side.

Her Mother was Manuela Franco.
She had several sisters(Petra Franco Mesa)
and one brother Maximillano Franco
who was married to Pricillana Franco.

Manuelita Franco married Macario Lugo Pena and they had four children ...Magdalena,
Martina,
Jose,&
Catalina.

She died after Catalina was born.

Macario Pena married Francisca Galindo (Kika)who recently passed away last year at age 100.

Elodia Tate posted her info on your website. http://www.familiasdeterlingua.com/galindo---zeferina-y-mucio.html

Louisa

3/24/2010 10:44:55 am

I asked the volunteer at the Family Search
Center in Carlsbad, about San Pablo Meoquis, and he told me it now known as just Meoquis. He says there is such a place.

Ventura Franco

5/14/2010 06:13:23 am

My Great Grandfather was Crispin Franco from Coyame Mexico..
Was wondering if anyone has researched this and connected the Terlingua Franco's with the Coyame Francos??
We have a great Franco Family Tree created in Geni where we have already bypassed 600 blood Rlatives..
Any info is appreciated..
For your information ::
A Franco Reunion is scheduled in Colorado City,Texas on July 17-18 2010
My e-mail address is kikof1@msn.com

Stephen franco

3/12/2022 07:04:33 am

My great grandfather was Crispin and his wife Luisa.. parents of flora, Raul, Pablo, Crispin, estela, Leopold, aurora, and Olga..

Sandy Loyless Hall link

7/6/2010 07:54:42 pm

My grandmother was Maria Franco Loyless. I think she was born in Shafter, Texas where the silver mine was. She always told me that her mother's father (father of Juana Franco) "came directly from Spain". She said they resided in Chihuahua before moving to Texas. She was the kindest, most loving grandmother ever. She had 5 children, 4 are still living, and 10 grandchildren, 9 are still living. She dies on 4-4-83 at age 89 from natural causes. She is buried at Forest Lawn- Westheimer cemetary in Houston.

Sandy Loyless Hall link

7/7/2010 02:29:41 pm

Maria (we knew her as Mary) Franco Loyless is buried at Forest PARK - Westheimer cemetary. More memories of her can be found by typing her name on the search bar, clicking on "looking for Maria Franco Loyless" --I think this directs you to Geneology.com. I would love to see a photo of Juana Molinar Franco (my great grandmother). Socorro Franco has one (?) When Juana Molinar Franco died my grandmother was 15. Her last words to my grandmother were "obey the laws of you God and of your country". My grandmother Mary was the purest of souls to have ever graced this earth. I was devastated when she died 4-4-83 in Houston; she was 89.

Sandy Loyless Hall link

7/9/2010 12:26:03 pm

There needs to be a correction on the Roy Loyless family page but I don't know how to do it. My cousin, Sean Loyless posted family history that is not correct.

Sandy Loyless Hall link

7/10/2010 04:09:28 pm

To Louisa Madrid: I would dearly love to see any photos you have of my great grandparents Francisco and Juana Molinar. My grandmother Maria (Mary) Franco died on 4-4-83 in Houston of natural causes. She was 89 yrs. old

Louisa

7/11/2010 02:05:27 pm

Sandy, I am so glad to hear from you. I do not have pictures of our great grand parents. I am trying to get copies. I talked to Socorro Franco,our cousin, Jesus
Franco's daughter. She communicated with your grand mother Maria and has photos
your grand mother sent her. She also has
a photo of our great grand mother Juana.
She promised me that she will send me a copy. She says at one time they also had
on of our great grand father Francisco. It is a possibility that her brother Manuel has it. She is going ask him.

Sarah Franco

6/3/2017 09:23:37 am

Hello my name is Sarah Franco daughter of Manuel Luis Franco who is Ignacio Chito Franco's oldest son. I know Ignacio my grandfather was from El Paso TX and had family there sisters and a brother or brothers I would like to know if you happen to know these names or anything ring a bell? He did move to Los Angeles and that's where my father Manuel Franco was born. Please help as I would love to know more about my family

