Happy Father's Day Dad

Photo by B. Jones. My Dad last summer, 24 Jul 2015.

Happy Father's Day to my Dad. The photo above is from last summer, when his book How to Build a Flatiron Skiff was released. It has been a difficult couple of months for him medically, so we were happy to visit today and cook Mom & Dad a nice roast chicken & fresh local corn on the cob for lunch.

Supporting immigrants in Arizona over 100 years ago

Arizona Republic, 29 Jun 1915

The article above is from the Arizona Republic newspaper, describing the election of new officers for the Tempe lodge of the Liga Protectora Latina in June 1915. My 2nd-great-grandfather Vicente Campuzano (misspelled in the article as Bicente Compuzano) was elected as sergeant-at-arms of the chapter. The Liga Protectora Latina was an influential mutual aid society supporting Mexican immigrants in the Southwestern US. In this Immigrant Heritage Month, it is important to highlight the role of the LPL, and Vicente's connection to the organization.

The group not only supported immigrants with educational programs, job training and workers' rights, but encouraged support for US war efforts during WWI. The article below from the Arizona Republic on 24 February 1981 highlights this.

Arizona Republic, 24 Feb 1981

I am proud of my family's connection to this chapter of Mexican-American civil rights history.

Note - I thought it was also worth including the meteorological history at the bottom of the news clipping, showing the wide range of temperatures in Central Arizona in 1915. This adds some understanding to the environment Vicente and his family were in during this time.

Campuzano family at Red Rock, Arizona

Photo from I. Wagers. Campuzano family at Red Rock, AZ. About 1903 or 1905.

This wonderful old photo was sent to me by Irene Wagers, showing members of her branch of the Campuzano family at Red Rock, Pinal County, Arizona. The photo was taken around 1903 to 1905. Her father, Ataulfo Campuzano, is the boy on the white donkey in the center of the picture. Ataulfo's father, Jose Jesus Campuzano, is the man in the white apron on the left side of the photo. Ataulfo's older sister Mariana Campuzano is in the white dress on the right side of the photo, standing in front of the tent.

In the 1900 US Census (taken 12 June 1900), the family appears in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona.

Jesus also appears in the 1900 US Census (taken 2 June 1900) in Pinal County, Arizona, working as a wagonmaker.

In the 1901 City Directory for Tucson, Jesus Campuzano appears as a carpenter, living at 536 N. 8th Avenue. Crescencio Campuzano, who also appears in this record, was an older half-brother of Jesus.

According to the 1902 City Directory, the family was living at 288 Convent Street at the time. Jesus was working as a blacksmith.

Jose Jesus Campuzano and Elvira Felix had seven children:
- Mariana Campuzano (1883-1945)
- Rosaura Campuzano (1886-1947)
- Jesus Felix Campuzano (Abt 1888 or 1889 -1919)
- Alfredo Campuzano (1890-1891)
- Plutarco Campuzano (1892-1892)
- Gilberto Campuzano (1893-1904)
- Ataulfo Campuzano (1895-1984)

Alfredo and Plutarco died as infants in Sonora. The birth records for both children list Vicente Campuzano and Concepcion Amado as grandparents.

Papers for US Citizenship

Arizona Republic, 23 Dec 1928

It seems fitting in Immigrant Heritage Month to write about another immigrant connection to the family. I previously wrote about Ataulfo Campuzano in April 2016. He was a son of Jose Jesus Campuzano and Elvira Felix. The article above from the Arizona Republic newspaper noted Ataulfo filed papers for US citizenship on 22 December 1928, and that he was a second cousin of Plutarco Elias Calles, former President of Mexico.

The last line in the article states "his paternal grandfather was a brother of President Calles' mother." This is not quite accurate. Ataulfo's father Jose Jesus Campuzano was a half-brother of Maria Teresa de Jesus Campuzano, President Calles' mother. Jose Jesus Campuzano was a son of Vicente Antonio Campuzano and his second wife Concepcion Amado.

A copy of Ataulfo's declaration of intention, signed 18 December 1928, is available on Ancestry's Arizona Naturalization Records, 1912-1991. He arrived by wagon as a two-year old with his parents and six siblings.

Ancestry, Arizona Naturalization Records, Image 1917.

 There is quite a bit more to this side of the Campuzano family. Additional posts to follow.

Jones-O'Brien Wedding 1941

Indianapolis Star, 5 Oct 1941

This announcement appeared in the Indianapolis Star in October 1941 for my grandparents, Keith D. Jones and Blanche Allene O'Brien. The wedding was also reported in the Star on 12 October 1941.

Indianapolis Star, 12 Oct 1941

I have recently been able to do some research on Indiana newspapers to complement the new finds in Indiana vital records released on Ancestry and FamilySearch, and will be bringing these to the blog.