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.

One More Post On Pervasive Racism In Territorial New Mexico

Anna Mary McKee (June 9,1865 - January 7, 1948) A Presbyterian Home Missionary in Mora and Taos, New Mexico in 1884 and 1885 was probably the very best example of overt and covert racism by Americans who came to New Mexico after the American annexation of the province. This was from an educated, religious, young woman sent here to teach with the expectation of converting her New Mexican students from Catholicism to Presbyterians.

The racism was so prevalent and extensive that it was normal for Americans to feel the way they did against what they saw as inferior Mexicans whom they identified as "greasers". It was not uncommon, it was the rule rather than the exception to be racist. Americans only hid these feelings when addressing New Mexicans, not when talking to or otherwise communicating with each other.

Anna Mary McKee would write letters back home about her experiences in New Mexico. The letters reflect the deep seated racism amongst "Americans" in New Mexico at the time. The racism was not something they acquired when they got to New Mexico, it was a racism that they bought with them from the "states".

A prime example, and there are many in her letters, is the wedding of one of her pupils, Jose Blas Salazar the son of Jose Rafael Salazar and Maria Josefa Espinosa with Elisa Struck, the daughter of George David Struck and Maria Josefa Mondragon in Taos on December 31, 1884. Reference the quotes below on the marriage invitation and marriage ceremony:

"Our oldest scholar was to be married and we had received invitation in Spanish. His name is Senor Blas Salazar and his bride is Senorita Luisa Strock. We dressed in our best "bib and tucker" and went. We nearly expired, the whole affair was too ludicrous for anything. As good as a circus, indeed much better. The bride, a perfect beauty really, was dressed too absurdly for anything. She wore white jewelry and a long veil but was bedecked with bows and crimson flowers. We went to the house, the groom came down from the ball room to receive us, for you know it is an immense honor for Americans to attend their fandango's."

"The house had only a mud floor and the tables had no cloth, our wine was served in black bottles, one at each plate. Alice and I congratulated Blas and he answered our speech with an "all right". You may believe we had hard work to keep from laughing in his face."

Another example from another letter:

"In Mora the priest charged a poor man $25 for saying mass for the soul of his favorite mule which had died and, as the priest said, was suffering in Purgatory. The priest actually stood in the doors of the corrals and baptized the sheep, hogs and other animals".

And yet some more"

"Speaking of the "Greaser", let me tell you something about him. To begin with, he evidently endeavors to adapt himself to his surroundings and render himself as inconspicuous as possible, his garments are mud colored and he lives in a mud house. The Greaser has a constitutional aversion to water and seems to take a special delight in dirt. The most impressive about him, except his costume, is his odor, Words fail me."

The image she paints of herself in these letters to her parents is that of a first class hypocrite religious self righteous racist. And we must take into account that there letters were written to her father, William B. McKee, a Presbyterian minister and to her mother. She came voluntarily to teach and convert New Mexicans, Mexican Greasers were the primary targets of these educational and conversion efforts on the part of Eastern missionaries who flocked to New Mexico after the 1846 invasion and occupation by the Americans.

The quotes come from the New Mexico Historical Review, Volume 79, Number 1, Winter 2004. The article is titled "I Feel as if I Were on Some Other Planet" The New Mexico Correspondence of Presbyterian Missionary Anna Mary McKee, 1884 - 1885. The article is written by Les Valentine the University Archivist at the University Library of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.