Antonio Moinar Franco
Antonio Franco and Valentina Chavarría
were married 29 April 1907 in Terlingua by Fr. Brocadus
were married 29 April 1907 in Terlingua by Fr. Brocadus
Their 12 children:
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7. Rita
b. 1919; d. May 2011; married Juan Sanchez |
8. Román*[2nd. Román]
b. 06/02/1920 in Terlingua, Texas d. 09/29/1999 in Ft Stockton, Texas buried in Ft Stockton |
9. Florentino "Tino"
b. 16 Oct 1921 in Terlingua, Texas d. 4 May 2011 in Odessa, Texas buried in Odessa, Texas |
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12. Alejandra "Canda"
b. 4/24/1935 in Terlingua, Texas d. 10/24/2015 in Fort Stockton, Texas, buried at Fort Bliss, Texas married Joe Silvas |
*The family named two of their sons Román. The first Román (third born) died when he was seven years old; six month later, the family re‐used the name.
Their Story:
Antonio Molinar Franco was born on June 21,1881 in El Indio in Presidio County, Texas according to his birth certificate. Almost six years later on February 14, 1887 and about 80 miles east of Presidio in La Coyota, Texas, his future wife Valentina Ramírez Chavarría was born.
Antonio Molinar Franco was born on June 21,1881 in El Indio in Presidio County, Texas according to his birth certificate. Almost six years later on February 14, 1887 and about 80 miles east of Presidio in La Coyota, Texas, his future wife Valentina Ramírez Chavarría was born.
For unknown reasons when Antonio was only about sixteen years old, his father, Francisco Franco, abandoned the family. Though Antonio was only around sixteen years old (though somes accounts indicate he may have been as young as 11 years old) it seems that he was left to support his mother and siblings. Some of their uncles helped the family out especially taking in the infant children. Antonio was the oldest of his siblings and his next younger sibling José Franco was only eleven years old. Some of his uncles (in Shafter?) took in some of the younger children, but Antonio at the age of sixteen apparently assumed the burdens of his father looking after his mother, five younger brothers, and one sister, María. Because of this he resented his father and later when his own children asked about Francisco Franco he would tell them he was an orphan and new nothing about his father.
That made it difficult to trace this family back to earlier Franco ancestors. Research is going on to find the linkage with the other Francos of the area. There might be connections found in Meoqui where the Francos had been before coming to the area around Terlingua. Relatives of Francisco were still living in Meoqui, so perhaps he went back to San Antonio, Meoqui.
Rumors ran in the family that he had gone to San Antonio. Some members of the family related to Antonio's sister María Franco who had moved to East Texas with her husband, Roy Loyless, thought perhaps it was San Antonio Texas. But most of the family thought he went back to his family roots maybe in Mexico.
There are several places named San Antonio nearer Terlingua on the Mexican side of the Border all the way from the San Antonio de Bravo across the border from Candelaria, Texas (about 110 miles up the Rio Grande from Terlingua) to San Antonio, Meoqui, Chihuahua about 45 miles past Chihuahua City. If any reader has information on Francisco Franco the family would appreciate receiving it. Click on the "Discuss Franco Family" button to go to read comments about and from the family as well as to add your own information.
That made it difficult to trace this family back to earlier Franco ancestors. Research is going on to find the linkage with the other Francos of the area. There might be connections found in Meoqui where the Francos had been before coming to the area around Terlingua. Relatives of Francisco were still living in Meoqui, so perhaps he went back to San Antonio, Meoqui.
Rumors ran in the family that he had gone to San Antonio. Some members of the family related to Antonio's sister María Franco who had moved to East Texas with her husband, Roy Loyless, thought perhaps it was San Antonio Texas. But most of the family thought he went back to his family roots maybe in Mexico.
There are several places named San Antonio nearer Terlingua on the Mexican side of the Border all the way from the San Antonio de Bravo across the border from Candelaria, Texas (about 110 miles up the Rio Grande from Terlingua) to San Antonio, Meoqui, Chihuahua about 45 miles past Chihuahua City. If any reader has information on Francisco Franco the family would appreciate receiving it. Click on the "Discuss Franco Family" button to go to read comments about and from the family as well as to add your own information.
click on image to enlarge it
Ten years after his father abandoned the family, Antonio and Valentina got married on April 29, 1907 when he was about 26 years old and she was around 20. The marriage record indicates that they were married in "Terlingua, Brewster County." They may have been married in La Coyota where Valentina was born. Since La Coyota was an unofficial settlement its name was not usually used in official documents. Sometimes Sunday church services were held in the Garcia home on top of the little mesa of La Coyota. Antonio's siblings were still rather young when he got married; the youngest, Francisco Jr. was only eight years old. In later years when Antonio's own children asked him about his father, he told them he was an orphan and did not know his father. So the oral tradition was broken.
