Pregunta 525 - 21 August 2008

I am researching my great grandmother's lineage. Her name is Margarita Villa Felix and she married my great grandfather, Ramon Contreras born 1863 in Bakersfield, Calif., son of Victoriano Contreras born 1817 and Manuela Preciado Contreras born 1830. They resided in Bakersfield in 1870.  Siblings were Vicente, Juan, Refugio, and Victoriano. Ramon and Margarita married and moved to Tecate, Baja California circa 1890.This is a cut from one of my aunts' obituaries:

"Mr. RAMON CONTRERAS PRECIADO, in search of new horizons, comes to Tecate originating in the ALTA CALIFORNIA.  Here he acquired lands that were part of the Agriculture colony of Tecate, receiving its holder of property from the President of Republic PORFIRIO DIAZ.  After being established in his ranch, he married the beautiful MARGARITA FELIZ VILLA, who also came from the same place and who was daughter of a pioneering colonizer, Mr. JOSE DE GRACIA FELIX, and the Mrs. JUANA VILLA. 
Both families grew up producing the land, leaving the manifest their hold in this place.  These are part of the roots of the genealogical tree of our personage in mention.  Of these families and of the Mrs. EMILIA there very well could have been written an infinity of pages, given the important path of these forgery families of the history of Tecate, whose genesis main of those colonizers, it’s probable that they were part of the 10 thousand Sonoreans (from Sonora, Mexico) that in caravan traveled on foot, on horses and wagons, after the fortune of the gold rush in California, and that exhausted the beautiful metal they returned to Mexican territory as was the case of these two families. "

Ramon and Margarita eventually settled in East San Diego County and my great aunt managed the land in Tecate. If there is any familia out there related to us, Contreras or Felix, we have a yahoo group site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Contreras_FelixFamily/. I would also like to hear from MORE Contreras cousins. [Adrian J. Gonzales (nonmember), El Cajon, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 525 - 31 August 2008

I hope that you can help me. My grandfather was Benito Contreras. He had family that also lived in Tecate, Mex. He was born here in San Diego, Calif. They also had a rancho in Tecate. His father's name was Salvador Contreras, who had somewhat of a bad reputation so he was not close to them. Salvador married Aruroa Martinez, then divorced. He stayed in Mexico. Salvador Contreras had already been remarried by the time I met him. He had married Anita Mesa. Their children were Rosa, Marcos, Anselmo, "Tuities" (that's how my Mom knows this son), and Juana. My grandfather had a stepsister that lived in Pico Rivera or Whittier, Calif.  [YOCAPONE @ HOTMAIL.COM (nonmember), Chula Vista, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 525 - 21 August 2008

From Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, vol. I, pp. 144-48:

Jose de Alta Gracia Feliz was the 6th child, 3rd son of Jose Tomas Feliz [born about 1793 at Los Angeles of Francisco Feliz and Maria Josefa Cota; buried 12 November 1830 at Los Angeles Plaza Church] and Maria de Jesus Lopez [born about 1797 at Mission San Vicente, Baja California of Juan Bautista Lopez -- Mayordomo at Mission San Miguel, Baja California in 1790 -- and Maria Dolores Salgado]. Jose Tomas and Maria de Jesus married 5 January 1815 at Mission San Fernando and had 11 children. Maria married second Jordon Pacheco 19 May 1835. Jose Tomas Feliz was a soldado de cuera in the escolta of the Santa Barbara Presidio.

Jose Tomas Feliz was the 2nd child and 2nd son of Joseph Francisco Feliz [born 20 October 1761 at Alamos, Sonora, Mexico of Joseph Vicente Feliz and Maria Ygnacia Pinuelas; buried 21 March 1847 at Mission San Gabriel] and Maria Josefa Cota [born about 1771 at Loreto, Baja California of Roque Jacinto de Cota and Juana Maria Verdugo; died 14 April 1836; buried 16 April 1836 at Mission San Fernando]. Joseph Francisco and Maria Josefa were married 19 January 1786 at Mission San Gabriel and had 15 children. Joseph Francisco came in the 1776 Anza Expedition with his father, brothers, and sisters; stationed at San Diego Presidio; settled at Los Angeles in late 1791. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 524 - 21 August 2008

