Olvera & Jimenez Family

OCTOBER 2021

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OLVERA & JIMENEZ REUNION

FAMILY A historical timeline of two families through documents.

OCTOBER 2021

OLVERA & JIMENEZ REUNION

The wonderful thing about civil and church records from Mexico is that they provide a great deal of information. They can provide the birthplace and current residence of a person's parents and grandparents. They can provide occupation for the parents. The downside to this much information is that they can also reveal a few "skeletons in the closet." We can never know what our ancestor's were thinking or feeling, but at least we have a record to look back on and trace our family's footsteps.

Research conducted by Nacde Bobadillo, Great-granddaughter of Dario C. Olvera and Francisca Jimenez, Grandaughter of Elvira Olvera, Daughter of Antonio Bobadillo Jr. and dedicated to his memory.

OCTOBER 2021

OLVERA & JIMENEZ REUNION

Table of Contents PART ONE

OLVERA FAMILY

Jose Antonio Olvera (Generation 6)..........................................................................1 Antonio Olvera (Generation 5)...................................................................................2 Martin Olvera (Generation 4).....................................................................................4 Geronimo Olvera (Generation 3)...............................................................................5 Nazario Olvera (Generation 2)...................................................................................7 Dario Ceniceros Olvera (Generation 1)....................................................................11

PART TWO JIMENEZ FAMILY Paulin Jimenez (Generation 5)...................................................................................18 Luis Jimenez (Generation 4)......................................................................................19 Carlos Jimenez (Generation 3)..................................................................................20 Panfilo Jimenez (Generation 2)..................................................................................22 Francisca Jimenez (Generation 1).............................................................................24 Our Military Hero, Pfc. Simon C. Jimenez..................................................................25

Family Trees .........................................................................................................32-33

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GENERATION 6

JOSE ANTONIO OLVERA BORN C. 1780 -DIED UNKNOWN

While the colonists in the thirteen American colonies were establishing their independence, the Spanish had already founded missions and mining settlements in present-day Durango, Mexico. There were multiple indigenous groups that inhabited the region: the Tepehuanes, the Salineros, the Zacatecos, and more. The residence of Jose Antonio and his wife Tomasa are unknown, but they are named in the baptismal record of their grandchild, Maria Concepcion Olvera.

Spouse: Tomasa Gonzales (Born unknown - Died unknown)

MAP OF NEW SPAIN, 1780

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GENERATION 5

ANTONIO OLVERA BORN C. 1800 -DIED UNKNOWN

The congregation of "Cinco Señores " was established in 1598 by missionaries of the Society of Jesus. The area was devastated after the war with the Tarahumaras. Around 1715, Governor Manuel S. Juan de Santa Cruz gave precise orders for the town of Cinco Señores del Río de las Nazas to be founded, with the parish being erected in 1753.

CINCO SEÑORES, NOW KNOWN AS NAZAS, ON THE MAP OF URRUTIA, 1769

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BAPTISM RECORD OF MARIA DE LA CONCEPCION OLVERA, 1824

In the records of this parish is the baptism of Maria De La Concepcion Olvera Morales, recorded on 22 May 1824. She was named as the "hija legitima" of Antonio Olvera and Leocadia Morales. Her grandparents were also documented as Jose Antonio Olvera, Tomasa Gonzales, and Alvino Morales. Maria De La Concepcion's sibling was Martin Olvera (Generation 4.)

Spouse: Leocadia Morales (Born unknown - Died unknown)

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GENERATION 4

MARTIN OLVERA BORN C. 1820 -DIED UNKNOWN

Mexico's struggle for independence began in 1810 with regional skirmishes, which increased in intensity over 11 years. On 27 September 1821, the "Army of the Three Guarantees" proclaimed the independence of the Mexican Empire. In the same year, the United States of America had taken possession of Florida, it's newly purchased territory from Spain. It was likely during this time period that Martin Olvera, the son of Antonio Olvera and Leocadia Morales, was born.

Martin was married to Pantaleona Montellano, the daughter of Jose Arcadio Feliciano Montellano and Carmen Calderon. Martin and his wife lived in a small residential area called Avilés, outside of Lerdo, Durango. We can document that between 1847 and 1871, they had at least 6 sons: Geronimo, Teodocio, Zeferino, Sotero, Anastacio, and Bacilio.

Spouse: Pantaleona Montellano (Born unknown - Died unknown)

HACIENDA DE SAN JUAN DE AVILÉS

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GENERATION 3

GERONIMO OLVERA BORN C. 1847 - DIED 11 MAY 1920

Known in Mexico as the "Intervención estadounidense en México" (U.S. intervention in Mexico), the Mexican-American War was prompted by the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas. U.S. forces had ventured through Durango and the surrounding region around the time that Geronimo Olvera was born. The Mexican-American War ended in 1848 and resulted in the U.S. gaining territory in Texas, New Mexico, and California.