Sandy Loyless Hall link

7/11/2010 04:34:45 pm

I would dearly love to see a photograph of Juana Molinar and Francisco Franco. My grandmother Mary loved her mother so much and told me a lot about her, her brothers, living in Shafter, etc. She always loved west Texas and missed it---esp. the mountains, and always wanted to go back to visit. One of the great regrets I have is that she never got to do this. I wish I could have made that come true for her. I remember she used to write letters to her relatives in Shafter/Alpine. I'm glad they were able to be in touch. I was her oldest grandchild and the closest to her in the family, although she loved all of us. I'm tearing up right now as I type this----I love and miss her so much it is still so painful to me today, all of these years later. Anything you might want to know about her & her family, I'm sure I can answer. Tell Socorro Hi for me and thanks for sharing the photos. Sandy

Sandy Loyless Hall link

7/11/2010 04:41:55 pm

Louisa---forgot to ask you: Do you know where Juana Molinar's grave is? My grandmother told me she was buried in Shafter, but do you know where in Shafter?? Also, Francisco Franco's grave---do you know where he is buried? My grandmother told me he left the family and ended up in San Antonio?? Do you know anything about this story?? Sandy

Lori Franco

3/23/2012 07:55:58 am

Sandy, I am the grand daughter of Francisco Franco Jr., my grandfather is buried at Holy Angels Cemetary in Alpine, Texas. My aunt Mary Franco Vega kept in touch with your grandmother. I also know that my aunt Mary and her family went to Houston to visit her. If I am not mistaken she lived in Tomball, is that correct?

antonio s franco

2/9/2023 01:45:16 pm

Hi Lori,
I have Franco family in Texas and Mexico that ive recently discovered through DNA. Ive always thought my family was only Italian, but i am now learning we may have roots in Spain.
The name antonio franco spans many generations in my family tree

Barbara Brandin=Martin

12/27/2010 09:11:31 am

Mary and Roy Loyless were my in-laws.
I was married to Henry Eugene Loyless, we had two children while we were married: Timothy Jay Loyless 12/16/57
and Michael Alan Loyless 4/22/60

ventura Franco

4/2/2011 07:53:39 am

Ines Franco Fatzinger

You posted that you have some information in in Obituaries and newspaper clippings .
Could you please sent some to me to see if we are immediate Family...
my Great grandfather..Crispin Franco..
Born around early 1800 Coyame Mexico???Not sure where he was born...

grandfather:Antonio Franco..Coyame Mexico

father: Francisco Franco: Coyame Mexico..

Luis Carlos Ventura Sauceda link

5/19/2015 08:10:29 am

My grandma was a Franco ( Maria De La Luz)

Ines Franco Fatzinger link

4/23/2011 03:24:46 am

To Ventura Franco:

Hello! Good to hear from you. I would love to help you out with your request. Unfortunately, I am currently living overseas and all that information is in storage in the US.

However, I did forward all the information I had to Antonio Franco, the webmaster of this site and my first cousin.

Most of the information I have only goes back to my parents' generation so I am not sure how much help that will be of to you. If I obtain any other information of the Francos from the past, I will be sure to pass it on to you and Antonio.

I wish I could have been of more help. Good luck with your search.

Sincerely, Ines Franco Fatzinger

Louisa

5/4/2011 09:49:28 am

Sandy Loyless Hall, please contact me,
I have pictures of your grandmother Maria
and family. I need to get names of the people in the pictures.

Louisa

5/4/2011 09:58:50 am

Barbara Brandin-Martin

Glad to see information on Henry's children.
My cousin Socorro Franco has sent me some family pictures and one of them is of Henry and his son Stacy. Is this another son?
I will be sending these pictures to Antonio, webmaster, so he can post them on the web. I need to get the names correct before I send them to him.

Sean Loyless link

5/6/2011 10:15:39 am

Wow, I'm surprised I haven't commented before now. I'm Sean Loyless, great-grandson of Henry Loyless and Mary Franco, grandson of Robert Loyless, and son of Terri Loyless. I've been in contact with Anto for a few years now and supplied some of the info on my branch of the family. I'm always willing to answer questions about my family line if you have any.

