El Principe De Los Comancheros, Jose Piedad Tafoya

Jose Piedad Tafoya was the main Comanchero of all time, trading with the Comanche and Kiowa Indians on the Llano (the Staked Plains) of Western Texas and Eastern New Mexico. As usual when reading about New Mexicans operatiing in Texas we need to be careful with the history as documented by Texans. At the top of the list to be careful of is the hatred of Texans of anything New Mexican and that is especially of Hispano New Mexicans. Second is the Texan habit of embellishing their role and playing down that of any others. Also the "hero" complex that Texan Historians attribute to all things Texan. These things have tainted Texas history from the beginning, it has cost most Texas historians their credibility.

The best source I have found is listed below, The edition should be available at your library, if not ask for an ILL (Inter Library Loan):

Reference pages 39 - 68 of Volume 81, Number 1, Winter 2006 of the publication New Mexico Historical Review. The article  titled "Comanchero, Jose Piedad Tafoya, 1834 - 1913" written by former New Mexico Historic Preservation Officer Thomas Merlan and Dirictor of the Palace of the Governors In Santa Fe, New Mexico Francis Levine. The article generally documents Comanchero activities as well as specifically activities of Jose Piadad Tafoya.

Here is some genealogical information on Jose Piead Tafoya, what is known of his marriages and offspring are highlighted in blue:

Modified Register for Antonio Tafoya

First Generation

1. Antonio Tafoya  was born in New Mexico.

Antonio married Maria Guadalupe Varela . Maria was born in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

+ 2 M i. Jose Calletano Tafoya  was born in 1813.

Second Generation

2. Jose Calletano Tafoya  (Antonio) was born in 1813 in New Mexico.

Jose married Maria Encarnacion Herrera  daughter of Jose de Herrera and Maria Gertrudes Gallegos. Maria was born in 1817 in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

3 F i. Maria Peregrina Tafoya  was born on 16 Sep 1830 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. She was christened on 10 Oct 1830 in New Mexico.

+ 4 M ii. Jose Piedad Tafoya  was christened on 4 Apr 1834.

+ 5 F iii. Juana Maria Climaca Tafoya  was christened on 29 Mar 1839.

6 M iv. Jose Trinidad Tafoya  was born on 8 Jun 1841 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. He was christened on 10 Jun 1841 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.

+ 7 M v. Jose Alfonso Tafoya  was born on 27 Jan 1844.

8 F vi. Maria Andrea Tafoya  was born on 17 Jul 1846 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. She was christened on 18 Jul 1846 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.
Maria married Narciso Ortega  on 26 Oct 1863 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Narciso was born in New Mexico.

+ 9 M vii. Jose Reducindo Tafoya  was born on 5 Mar 1851.

10 M viii. Jose Victoriano Tafoya  was born on 21 Sep 1854 in Questa (Villanueva) New Mexico. He was christened on 24 Sep 1854 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.
Jose married Damasia Martín  on 17 Feb 1876 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Damasia was born in New Mexico.

+ 11 F ix. Reducinda Tafoya .

+ 12 M x. Isidro Tafoya  was born in Dec 1859. He died on 24 Aug 1942.

Third Generation

4. Jose Piedad Tafoya  (Jose Calletano, Antonio) was born in La Cuesta (Villanueva), New Mexico. He was christened on 4 Apr 1834 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. 

Jose married (1) Maria de Jesus Perez  on 20 Apr 1863 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Maria was born in New Mexico. She was buried in 1871 in Chaperito, New Mexico. 

They had the following children:

13 M i. Juan Bautista Shepard (Tafoya)  was born on 11 Dec 1854 in New Mexico. He was christened on 4 Jan 1855 in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Juan Bautista Tafoya was adopted by Jose Piedad when he married their mother. Juan Bautista's biological father was Julian Shepard.

14 M ii. Jose de la Cruz Shepard (Tafoya)  was born on 21 Oct 1858 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.  Jose de la Cruz Tafoya was adopted by Jose Piedad when he married their mother. Jose de la Cruz's biological father was Julian Shepard.

Jose married (2) Teresa Gonzales y Baca, a 21 year old mother of three in 1886 or 1892 depending which source you agree with in New Mexico. Teresa was born in Nov 1868 in New Mexico. 

5. Juana Maria Climaca Tafoya  (Jose Calletano, Antonio) was christened on 29 Mar 1839 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.

She had the following children:

15 M i. Ruperto Tafoya  was christened on 11 Apr 1858 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

7. Jose Alfonso Tafoya  (Jose Calletano, Antonio) was born on 27 Jan 1844 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. He was christened on 28 Jan 1844 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.

Jose married (1) Ramona Alari  on 13 Nov 1865 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Ramona was born in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

16 M i. Jose Francisco Tafoya  was born in Chaperito, New Mexico. He was christened on 23 Sep 1867 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

17 M ii. Canuto Tafoya  was born in Chaperito, New Mexico. He was christened on 24 Jan 1870 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.


Jose married (2) Isadora Aragon  on 23 Sep 1872 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Isadora was born on 15 Apr 1859 in Chaperito, New Mexico. She was christened on 16 Apr 1859 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

18 F iii. Maria Felicita Tafoya  was christened on 12 Dec 1873 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

19 M iv. Eduardo Tafoya  was christened on 10 Dec 1886 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

9. Jose Reducindo Tafoya  (Jose Calletano, Antonio) was born on 5 Mar 1851 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. He was christened on 24 Mar 1851 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.