I am trying to find information on Narcissa Higuera/Eguera born around 1840 who was a Gabrielino who married James Vineyard Rosemeyer/Rosemyre/Rosemyer/Rosemire.  They lived for many years in Tehachapi, Bakersfield, and Tejon parts of California.  I do not know where she died or is buried but know that her death occurred sometime after 1910.  I am seeking any information, records, pictures, stories, on her and her descendants.  I have traced the family line and have some information which I would be willing to share. From what I understand there is a recording of her voice at the Smithsonian Institute talking in her native tongue. Thank you for any responses or leads. [Lynda Beacon (nonmember), Dubai, Middle East]

Respuesta a Pregunta 524 - 2 February 2010

I am a member of the Kern County Genealogy Society.  The Union Cemetery here in Bakersfield has a Mrs. Rosemyre buried with James V. Rosemyre.  Date of death around 1912. Narcissa Rosemyre was schooled at the San Gabriel Mission, but is thought to be either Kawaiisu or Tejon Yokut since she was born west of Tehachapi.  Her language should tell. If you have any further questions, please contact mehalomorris@sbcglobal.net . [Harriet Morris (nonmember), Bakersfield, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 524 - 2 February 2010

I am the great granddaughter of Naesisa Higuera also known as Mrs. James Rosemyer. Her Indian name was Loo Soo. [Elaine Medina (nonmember), Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.]

Pregunta 523 - 21 August 2008

I am the great-great-grandson of Jose Antonio Serrano of the Pauma ranch and the great-grandson of Jesus Serrano of Ventura County. Does anyone have information on the family?  Are any family reunions held?  Thank you. [Lawrence Lopez (nonmember), Prescott, Ariz.]

Pregunta 522 - 21 August 2008

I'm currently researching the Los Coches Adobe in Soledad, Calif. for the City of Soledad who is now the owner.  The adobe was constructed in 1843 by Maria Josefa Soberanes and her husband William B. Richardson.  Josefa was one of the children of  Feliciano Soberanes and received title to the Los Coches Rancho in 1841, which is near Mission Soledad.  I worked on this building 30 years ago and then Adeline C. Richardson O'Brien was still alive and had a family archive relating to the Richardson family.  I would be interested in talking to her descendants as well as any known descendants of Josefa and William Richardson.  Hopefully, some have joined your organization and might be willing to share photos, primary documents etc. to help understand the early history of this building. I hope you can help. Best,
Charlene Duval
Historian
Archives & Architecture
831 479-7282

Pregunta 521 - 12 July 2008

Does anyone know of any descendents living today of Juana Briones' husband - Apolinario Miranda and how to contact them?  Your help is much appreciated. [Hilda Sendyk (nonmember), Palo Alto, Calif.]

Respuestas a Pregunta 521 - 21 August 2008

Jose Apolinario Miranda was my 3rd great grand-uncle (although I am not that sure I should claim him...he definitely was not the perfect husband!). I am a direct descendent of his brother, Jose Hilario Feliciano Miranda. [Pat Garcia (member), Colfax, Calif.]

Hi Hilda, I am a direct descendant of Juana Briones and her husband Apolinario Miranda.  My grandfather, Jesus Pedro Garcia, was her grandson (son of her daughter, Maria Jesus Narcissa, and Jesus Garcia)
Jesus P. Garcia had seven children, including my father,  all of them deceased.  I have been researching my family for decades and have not been able to locate any more of her descendants other then the above and  six other grandchildren. .  These six grandchildren were the children of her three youngest daughters and appear to have died without issue.    My grandparents have a number of grandchildren, my cousins, still living in California (the Bay Area); Texas (the Houston Area); Oregon (the Portland Area--my siblings); Washington State (Spokane-myself and and a cousin) and Florida  (my sister).  Also there are a number of great grandchildren living in the above areas.  Please write me at "garce1947@yahoo.com and I will give you those names and locations I have. [Patrick Garcia, Spokane, Wash.]
 

Gilbert Mesa is a descendant of Apolinario Miranda and Juana Briones. He graduated from Palo Alto High School, so his address and phone number can be obtained from the alumni office there. Two of Apolinario and Juana's daughters married Mesa men, sons of Juan Prado Mesa, who owned the San Antonio Rancho south of and contiguous with Juana's Rancho la Purisima Concepcion. A man named Gilbert Mesa who lived in the Los Angeles area died a couple of years ago, but this is not the same Gilbert who lived in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto and attended Paly. The descendant lives in a town south of here, I called his home a few years ago, if Paly does not supply the address and phone number, I can search in my many files. I wrote a biography of Juana Briones that will be published by the University of Arizona Press, out the end of September or first of October 2008. Juana and her two daughters and numerous descendants lived in the California Avenue area for many years, when it was Mayfield. [Jeanne McDonnell (member), Palo Alto, Calif.]
 

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