Louisa

5/14/2011 01:43:41 pm

Juan Franco and Maria Alvarez had a daughter, Adela born 9/8/1909 in Dayton,NM
She died 5/28/1995
She married Leonardo Castaneda. Their children;
Alejo, Luis 12/1929--4/2009,Martin, Aurelio 5/1933--12/2004,Sammy,Elena C Morales, Lupe C. Mendoza,Esmera C. Holguin,Dorothy C. Gonzales,Connie C. Bennet,Velma C. Titone,Mary Lou Gutierrez
Carmen Castaneda, Cecilia C. Doubrava

B Valdez

8/21/2017 10:00:39 am

Elena C Morales is my grandmother.

Olivia Reyes Vaughn

5/14/2019 12:32:52 pm

Louisa— Juan Franco (Reyes) was my grandfather. He married Maria Guadalupe Carrasco (second wife). He lived in Southland Texas and then moved to Slaton Texas. He worked for the railroad. Children included a Jose C. Acosta, Manual, Cruz, Victor, Mary, Louis and Josephine. He and my grandma are buried in slaton, Texas. Jose C. Acosta not sure if grandma Maria or grandpa Juan bought into the marriage. I spent a week at Adela’s home with her children when I was given permission to visit at the age of almost 15 years old.

Louisa

5/16/2011 01:12:04 pm

Adela and her husband Leonardo Castaneda
died & are buried in Carlsbad,NM

B Valdez

8/21/2017 10:02:11 am

Adela and Leonardo were my grandmother Elena's parents. My grandmother is still alive in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Louisa

5/20/2011 10:49:20 am

On Jesus & Ventura Franco,information per
Socorro, daughter, The family lived in Cerro Alto, a municipality of Ojinaga, Chih. right across Indio, Texas, where they received their mail.
She says her father Jesus was born in Bolsa Quemada, a ranch in Presidio, Tx.
children;1. Manuel married Gabriela & had one son, Oscar, deceased.2.Maria married David Madrid,their 4 children, Maria Alicia,Yolanda,Hilda, Norma. Juana married Crsencio Madrid & had 3 children,1. Guadalupe,son,2. Roberto,3. Blanca.Socorro Franco, has two children,1. Juan, 2. Lupe, daughter. Jesus married Josefina Herrera,born 3/13/1930 died 7/6/2006.
Their children,1.Ernesto,deceased,2.Rudy
3.Teresa,4.Armida,5.Juan Ramon,
6.Marisela,7.Elisa. Aida married Miguel
Benavidez.Their children;1. Diana,
2.Linda

Allie

12/1/2017 02:41:14 pm

I am the great granddaughter of Jesus Franco! Would love to exchange any information you may have!

Armida Franco

12/1/2017 11:07:56 pm

My parents were Jesus and Josefina Franco. One correction daughter #7 is Lisa Yvette. I would like to keep in touch and learn more. Thank you

Louisa

6/8/2011 01:07:31 pm

Bonifacio aka Guero Ficha,
wife Rosa
children
EDDIE,Debra,Patricia,Rena,Susie,Bonifacio,
Ray,Eloy,Elida,Maria,Veronica

Antonio Franco

6/10/2011 10:07:19 am

Thank you for the information. We are adding a page for Bonifacio Franco.
http://www.familiasdeterlingua.com/franco---bonifacio-sr.html

Any photos and additional information will be greatly appreciated.

Louisa

6/14/2011 02:10:26 pm

On Alicia Franco daughter of Vicente &
Santitos Franco. She married Gregorio Garcia, deceased.
children:
1.Gregorio, jr
2.David
3.Rudy
4.Nonito, deceased
5.Edmundo

Louisa

6/14/2011 02:14:00 pm

Catarina Franco, youngest daughter of Vicente and Santitos Franco
Born 3/5/1934 married Brijido Esparza
children;
1. Brijido,jr
2. Yolanda
3. Naldo

Louisa

6/15/2011 10:36:08 am

Reymundo Franco, son of Vicente Franco
wife, Elfida born 1929 died 5/18/2004
children:
1.Remundo, jr. (Beverly)
2. Arturo (Maria)
3. Ismael(Mahala)
4.Oscar ( Yolanda)
5.Erlinda
6.Carol (Javier Martinez)
7.Olga
8.Marie (Adan Rojas)

Vanessa Franco

9/1/2011 05:49:45 pm

Bonifacio's wife's name is Rosa Morado. And their daughter's name is Catarina, not Catalina.

Vanessa Franco

9/1/2011 06:08:24 pm

Correction...Vicente and Santos' daughters name is Catarina.