The only oral tradition in the family that survived into the 1950s and early 1960s was well known to all the family members was that the Francos came from Spain in 1802 somewhere south in Mexico. But it is not clear how far south. How and when they made their way to Chihuahua is not known, but they along with other families that later wound up in present day West Texas had settled in the Allende/Parral/Meoqui/Julimes area. Some interesting connections have come up in the Franco Discussion page.
Recuerdos by Antonio Santiago Franco:
"When I was a young boy in the late 1940s and into the 1950s I loved my grandmother, Josefa Baeza Valenzuela, my mom's mother. My cousins and I called her variously "mama Queka" or "mama Quiko." She was an excellent cook and had her own Mexican cafe next door to our house in Alpine, Texas.
"When I was in high school around 1960, I was curious when I realized that all but one of my grandparents were dead and
Three years later in 1910 the US Census shows that Valentina and Antonio were living in Dysart Village with their two oldest sons. Two year old Benigno had been born in "Terlingua," and one year old Manuel was born in Marathon. The census also shows that Antonio's cousin, 20 year old Jose Baeza Molinar, son of Victoriano and Jesusita Molinar, was living with them. Jose's oldest brother was Alberto Molinar. The census also shows a second boarder living with them, Leandro Marujo.
During this time Antonio was working as a freight wagon driver in Marathon. The Brewster County property assessment shows that in 1910 Antonio Franco owned seven mules and horses in Marathon. Since he was a freighter and his oldest child was only two years old he probably had 6 mules to pull freight wagons and 1 horse to ride on which were appraised at 30$ each.
Apparently Antonio and Valentina did not stay long in Marathon. They were back in the Terlingua area shortly. The rest of the family were probably born in "Terlingua." Were they born at the Franco ranch home?
By mid May of 1917 Antonio and Valentina had three more children and one on the way. Benigno was nine years old, Manuel was almost 8, but roman was only
five years old, followed by three year-old Secundino, and cute little one-year old Juanita. it was at this time that Antonio was finally ready to buy his own land.
Antonio Franco's best friend was his first cousin Alberto Molinar. On May 5, 1917 Antonio Franco and Alberto Molinar each bought 200 acres of Section 38. Nine months later, In March 1918 they went in together and bought the remaining 240 acres of Section 38. The result was that Alberto owned the northern half of Section 38 and Antonio owned the southern half. Antonio later acquired Section 30 which is just south of Section 38. It is after this that Antonio Franco had his home built facing the Rattlesnake Mountains rather than lined up with artificial north-South East-West directions.
See the page: "The Antonio Franco Home" for more details on this.
The only oral tradition in the family that survived into the 1950s and early 1960s was well known to all the family members was that the Francos came from Spain in 1802 somewhere south in Mexico. But it is not clear how far south. How and when they made their way to Chihuahua is not known, but they along with other families that later wound up in present day West Texas had settled in the Allende/Parral/Meoqui/Julimes area. Some interesting connections have come up in the Franco Discussion page.
Recuerdos by Antonio Santiago Franco:
"When I was a young boy in the late 1940s and into the 1950s I loved my grandmother, Josefa Baeza Valenzuela, my mom's mother. My cousins and I called her variously "mama Queka" or "mama Quiko." She was an excellent cook and had her own Mexican cafe next door to our house in Alpine, Texas.
"When I was in high school around 1960, I was curious when I realized that all but one of my grandparents were dead and
Three years later in 1910 the US Census shows that Valentina and Antonio were living in Dysart Village with their two oldest sons. Two year old Benigno had been born in "Terlingua," and one year old Manuel was born in Marathon. The census also shows that Antonio's cousin, 20 year old Jose Baeza Molinar, son of Victoriano and Jesusita Molinar, was living with them. Jose's oldest brother was Alberto Molinar. The census also shows a second boarder living with them, Leandro Marujo.
During this time Antonio was working as a freight wagon driver in Marathon. The Brewster County property assessment shows that in 1910 Antonio Franco owned seven mules and horses in Marathon. Since he was a freighter and his oldest child was only two years old he probably had 6 mules to pull freight wagons and 1 horse to ride on which were appraised at 30$ each.
Apparently Antonio and Valentina did not stay long in Marathon. They were back in the Terlingua area shortly. The rest of the family were probably born in "Terlingua." Were they born at the Franco ranch home?
By mid May of 1917 Antonio and Valentina had three more children and one on the way. Benigno was nine years old, Manuel was almost 8, but roman was only
five years old, followed by three year-old Secundino, and cute little one-year old Juanita. it was at this time that Antonio was finally ready to buy his own land.
Antonio Franco's best friend was his first cousin Alberto Molinar. On May 5, 1917 Antonio Franco and Alberto Molinar each bought 200 acres of Section 38. Nine months later, In March 1918 they went in together and bought the remaining 240 acres of Section 38. The result was that Alberto owned the northern half of Section 38 and Antonio owned the southern half. Antonio later acquired Section 30 which is just south of Section 38. It is after this that Antonio Franco had his home built facing the Rattlesnake Mountains rather than lined up with artificial north-South East-West directions.