The vital records of his children show that Geronimo and his wife, Anselma Vargas, daughter of Guadalupe Antonio Vargas and Tiburcia Galvan, lived in Hacienda de Guatematzin (near Lerdo, Durango). These records show that they had four sons and three daughters: Nazario, Francisco, Leandro, Gregorio, Agustina, Tiburcia, and Albina.

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By 1905, Geronimo was a widower living in El Quemado, a town in the Municipality of Gómez Palacio (Durango), per the marriage record of his daughter Albina. In 1907, he is the only Olvera listed in the city directory of El Paso, Texas, living at 502 S. Oregon Street. The residence was a "boarding house" owned by Wong Dung Leng and was in the center of El Paso's "Chinatown". When Geronimo died on 11 May 1920, he was residing at 3618 Oro Street (now known as E. Missouri Avenue, part of the L&J's Cafe building) with the family of his brother Zeferino and sister-in-law Juana Rosas. He was buried in Concordia Cemetary.

Spouse: Anselma Vargas (Born C. 1850 - Died C. 1905)

DEATH CERTIFICATE OF GERONIMO OLVERA, 11 MAY 1920

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GENERATION 2

NAZARIO OLVERA BORN 28 JUL 1874 - DIED AFTER MAY 1930

Nazario Olvera was born in Hacienda de Guatematzin (near Lerdo, Durango), in 1874. On January 7, 1893, he married Cayetana Castaneda, daughter of Doroteo Castaneda and Micaela Beltran, in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico. Matamoros is just on the other side of the state border from Lerdo. They had 5 children before her death on 17 December 1912. She was 31 years old, and her cause of death was listed as pneumonia.

Interestingly, Nazario fathered three children who were all born in 1906. In May, he had a legitimate daughter, Josefa Olvera, in El Quemado, Gómez Palacio, Durango with his wife Cayetana. Several months later, in November, he also had a "legitimate" daughter, Esteher Olvera, in El Compas, Gómez Palacio, Durango with his "wife" Lidia Garay. In December, he had a son, Dario Ceniceros, in the village of "El Refugio", Durango with Petra Ceniceros. Esteher died from fever 9 months after she was born.

Lidia and Nazario had one more child together before she succumbed to tuberculosis in 1910 in San Pedro, Coahuila. She was 30 years old and listed as a "widow".

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However, Nazario continued to expand his family with his "wife" Patricia Acosta by having three more children: an unknown first-born child, Isabel, and Jose Cruz. In 1916, Isabel's birth record listed her as the 2nd "legitimate" child of Nazario and Patricia. In 1918, Jose Cruz's birth record listed him as the "natural" son of the viudo Nazario and Patricia Acosta. According to Mexico's Civil Code at the time, a "natural" child is the result of the union between unmarried couples, which at the time of conception were not legally united in marriage, civil or religious. An "illegitimate" child is one whose parents cannot marry because one or both are already united in a marital bond with other people.

BIRTH RECORD OF JOSE CRUZ OLVERA, 1918

A few years later, in 1918, Nazario and Teresa Alvarado had a daughter, Santos.

After the birth of their second child, Gregoria, they were married on 22 March 1920, in Sacramento, Durango. They had a third daughter named Sofia. In 1927, Nazario and Teresa were living at 3420 Frutas Street in El Paso, Texas. By April, Teresa had died of cerebral thrombosis.

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EL PASO CITY DIRECTORY, 1927

On 14 January 1930, Nazario was listed in the birth record of Maria Hilaria Olvera as the husband of Virginia Chavez, living in El Quemado. He was 54 years old and Virginia was 25 years old. The last record for Nazario is the 1930 Mexican Census, in which he is living in El Quemado with his wife Virginia and his daughter Santos.