WILLIAM P. FRANCO

3/5/2012 05:05:01 am

My father, LUCIANO FRANCO ,who passed away in 1991, was the son of Mateo FRANCO, who was the son of LUCIANO FRANCO, WHO WAS THE SON OF ANTONIO FRANCO WHO HAD A LARGE HACIENDA IN MEOQUE,MEXICO IN THE EARLY 1800'S
DON GUILLERMO FRANCO WAS THE MAYOR OF MEOQUI WHEN PANCHO VILLA AND HIS GANG SHOT AND DRUG HIM THROUGH THE STREETS OF MEOQUI.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT THE DESCENDANTS OF ANTONIO FRANCO...OR LUCIANO FRANCO OR MATEO FRANCO FROM MEOQUI, MEXICO.

Antonio Santiago Franco

3/7/2012 01:13:46 am

William, I am very pleased that you have posted information about your lineage of Franco's in this discussion. We may be related.

Do you know the information about Guillermo Franco the mayor of Meoqui? Who were his parents? Who were his siblings? Who was his wife? When did they marry? Who were their children?

If you have any of this information it would be helpful. Since he was mayor, it is more likely that he might have more information about him documented in some records.

Please include your email address if you enter future comments to this discussion. Your email address will not display, but it will allow us to share additional information in the future. For instance, I can send you copies of the documents not yet on Familias de Terlingua that I already have and have not had time to add to the site. This includes the record of Luciano Franco's marriage Josefa Ramirez on 05 Nov 1864 in Meoqui.

patricia hyatt

10/23/2022 02:00:51 am

Please contact me. I think we could fill in some gaps for each other

WILLIAM P. FRANCO

3/5/2012 09:18:07 am

I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED/BEWILERED...BECAUSE, MY FATHER, LUCLIANO M.FRANCO, TOLD ME THAT MY GREATGRANDFATHER ANTONIO FRANCO WAS A COLONEL IN THE SPANISH ARMY AND HAD SETTLED IN MEOQUE, MEXICO.
HOWEVER, SINCE I'VE STARTED INVESTIGATING MY ANCESTRY I HAVE COME ACROSS SERVERAL "ANTONIO FRANCOS" WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.
ALL OF MY RELITIVES THAT HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF COL. ANTONIO FRANCO ARE DEAD NOW AND THE ONLY THING THAT I KNOW FOR CERTAIN IS THAT HE HAD A VERY LARGE HACIENDA IN MEOQUI, MEXICO.(IN THE EARLY 1800's) AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER , ANTONIO'S SON WAS LUCIANO FRANCO, WHO HAD A SON NAMED MATEO FRANCO AND MATEO WAS MY GRANDFATHER.

Bob Wirt link

3/7/2012 12:45:41 am

I didn't spend much time with this, but a quick search on FamilySearch turned up the marriage record of Luciano Franco and Josefa Ramirez and baptism records for 3 of their children, Mateo, Cruz and Diego.

Also, I did a search on the name "Franco" in Meoqui, Mexico and came up with about 110 hits, all in the 1800's. If anybody is interested in checking that out, go to https://www.familysearch.org/
In the "Last Name" field fill in "Franco", under "Life Events" select "Any" and fill in "Meoqui, Mexico" in the "Place" field. Leave everything else blank.

Dr. M.J. Garcia

3/8/2012 01:56:16 am

It's noteworthy to observe that the published "printed" record shows:

a) Mateo, Cruz, & Diego were given the respective names of Mateo Franco Ramires, Ma. de la Cruz Franco Ramires, & Diego Franco Ramires---might the original handwritten record have shown the names of Mateo Franco y Ramirez , Ma. de la Cruz Franco y Ramires, and Diego Franco y Ramirez?

b) that the surname of "Ramires" was spelled to end with the letter "s" and not the letter "z"---might the translator have made a mistake? I suspect that the translator of the original hand-written church records might have taken poetic license with the names, is that a possibility?

MJG

Ernesto Rivera

7/11/2015 06:06:56 pm

You mentioned that Cruz Franco Ramirez was shown as Ma---Cruz Franco Ramirez. I had learned that Ma. Also means Maria. I had observed that Maria had not only used by a female but also males in the mid 1700s to 1880.

