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Federico Villalba
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first wife: María Cortez Their children: |
Photo provided by Louisa Franco Madrid
The Story:
On February 1907 Federico and his wife bought Section 304 of Block G4 (600 acres) from Gregorio Cataño and his wife for $600 according to Bob Wirt's research. the first Villalba homestead was in Block G4 Section 304 (640 acres). This land is on the west side of Terlingua Creek. The ruins of the house can be seen to the east from Joe Moss Road just below the Dolores García place. Villalba eventually acquired 14 additional sections (8960 acres) on Burro Mesa. in the mid 1920’s, they moved to a leased property along the Rio Grande in an area now known as Pettit’s Camp.
Louisa Franco Madrid's mother, Natividad G. Franco, was a García. Louisa's maternal grandfather, Dolores García, was Severa's older brother. Louisa shares with us the following remembrance:
Remembrance by Louisa Franco Madrid:
"The Villalba’s and the García’s were neighbors. Mamá used to say that Severa, whom the García’s used to call “Manita,” would walk across Terlingua creek to the Villalba’s house to pray the rosary and novenas, for doña María, Federico's wife. Mamá told me that she remembered that one time a lizard crawled up my grandmother Luisa's skirt -- of course, it came out during the novena.
"When World War I started, Federico took his family to Mexico. María, his wife, died there. When they came back Federico started writing letters to Severa. He would give them to my aunt Altagracia to give to Manita. Federico would sit on the porch with my grandfather and they would visit. Eventually, he asked my grandfather for her hand in marriage and my grandfather said, it is up to her.
"So they got married; and had the ceremony at the García place. Valentín Rodríguez and his wife Jesús were the padrinos. They had a dance and Mamá said when they left, Federico mounted his horse and lifted Manita on horseback with him and they went off. Mama said they were all so surprised, because Manita was such a lady and she had probably never been on a horse before.
"All the Villava’s loved Manita. She had a special bond with Jacobo. Herminia, John Casas’ mother, called her “abuelita.” Herminia says she remembers Manita getting big trays of biscuits out of the wood stove."
On February 1907 Federico and his wife bought Section 304 of Block G4 (600 acres) from Gregorio Cataño and his wife for $600 according to Bob Wirt's research. the first Villalba homestead was in Block G4 Section 304 (640 acres). This land is on the west side of Terlingua Creek. The ruins of the house can be seen to the east from Joe Moss Road just below the Dolores García place. Villalba eventually acquired 14 additional sections (8960 acres) on Burro Mesa. in the mid 1920’s, they moved to a leased property along the Rio Grande in an area now known as Pettit’s Camp.
Louisa Franco Madrid's mother, Natividad G. Franco, was a García. Louisa's maternal grandfather, Dolores García, was Severa's older brother. Louisa shares with us the following remembrance:
Remembrance by Louisa Franco Madrid:
"The Villalba’s and the García’s were neighbors. Mamá used to say that Severa, whom the García’s used to call “Manita,” would walk across Terlingua creek to the Villalba’s house to pray the rosary and novenas, for doña María, Federico's wife. Mamá told me that she remembered that one time a lizard crawled up my grandmother Luisa's skirt -- of course, it came out during the novena.
"When World War I started, Federico took his family to Mexico. María, his wife, died there. When they came back Federico started writing letters to Severa. He would give them to my aunt Altagracia to give to Manita. Federico would sit on the porch with my grandfather and they would visit. Eventually, he asked my grandfather for her hand in marriage and my grandfather said, it is up to her.
"So they got married; and had the ceremony at the García place. Valentín Rodríguez and his wife Jesús were the padrinos. They had a dance and Mamá said when they left, Federico mounted his horse and lifted Manita on horseback with him and they went off. Mama said they were all so surprised, because Manita was such a lady and she had probably never been on a horse before.
"All the Villava’s loved Manita. She had a special bond with Jacobo. Herminia, John Casas’ mother, called her “abuelita.” Herminia says she remembers Manita getting big trays of biscuits out of the wood stove."
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For a comprehensive view of his Federico Villalbaps life read by Juan Manuel Casas. Click on book cover to see details. |
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Federico Villalba's Texas: A Mexican Pioneer's Life in the Big Bend |
Museum of the Big Bend Exhibit
In 2015 the Museum of the Big Bend set up a display
of the Villalba family. The Display will run till the end of August 2015
The following are photos taken by Federico Villalba III of the Display.
In 2015 the Museum of the Big Bend set up a display
of the Villalba family. The Display will run till the end of August 2015
The following are photos taken by Federico Villalba III of the Display.
Sources:
The information on María Cortez and children was provided by Juan Manuel Casas from the Villalba Family Discussion Post.
Information on Severa García provided by Louisa Madrid.
Bob Wirt provided information on the Villalba properties in October 2012.
The photo of Federico and Severa and the copy of their marriage license were provided by Louisa Franco Madrid in February 2013. Click on the word "married" (above the photo) or click here to see the marriage license.
Photos of the exhibit at the Museum of the Big Bend are from Federico Villalba IV.
The information on María Cortez and children was provided by Juan Manuel Casas from the Villalba Family Discussion Post.
Information on Severa García provided by Louisa Madrid.
Bob Wirt provided information on the Villalba properties in October 2012.
The photo of Federico and Severa and the copy of their marriage license were provided by Louisa Franco Madrid in February 2013. Click on the word "married" (above the photo) or click here to see the marriage license.
Photos of the exhibit at the Museum of the Big Bend are from Federico Villalba IV.
This page was last updated on March 13, 2020.
This page was updated on August 9, 2015.
This page was updated on August 9, 2015.