Jose married Cesaria Marquez  on 17 Apr 1871 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Cesaria was born in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

20 F i. Maria Tafoya  was christened on 1 May 1875 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

11. Reducinda Tafoya  (Jose Calletano, Antonio).

She had the following children:

21 F i. Emiliana Tafoya  was christened on 31 Aug 1872 in Anton Chico, New Mexico.

12. Isidro Tafoya  (Jose Calletano, Antonio) was born in Dec 1859 in New Mexico. He died on 24 Aug 1942 in New Mexico.

Isidro married Susana Apodaca . Susana was born in 1858 in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

22 M i. Candido Tafoya  was born in Jul 1885 in New Mexico.

23 M ii. Procopio Tafoya  was born in Jun 1888 in New Mexico.

24 F iii. Ana Tafoya  was born in Feb 1892 in New Mexico.

25 F iv. Sinforosa Tafoya  was born on 7 Oct 1899 in New Mexico. She died on 15 Jan 1995 in Denver, Colorado. She was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Wheatridge, Colorado.

Sinforosa married Francisco Arellanes  son of Florencio Arellanes and Maria Juana Lopez. Francisco was born on 4 Nov 1888 in Chaperito, New Mexico. He was christened on 12 Nov 1888 in Our Lady of Sorrows, Las Vegas, New Mexico. He died on 19 Jul 1981 in Denver, Colorado.

For some interesting "stuff" click on the links below, just remember that Jose Piedad Tafoya was THE Comanchero.:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_pLleIU41A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC2gThsfTqg

Note: Google "Jose Piedad Tafoya" for an enlightening story of an amazing man. For the real story, refer to the New Mexico Historical Review mentioned above.

El Ultimo Comanchero? Jose Apolonio Ortiz

Click on the image to make it larger

Comancheros were Hispanic New Mexicans and Pueblo Indians who went onto the Llano Estacado (staked plains) of eastern New Mexico and north west Texas to trade with the Comanches.

After the Americans occupied New Mexico in 1846 and especially after the Civil War the U.S Military started campaigns to stop the Comanchero trade. They were concerned that the Comancheros were trading guns and powder to the Comanches in return for cattle that the Comanches would steal in raids in Texas. The Comanches, sometimes in cooperation with Comancheros, were devastating the ranches and towns of Texas.

One of my distant relatives was one of the last of the Comancheros. Jose Apolonio Ortiz was born  February 8, 1841, before the American occupation,  in Jacona, New Mexico to Joaquin Ortiz and Manuela Baca. He moved to La Cuesta (now Villanueva), New Mexico and married Teresa Prada, the daughter of Marcial Prada and Maria Alvina Sedillo. Together they had at least nine children, seven daughters and two sons. Somewhere in this married period they moved to Puerto de Luna, New Mexico. They may in reality have lived in both villages at the same time going back and fourth as the situation warranted. Below is a short narrative of what happened to Jose Apolonio Ortiz in the spring of 1872.

The following comes from pages 190 - 200 of the book titled "A History of New Mexican-Plains Indian Relations written by Charles L. Kenner and published by the University of Oklahoma Press at Norman, Oklahoma......

The end of the period of calm was presaged in February of 1872 when a band of 15 New Mexicans gathered at Puerto de Luna and slipped onto the Llano Estacado on a venture that would set off the most vigorous campaigning yet (by the U.S. Military) against their (Comanchero) trade. Following a trail known only to themselves and the Comanches, they crossed the Alamo Gordo and Las Truchas (Pygmy streams which flowed off the Llano into the Pecos), climbed the western escarpment of the Staked Plains, then moved southeastward past a series of watering places - Tule Lake, Tierra Blanca Lake, and Portales Springs to the Salada, a large salt lake just west of the Texas line where New Mexican cattle buyers had formally bargained with "the men (Comancheros) who deal directly with the Indians."

The trail branched at the Salada, with one fork running east towards the Canon del Rescate (Ransom Canyon), but the Comancheros followed the other fork southeastward to the Mucha Que Valley. Here the traders had often bartered for thousands of cattle, but on this occasion the Indians had no stolen stock. While waiting for a Comanche party to make a quick visit to the Texas ranges, the New Mexicans (Comancheros) unfortunately grew impatient and went on a scavenging expedition of their own.

Unknown to them, Sargent William Wilson and a small detachment of the Fourth Cavalry from Fort Concho were trailing some stolen horses in the vicinity. The soldiers had often followed similar trails without success, but this time they accidentally encountered the Comancheros, who were unsurely feeling their way through the alien breaks of the Colorado. Although the New Mexicans (Comanchero's) fled, the pursuing cavalrymen, in a "brisk little fight" killed two and captured a youth from La Cuesta named Polonio Ortiz.

When (Apolonio) Ortiz sought to shield himself and his friends by giving incorrect names and information, Major John Hatch, commanding Fort Concho, threatened that only by the "most faithful service" could he ever expect to receive a pardon. (Apolonio) Ortiz finally breaking, named his home town, his fellow traders, and the merchants who backed them; described the method of trading and the trails across the Llano Estacado; and agreed to serve the military as a guide. To verify his story, Hatch on April 29th dispatched Captin N.B. McLaughlin to reconnoiter the Mucha Que Valley. Led by (Apolonio) Ortiz, McLaughlin arrived at Mucha Que after a five day march, only to find that the Indians had deserted it the preceding day. The Many cattle tracks, however, confirmed (Apolonio) Ortiz's account.