Antonio Santiago Franco link

3/7/2012 01:01:07 am

William, if you include your email address in future entries here, your email will not display publicly but will allow us to send you additional information.

Our knowledge of the Franco's reaches a block with my great grandfather Francisco Franco in large part because as mentioned above in earlier entries, Francisco left the family and contact with him was lost. He was said to have moved to "San Antonio" but we don't believe that is San Antonio Texas. There are several places in Mexico near Presidio that are named San Antonio something. We have shown some of that in the page for Francisco Franco go to www.familiasdeterlingua.com/franco---francisco-sr.html#sanantonio

We have a big backlog of updating to this Web site but we plan to add your Franco lineage to the Familias page link to Franco as soon as we can.

Ruben Franco Sandate link

3/8/2012 03:08:16 am

Thank you for your discussion on the Franco's.

I found this set of information a few months ago on San Pablo Meoqui. San Pablo Meoqui rang a bell. My great grandmother Maria Quiros Molinar wife of Atilano and the Quiros were from this area. By coincidence I looked into the Apodaca family tree. Just curious and found all the Qurios' in this family tree.

I also found this entry for Leocadia Franco 1815-1870 in San Pablo Meoqui. Maybe this will help or further complicate the mater.

It is in the following database:
Chihuahua, Mexico, Mexico GenWeb | Apodaca Family
which you can link to at:

http://www.worldgenweb.org/~mexchh/resources/apodaca_family.html

I will resubscribe to ancestry.com to further view this link.

Small world.
Ruben

Louisa Franco Madrid

3/6/2012 11:12:50 am

William, we have not been able to connect with other Francos, because
we have not been able to find information on our great grandfather
Francisco Franco, father of Antonio Franco, our grandfather.
Jesus Franco, Francisco Franco's other son had a picture that
said colonel Francisco Franco. Unfortunately the picture is lost.
Hopefully we will find information on Francisco's parents & then
it will be easier to find a connection with other Francos

Maria del Carmen Gonzalez Rodriguez

12/26/2012 07:48:40 am

I was raised in El Indio Ranch north of Presidio, Texas. My grandfather was Simon Herrera Gonzalez. My mother was Manuela Gonzalez Rodriguez. Does anyone have any history pictures of my family. I would appreciate any information.

Eduardo Candido Franco Rosell

2/18/2013 11:03:33 pm

Simon Franco, Jr.

4/10/2014 07:19:33 am

Just needed to make a slight correction in Simon Franco's (son of Antonio and Valentina Franco) year of birth. The year should be 1923 instead of 1929. Thanks for all the work you and others are doing on this terrific website. So much of the history of the old Terlingua area will now be preserved.

Simon Jr.

Jovita Urias Quezada

10/10/2014 02:16:45 pm

Antonio Franco and/or Louisa Madrid, There's a photo of Benigio Franco at the Kokernot Ranch. I like to know what year the photo was taken. My great grandfather worked at the Kokernot ranch and I just wonder if it about the same time. Thank you.

Jill Franco

5/13/2015 06:49:00 am

I am in the process of trying to dig into our Franco lineage. My grandfather was Guadalupe Franco and his parents were from Waco, Tx. His parents had so many children they sent my grandfather to live with relatives in Bryan, Tx. Which is where they had 9 children. Susie, Hope, Elia, Gloria, Guadalupe Jr., Irene, Tony, Mary Jane & Freddie.

Jill Franco

5/13/2015 07:13:32 am

My great grandfather's name is Federico Franco and he married Antonia Gonzales. I'm not sure if the were from Waco or moved there.

Ernesto Rivera link

7/11/2015 06:18:40 pm

How far back does this line of Franco family go? What is the earliest date and name of the First Franco that was in the area? I come from a line of Francos in Socorro, New Mexico. I wondered if this family is linked with them. The farthest that I got in my family tree was Loreto Franco married to Guadalupe Placencia around 1820s.

Albert M. Franco

7/25/2015 06:16:28 am

Hi,

My family is in California, and our Franco's were in Socorro County, NM (some moved to Albuquerque in the 1930's), and we likely were in Socorro County from about 1883 to 1925 or 1926. According to census records and marriage records, our Franco family came from Mexico. And, the earliest wife to a Franco that I have source docs for is Patricia Sonora whose christening is registered in Chihuahua. She remarried a Jose L. Gallegos in Socorro County, and that marriage record lists her as widow of Manuel Franco, and lists her parents.