BIRTH RECORD FOR MARIA HILARIA OLVERA, 1930

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7 Jan 1893 m. Cayetana Castaneda

1893

THE KNOWN CHILDREN OF NAZARIO OLVERA

May 1899 b. Estanislado Olvera 1903 b. Santos Olvera July 1905 b. Francisco Olvera

May 1906 b. Josefa Olvera

Nov 1906 b. Esteher Olvera

29 Dec 1906 b. Dario Ceniceros

Jul 1909 b. J. Ramon Olvera

31 Mar 1910 d. Lidia Garay 17 Dec 1912 d. Cayetana Castaneda 1915 b. unknown Olvera 1 Aug 1916 b. Isabel Olvera 3 May 1918 b. Jose Cruz Olvera

6 Apr 1918 b. Santos Alvarado 12 Mar 1920 b. Gregoria Olvera

Children of Cayetana Castaneda

22 Mar 1920 m. Teresa Alvarado

Children of Lidia Garay 1 May 1924 b. Sofia Olvera

Children of Petra Ceniceros Children of Patricia Acosta

4 Apr 1927 d. Teresa Alvarado

Children of Teresa Alvarado Children of Virginia Chavez

1930

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14 Jan 1930 b. Maria Hilaria Olvera

OLVERA AND JIMENEZ

GENERATION 1

DARIO CENICEROS OLVERA BORN 29 DEC 1906 - DIED 24 JAN 1995

Petra Ceniceros was born on 18 May 1878 in Mapimí, Durango and was the daughter of Jesus Ceniceros and Romana Gonzales. She had two daughters, Maria Estanislada and Josefa, from a previous marriage to Jose Antonio Silerio. Her son, Dario Ceniceros, was born on 29 December 1906, in "El Refugio", a small village in Durango, Durango.

Shortly after, Petra and her children moved to Torreón, Coahuila, where she married Francisco Rosales in 1909. Together they had six children: Maria Luisa, Maria Refugio, Maria Jesusa, Benito, Romana, and Jose. By 1930, Francisco and Petra were living on Pera Street in El Paso, Texas.

After moving to Torreón, Coahuila with his mother, 18-year-old Dario Ceniceros married 15-year-old Maria Refugio Torres on 19 August 1923.

She was the daughter of Alberto Torres and Amada Enciso.

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MARRIAGE OF DARIO CENICEROS AND MARIA REFUGIO TORRES, 1923

Dario and Refugio traveled to El Paso, Texas in 1923. Both his father and mother were also in El Paso with their separate spouses and families. Once in America, he went by the name "Dario Olvera." On 21 April 1927, Refugio gave birth to twin boys: Donato and Enrique Anastacio. However, only one month and two days later, Donato died of enterocolitis. Donato's mother, Refugio, would also have a short life. She died of tuberculosis on 5 August 1929, shortly after she turned 20 years old. The informant on her death certificate was Dario's half-sister, Josefa Silerio. Both Donato and Refugio are buried at Concordia Cemetery.

After the death of his wife and infant son, Dario continued to live in El Paso. He worked at the El Paso Cotton Mills and later as a cleaner at a "Government Hospital," according to the 1930 U.S. census. It is in this census record where Dario and his son Enrique Anastacio were living in the home of his mother and her husband Francisco Rosales at 3200 Pera Street. In this record, they are both incorrectly listed as the nephews of Francisco Rosales.

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BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF ENRIQUE ANASTACIO OLVERA, 21 APRIL 1927

DEATH CERTIFICATE OF DONATO OLVERA, 23 MAY 1927

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On 23 August 1930, Dario and Francisca Jimenez were married in El Paso, Texas.

After 1930, Petra Ceniceros and her husband Francisco returned to Torreón, Coahuila and were living at Calle Zaragoza 128. On the 1940 U.S. Census, Dario and Francisca are living at 2132 Cypress Street with Enrique Anastacio (his son with his first wife), and his children with Francisca: Elvira, Carlos, Dario Jr., Nasario, and Cruz. His occupation is listed as a "weaver" and he had received a 7th grade education. The family lived in a rented home and paid $8 a month, which would be about $152 in today's dollars. Dario, as the sole provider, worked 52 weeks of the year and earned $672 annually ($12,788 in today's currency.) In the 1940 World War II Draft Registration card, Dario states that he works at the Lone Star Cotton Mill. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs 135 pounds. The registrar notes that he has a scar on his left cheek.

After 1940, his son Enrique Anastacio was living in Torreón, Coahuila with Dario's mother, Petra. On 26 October 1941, Enrique Anastacio died of an intestinal infection. He was 16 years old. Shortly after his son's death, Dario and Francisca returned to the U.S. on November 9th, from having stayed at the home of Petra Ceniceros. The immigration record also notes that in 1928, Dario was denied admission to the U.S.

DEATH RECORD OF ENRIQUE ANASTACIO OLVERA, 1941

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IMMIGRATION RECORD OF DARIO OLVERA, 1941

NATURALIZATION RECORD OF DARIO OLVERA, 1953

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Dario petitioned for U.S. Naturalization on 31 July 1953. This record provides the vital information for himself, his wife Francisca, and their children. On 5 October 1953, Dario became a U.S. Citizen when he took the Oath of Allegiance. Several years later, his mother Petra died in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, on 27 May 1961.