See the page: "The Antonio Franco Home" for more details on this.
By 1910 Antonio, Valentina and their two oldest sons, Benigno and Manuel were living in Dysart Village according to the 1910 US Census. The family had two boarders living with them: Leandro Marujo and José Molinar.
Antonio Franco Family Album
I made a portrait of Valentina Chavarría Franco from the photo below,
and on the MyHeritage website I appied their tool for improving details, animating it, and even colorizing it.
click on the "play" arrow to see the animation.
I never got to see my grandmother so this added a level of reality to my experience of her I had never had.
and on the MyHeritage website I appied their tool for improving details, animating it, and even colorizing it.
click on the "play" arrow to see the animation.
I never got to see my grandmother so this added a level of reality to my experience of her I had never had.
The Franco children who survived to adulthood.
The Franco siblings who survived into adulthood.
Antonio Franco's ranch home in 1925 view facing the front - The area behind the arches is "el zaguán."
Just three months before her death Rita Franco said in an interview that Manuel Franco used to get up early in the morning and would milk the cows and put it in metal cans about two feet high. His sister Juanita would take some milk for household use, and Manuel would load the cans (like the one you see through the arch on the right hanging inside the zaguán) onto the cart you see on the right. He would go on horseback to Chisos (Terlingua Ghost town today) approximately seven miles north. Along the way he would pass a woman who also sold milk every day making her rounds.
In the picture Simon seems to be about six or seven years old. He was born in January 1923; so this picture may have been taken around 1929 or 1930. The Great Depression was set off by the market crash of October 1929. The Depression years were hard on people all over including Brewster County many often not having enough to eat. However, those who had gardens grew their own vegetables and weathered the Depression better than others.
Antonio Franco grew corn, beans, and other vegetable as well as watermelons and cantaloupes on his ranch. The Long Draw Creek flows nearby and joins Terlingua Creek near his property. So they had access to water for their fields. Did they have a well? An interesting note about the beans they grew: at that time Pink Beans were very popular in the area and that is what the Franco's grew. By the 1950s people in the area had switched to Pinto Beans. In later years, Manuel Franco used to
They always had plenty of milk and eggs and meat. They had carne seca (jerky) watermelons and
Cantaloupes.
When we visited them, some of their relatives from across the river would come
With mesquite flour, tunas, and other weird stuff that we were not familiar with.
In return they would be given asaderos, Jerky, eggs ,potatoes ,etc.
Antonio Franco had two dogs named El Guardián. This was the first El Guardián.
This photo provided by Ma. Louisa Franco Madrid Oct 14, 2020.
Antonio Franco's ranch home in February 2011 viewed from a small hill behind the house;
the mountains in the background are the Rattlesnake Mountains almost a mile away.
the mountains in the background are the Rattlesnake Mountains almost a mile away.
We have a page dedicated to the Antonio Franco ranch home.
Click the button below to see it.
Click the button below to see it.
l-r back row: Antonio Molinar Franco (sitting) and his brother Francisco Franco
l-r: Antonio's daughter, Alejandra, then Tina, Louisa y Margarita his first 3 granddaughters.
note: Louisa in this picture inspired the creation of Familias de Terlingua and contributed information on this photo.
l-r: Antonio's daughter, Alejandra, then Tina, Louisa y Margarita his first 3 granddaughters.
note: Louisa in this picture inspired the creation of Familias de Terlingua and contributed information on this photo.
Antonio Molinar Franco's spurs
Antonio Franco's branding iron mark
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Juanita Franco 1918 in Terlingua
Click here to see the Ranch Ruins in Wikimapia.
Click here to see the ranch ruins in Bing maps.
Note: if you move the direction of north you can see it better.
Click here to see the ranch ruins in Bing maps.
Note: if you move the direction of north you can see it better.
Ancestors for Antonio Molinar Franco up the Molinar lineage to Antonio González born 1580 in Portugal possibly in Óbidos which was known as the "villa de las Reinas" because for hundreds of years the kings gave the town to their wives. Obidos is about 40 miles north of Lisbon.
Research Notes:
find photos and info on Antonio's brand and his spurs et cetera.
find photos and info on Antonio's brand and his spurs et cetera.
We hope to add more information to the Antonio M. Franco family page. Among the information not yet added is the story of Aleck Smith who lived on the ranch with the Franco family and was a blacksmith.
Louisa Madrid provided the majority of this information; Bob Wirt also provided information found on his site: Life Before the Ruins
This page was updated May 3, 2020 with the link to Secundino's death record from his date of death.
This page was update on July 26, 2020 with the photo provided by Louisa Franco Madrid of Antonio's spurs.
This page was last updated June 6, 2022 with Valentina's animated photo.
This page was updated May 3, 2020 with the link to Secundino's death record from his date of death.
This page was update on July 26, 2020 with the photo provided by Louisa Franco Madrid of Antonio's spurs.
This page was last updated June 6, 2022 with Valentina's animated photo.