I don't have a marriage record for Patricia to Manuel Franco, but it is possible that he was from somewhere near Chihuahua, and perhaps they married there. I do think that he died in Mexico before 1883, before Patricia and the children moved to New Mexico.

I intend to use the info on this page as a lead, and search in the Meoquis area for information. Does anyone on here have any leads or rumors of Franco's who moved to New Mexico? (It is possible that they stopped in Texas first, and I'm hoping to compare DNA to Francos in Texas and Mexico.

Any advice will be appreciated!

Regards,

Albert M. Franco

Olivia Reyes Vaughn

5/14/2019 01:09:07 pm

I understand My grandfather, Juan Franco (Reyes) was married to his first wife and they had a child, Adela, in Dayton, NM. He then moved to Texas and married Maria G. Carrasco and lived in Southland, Texas and then Slaton, Texas. Not sure if this helps you any.

Albert M. Franco link

7/25/2015 10:11:57 am

The linked web site is Find a Grave for my Great Grandfather, who was the first Franco in our line born in the United States. He was born in Socorro County, NM, in 1901.

Albert M. Franco link

7/25/2015 10:14:19 am

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=146875488

Albert M. Franco

10/15/2015 07:06:42 am

Also, have some of the people from each of these separate Franco families done autosomal DNA testing, and Y-DNA testing?

My test, my father's test, and my grandpa's sister's test are on Ancestry.com. All autosomal DNA. My own Y-DNA is on www.familytreedna.com.

It would be interesting to compare DNA between each of the Franco families, to try to determine who is closely related to whom...or not at all. Remember that autosomal DNA can show a positive relation (saying, "Yes, you two are related"), but if there is not an autosomal match, that does not necessarily mean that those two people are not related. The reason is that over generations, autosomal DNA is not passed equally to descendants, so it is possible for two relatives to not show a match in autosomal DNA. But, they might both match an older relative, for example. Still very useful.

John Chaney link

5/21/2016 09:17:47 pm

Googled this:
Don Guillermo Franco mayor Mesqui Chid murdered by Pancho Via

Found this:http://www.familiasdeterlingua.com/discuss-a-family/franco-family-discussion-post
This picture is hanging in my house. William Franco, my "Uncle Bill", passed away last year. He has two brothers still alive and two sisters. My mom who is 85 Carmen, Aunt Frances, Uncle Luciano Franco and Uncle Ignacio (Nash) Franco.

Patricia M Hyatt (Franco)

3/11/2022 06:19:59 pm

I left an email for William P. Franco this morning. Sadly, I believe it may be your "uncle Bill" We as a family are seeking more information as well. We have the family picture that is on this site. My father, Guillermo L Franco born 1912 in Meoqui, Chihuahua to Guillermo L. Franco,(mayor of Meoqui Chihuahua)and Ester Perez Franco.

Ernesto Rivera

5/21/2016 10:03:29 pm

I accidently unsubscribed to the discussion group. How do I re subscribe? or can you do it for me. thanks Ernie

Sarah Franco

6/3/2017 09:27:30 am

Hello my name is Sarah Franco daughter of Manuel Luis Franco who is Ignacio Chito Franco's oldest son. I know Ignacio my grandfather was from El Paso TX and had family there sisters and a brother or brothers I would like to know if you happen to know these names or anything ring a bell?
He did move to Los Angeles and that's where my father Manuel Franco was born. Please help as I would love to know more about my family if anyone thinks they know something I would love to hear from you

Luciano Franco

7/7/2017 09:05:42 pm

I was born on 11-05-1969. The little baby is my grandpa, my dad (Luciano Franco) told me I was born on my grandpas birthday.

Mario Franco

10/15/2017 05:25:40 am

I'm from California and don't really know anything about my Franco heritage. All I know is my grandfather (apolonio Franco) was born in Guadalajara in 1891. Not sure where to start.

Allie Aleman

12/1/2017 02:35:33 pm

I am looking into my family tree and came across this page. My grandmother is Teresa Franco. Her father was Jesus M. Franco Jr. His parents are Jesus and Ventura Franco. Would this be the same Franco family?