Her death certificate listed "5 hijos: Maria y Josefa Silerio, Dario Ceniceros Olvera, Benito y Maria de Jesus Rosales".

DEATH CERTIFICATE OF PETRA CENICEROS, 27 MAY 1961

In articles published in the El Paso Times by his son, Enrique "Joe" Olvera, he described his father Dario as very involved in his civic duty as a U.S. citizen. He stated that his father never missed an election and encouraged his children to "become dedicated to the voting process." Dario's letters in which he urged elected politicians to fulfill their elected duty were often published. In one such letter, he calls upon a local representative to improve the city's parks.

Dario Ceniceros Olvera died on 24 January 1995. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

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EL PASO TIMES, 29 MAY 1971 (TEXAS)

OBITUARY OF DARIO OLVERA, 1995

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GENERATION 5

PAULIN JIMENEZ BORN C. 1790 -DIED UNKNOWN

Paulin Jimenez lived in the village of Muleros, Durango. Muleros began as a ranch named for the farmers who cared for the mules there. Over a hundred years later, Muleros became the head of the municipality and both were renamed Vicente Guerrero, after the famous general of the Mexican War of Independence. Paulin was married to Juana Martinez and they had at least two sons that are documented: Esteban and Luis.

Spouse: Juana Martinez (Born unknown - Died unknown) SHIELD OF CIUDAD VICENTE GUERRERO

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GENERATION 4

LUIS JIMENEZ BORN C. 1818 -DIED UNKNOWN

Luis Jimenez was born in Muleros, Durango circa 1818. On 30 October 1836, in Suchil, Durango, he married Damacia de la Cruz, the daughter of Marcelo de la Cruz and Maria Fernanda Flores. They were both 18 years old. Luis and Damacia had eight children: Remijia, Blasa de Refugio, Lucia, Florencio del Refugio, Dominga, Juan, Salome, and Carlos.

Spouse: Damacia de la Cruz (Born 9 Nov 1818 - Died unknown)

MARRIAGE RECORD OF LUIS JIMENEZ AND DAMACIA DE LA CRUZ, 1836

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GENERATION 3

CARLOS JIMENEZ BORN C. 1858 -DIED UNKNOWN

HACIENDA EL MORTERO, SUCHIL, DURANGO

Carlos Jimenez lived at "El Mortero", also known as Hacienda El Mortero, Durango (near Suchil). This includes the 18th century house of the Count of Suchil and the surrounding area. On 3 April 1867, he married Juana Petra Cardiel. She was the daughter of Concepcion Cardiel and Trinidad Herrera. Carlos and Juana Petra had 11 children: Nasario, Alcario, Soledad, Felicitas, Baulia, Dolores, Ricardo, Panfilo Jose, Jesus Francisco, Maria Refugio, and an unknown child. A few years after the birth of their last child, Juana died of pneumonia.

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MARRIAGE RECORD OF CARLOS JIMENEZ AND JUANA PETRA CARDIEL

DEATH RECORD OF JUANA PETRA CARDIEL, 1899

On 20 November 1904, Carlos Jimenez married 26-year-old Ursula Flores, the daughter of Cinlo Flores and Maria Ysabel Frias. They had five children: Maria Isabel, Francisca, Felipe, Josefa, and Soleda. Carlos died sometime between 1914 and 1930. In the 1930 U.S. Census, the widow Ursula and their two youngest children were listed as living in El Centro, California.

Spouses: Juana Petra Cardiel (Born Jun 1847 - Died 31 Dec 1899) Ursula Flores (Born 1878 - after 1930)

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GENERATION 2

PANFILO JIMENEZ BORN 1 JUN 1885 -DIED 27 SEP 1957

PANFILO JIMENEZ AND CRUZ CALZADA

Panfilo Jimenez was born in Muleros (Vicente Guerrero), Durango on 1 Jun 1885. On 21 April 1904, he married Cruz Calzada, the daughter of Jose Carlos Calzada and Carlota Solano. Their first child, Martin Valentin, was born on Valentine's Day 1906. By the end of that year, the family had resettled in El Paso, Texas. Panfilo and Cruz had four more children: Timoteo, Francisca, Simon, and Maria Luisa.