Thank you

Albert M. Franco

4/11/2018 06:26:57 am

A lot of new records are available online for Franco's in Chihuahua. I've been creating pedigrees on Ancestry of Franco families that I think might be related to mine.

My great aunt--sister to Grandpa Franco--has two matches with surname Terrazas, and I've found three instances of a Franco-Terrazas marriage in Chihuahua. This Franco family seems to come from the Franco Guerrero family. The earliest record I see that is surely connected to this family is Francisco Franco Guerrero, born about 1740. There are a few records for the previous generation, but I don't know how they might connect.

Joyce Gonzales, Angioma Alliance Genealogist link

5/5/2018 02:57:28 pm

I live in NM where we have the largest concentration of an illness called Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) or Cavernous Angiomas. CCM is a malformations in the brain/and or spinal cord.

The gene that carries this mutation is the CCM1 or the Common Hispanic Mutation. Within the last 20 or so years some people coming to the US from the Chihuahua and Sonora Mexico, have the exact same gene causing this illness. We now have identified the founding grandparent that all of us in the SW with the Common Hispanic Mutation descend from. However, the surnames coming from Mexico are very different and we have not yet made the connection. However, one name that has come up in several families with CCM is Franco. I am hoping that maybe someone from this family can give me some information that might help us make that connection. Thank you in advance for any information that might help. Joyce Gonzales joyce@angioma.org

John link

5/10/2019 09:14:24 pm

Love the history of this family!

Olivia

5/11/2019 10:15:11 am

My grandpa, Juan Franco (Reyes) changed his name to Reyes. He married Maria G. Carrasco. My grandpa already had a daughter, Adela. I never knew much about grandma or grandma as they kept their past hush. My rumor among family, we heard grandpa’s last name was Franco but was changed to Reyes. I remember when my dad, Victor Reyes, took me to El Paso when I was very young to visit a uncle with the last name of Franco. Was nice to read that Louisa posted info. On Adela.

Stephen franco

3/19/2020 12:03:46 pm

Stumbled on this today. After seeing videos on coyame chihuahu . Then google crispin Franco. My dad is 71. His grandfather is crispin franco. But this crispin Franco is the son of juan franco. Juan is the son of another crispin franco.. Coyame Franco Family - Familias de Terlingua
https://www.familiasdeterlingua.com/franco---crispin-coyame.html

Dee Ayala

1/4/2021 01:06:17 am

Photo Postcard mentions "Andres Franco"

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth39753/

Louisa Madrid

3/28/2021 04:24:05 pm

The information on Francisco Franco and Juana Molinar showing they had a legitimate child named Jose Juan Franco on 1873, must be a different family then our ancestor Juana Molinar. Our ancester Juana was born on 1863. She was 10 years old when that child was born

Nora Franco

10/20/2021 12:26:45 pm

Louisa Madrid, I was wondering the same thing regarding Francisco Franco and Juana Molinar. Their son, Jose Franco was my grandfather and he did not have a middle name, that I'm aware of. He was born on September 16, 1886. This must be an error.

ORLANDO FRANCO

10/26/2021 11:23:04 am

My name is Orlando Franco and my great grandfather was Maximiano Munoz Chavez Franco was my great great grandfather. His father was Andres Franco and mother Ascencion Chavez from San Pablo, Meoqui, Chihuahua Mexico. Would like to find who Andres father was. Any help would be appreciated.

Albert M Franco

3/12/2022 06:38:14 am

I’m trying to leave a comment to your post Voss iPhone, to be sure Orlando will be notified that I left to posts that will interest him.

Albert M. Franco

3/12/2022 06:10:43 am

Orlando Franco who posted 10/26/2021, I tried to leave a comment, but I couldn't see the captcha "Send" or whatever button because it was hidden in the text box and I couldn't get to it.

My Ancestry tree under username alfranco918 called Albert M. Franco's 'working' family tree shows that Andres' father was Matias Franco married to Martina Ruiz. I have two generations beyond that.

I just woke up because I couldn't sleep, so I'm not going to dig into the tree now to see what source data I have. But, source data on that Franco family will be all connected to the tree, so you can look on there.

Albert M. Franco

3/12/2022 06:21:18 am

Orlando,

I couldn't resist looking quickly. The April 1867 marriage record for Matias Franco and Martina Ruiz in San Pablo, Meoqui is the most useful to you, though there is other documentation. It states that he had been resident in that area for 30 years, and prior to that had been in Rio de Nazas, Durango. It does list his parents. It also states that he is the widower of Martina Sanches, which ties him to a previous marriage record from about Oct 1815 in Santa Ana, Nazas, Durango, Mexico.

Albert M. Franco

4/12/2022 07:20:44 pm

One thing to keep in mind is that Mexico was not created until 1821. So, when they married in 1815, they were Spanish people, marrying in what was in essence a part of Spain...the late stages of the Spanish Empire.

I show that Mateo Franco was born in 1795 in Durango, which was Spain at the time, so he was a Spaniard from birth until he was 26 years old. He was born and married as a Spaniard. When he moved to Meoqui--and for his second marriage--he was a Mexican, the nation of Mexico already having been created.

Robert L Giron link

4/12/2022 02:29:27 pm

Do any of the Francos from the Ojinaga, Mexico / Redford, TX area have any Francos in their family named Evarista Franco who married Jose Baeza sometime in the 1890s? I'm from that family via my maternal grandmother. Trying to see how we might be related. Thanks for any info.

Robert Giron

10/23/2022 07:36:42 am

Does everyone have a family member whereby the father and son were hanged by Pancho Villa in the town square (I assume Ojinaga, Mexico) over an argument about Villa wanting wheat for his troops?

John Chaney

10/24/2022 11:10:31 am

My Grandfather is the little baby Luciano, Mateo's son. He was born in 1899. This same family portrait hangs in my hallway.

Antonio S Franco

1/5/2023 08:46:09 pm

Just a note, after doing much research on my lineage, which is Spanish and mostly Italian. My 23andme results showed cousins in Mexico, I've spoken with them and they had a distant relative named Raffaele Franco. I learned that around 10k Italians left Italy to work with churches/farms in Mexico mostly around the mid 1800s. The name Antonio Franco goes back several generations in my family, and I am unsure of why. Please feel free to email, I continually research my family.

Jose Chavarria (1962)

2/8/2023 07:49:44 pm

Antonio, I have been doing some research on my family for a while. My father, grandfather, great grandfather and others all come from Meoqui, Chihuahua. According to the records I've seen you are my fourth cousin.
My father, Angel (1921), is your father Manuel's third cousin.
My grandfather, Genaro (1875), is your grandmother Valentina's second cousin.
My great grandfather, Anastacio (1837), is your great grandfather Severiano's first cousin.
My great great grandfather, Alejo (1802), is your great great grandfather Pio's brother.

antonio s franco

2/9/2023 01:55:17 pm

Hi Jose,
I am not familiar with the names you mentioned. I do have a tree built on ancestry and i have found relatives back to the mid 1800s.
My great grandfather was nicola franco from italy, his father was s guiseppe franco from Italy, and before him was Antonio Franco in 1812. I do have dna matches to people in Texas and Mexico.
Which i assume comes from spain,
there names are Josefina Carrillo born in 1930, and Maria de Jesus Flores Castenada born in 1946.
Love to keep chatting and see if we can match up

Eric Franco

2/4/2023 11:47:39 pm

My name is Eric Franco -- son of Rodolfo ("Rudy") Franco, and I am the grandson of Luis Franco and Josefina Pena-Franco. My grandparents arrived in El Paso circa 1927 from Chihuahua . I was told by my aunt Letticia that my grandfather was a butch in El Paso and subsequently sold meat and other goods to Ft. Bliss. They built their business over the course of the next several decades and were a prominent family in North El Paso. I am hoping someone may be familiar with this narrative and if so, then perhaps we are related. I am trying to piece together my family history. Any insight is helpful.

antonio s franco

2/9/2023 02:24:35 pm

Hi Eric,
Most of my family tree has Franco family from Italy, however recent dna tests have shown family in mexico and texas. The names are Maria de Jesus Flores Castaneda, Josefina Carrillo, Daniela Farah, Andrea Gomez.
Any of the familiar?

Franco Family Discussion Post

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