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SMELTERTOWN, 1907

U.S. Censuses and city directories show Panfilo and his family living in various parts of the city. They were recorded residing in the "Val Verde Addition across canal" and "Smeltertown", where Panfilo was a farmer. In the 1930 U.S. Census, they were living at 3200 Pera Street. By 1940, Panfilo and his family were living at 3112 Frutas Avenue. At this time he was working as a grocer at "Cut Rate Grocery" (3132 Alameda Avenue), later called "La Nortena Grocery". His last residence prior to his death was at 3017 Pera Street. On 27 September 1957, Panfilo died at Providence Memorial Hospital. His wife Cruz died on 2 January 1963 at Thomason Hospital. They are both buried at Evergreen Cemetery. The birth years on their tombstone were provided after their death, and are inconsistent with the date of births provided on their birth and baptism records.

Spouse: Cruz Calzada (Born 3 May 1889 - Died 2 Jan 1963)

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GENERATION 1

FRANCISCA JIMENEZ BORN 10 OCT 1912 -DIED 14 MAY 1985

Francisca Jimenez was the third child born to Panfilo Jimenez and Cruz Calzada. In 1930, Francisca was married to Dario Olvera. They had the following children: Elvira (1931), Carlos (1933), Dario Jr. (1935), Nasario (1937), Cruz (1939), Petra (1942), Enrique (1944), and Simon (1948).

Francisca would experience tragedy with the loss of her son Carlos (born 14 December 14 1933.) On 7 October 1974, Carlos was killed by an automobile as he was walking along 11681 Socorro Road.

Carlos was an artist, who had exhibitions at various art galleries. He also served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Francisca died on 14 May 1985. She and Dario are buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

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OUR MILTARY HERO PFC. SIMON JIMENEZ Two of Francisca Jimenez's brothers would join the U.S. Army during World War II. Timoteo (born 22 August 1908) and Simon (born 29 October 1916) both filled our their draft cards on 16 October 1940.

Timoteo was 32 years old and worked at Horn's Potato Chips, while Simon was 23 years old and stated that he worked at Valley Poultry and Egg Company.

EL PASO TIMES, 26 MAY 1942

Timoteo was called into service on 2 June 1942. He served in the campaign in North Africa and was medically discharged 1 September 1944, exactly 1 year and 1 day before the end of the war.

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Simon enlisted with the National Guard on 25 November 1940 and served in Company E of the 141st Infantry, 36th division. After training, he was sent overseas and was involved in "the first World War II amphibious assault in Europe by any American division," which occurred near Salerno, Italy on 9 September 1943.

COMPANY E, 141ST INFANTRY REGIMENT 36TH DIVISION - 1940

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According to the Texas Forces Military Museum: In the fighting for Highway Six - the Road to Rome - in November, the 141st spent November and December, 1943, fighting to clear the Mignano Gap. The Regiment assaulted San Pietro on December 15th. The old Italian village was located on the slopes of a mountain, and, after three attempts at assault, the 141st finally took the village when the 142nd outflanked the position. Soon they followed the First Special Service Force up Hill 730 after the capture of that position. The Germans called the 141st "wild men from Texas, skilled in fieldcraft and fighting".

On 1 January 1944, the El Paso Times reported that a woman had received a Nazi flag from a relative in Company E. The flag was dated "September 9th, 1943" (the date of the Salerno assault) and signed by members of the company, including PFC Simon C. Jimenez. On January 4, Simon's parents received notification that their son had been killed in action on 15 December 1943 (the date of the assault on San Pietro.) According to World War II Hospital files, he received a traumatic amputation of the leg due to a blast or explosion.

EL PASO TIMES, 6 JANUARY 1944

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Just days after learning that their son had died, Panfilo and Cruz received a package from their son. On January 8, 1944, the El Paso Times reported that Simon had sent home German and Italian flags, signed by members of Company E. On the same day, his former company in the 141st began their plan of attack in what is now known as the "Battle of Rapido River."

EL PASO TIMES, 8 JANUARY 1944

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In the book "The Men of Company E" by Samuel S. Ortega and Arnulfo Hernandez Jr., witness statements and a combat action report state that his company was pinned down by German machine gun fire. Without regard for his life, Pfc. Jimenez rushed towards the gun, but stepped on a land mine. Knowing that he was mortally wounded, he threw himself over barbed wire and implored his fellow soldiers to use his body as a bridge. "His last words express anxiety for his comrades."

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In 1944, Pfc. Simon C. Jimenez posthumously earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service, and a Purple Heart for military merit and wounds received in action resulting in his death. Simon was buried at the American war cemetery in Marzanello, Nuovo, Italy. He was later disinterred and reburied at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery on 29 September 1948.

MARZANELLO - NATIONAL ARCHIVES - U.S. AIR FORCE WWII 30

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U.S. NATIONAL CEMETERY INTERMENT RECORDS

FT. BLISS NATIONAL CEMETERY, TEXAS

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