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.

Nun who stood up to Billy the Kid faces sainthood test. Some "Cowboy History Included".

Note: It has been proven that she could not have "faced down" Billy the Kid. Anyway, the information below comes from the Santa Fe, New Mexican. It proves the cowboy history folks like to believe, and former Santa Fe Archbishop Michael Sheehan who is the one who started this effort seems to be just another cowboy wannabe.

Sister Blandinas 1948 book "At the End of The Santa Fe Trail" published by the Bruce Publishing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a book mostly about Sister Blandina's writings back east to her sister. She never intended them to be published, at least it does not seem so. Personally I think she wanted to make her life appear interesting to her sister and embellished her "heroic" accounts.  

If they make her a saint, so be it. But she liked to exaggerate her accomplishments to the folks she wrote the letters which are the basis of her book. But even I, have to admit that is does make for interesting reading...... 

        Posted: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 3:18 pm | Updated: 4:50 pm, Tue Aug 25, 2015.

 Associated Press 

ALBUQUERQUE — An Italian-born nun who confronted Billy the Kid, calmed angry mobs and helped open New Mexico territory hospitals and schools faced her first test for the long road to sainthood on Tuesday.

Supporters and researchers presented their case before the Archdiocese of Santa Fe at a ceremonial "first inquiry" in Albuquerque on why Sister Blandina Segale should become a saint. The public inquiry, headed by former Archbishop Michael Sheehan, was aimed at determining if there was enough evidence to move her case through the largely secret process at the Vatican. Witnesses said Segale fought against the cruel treatment of American Indians and sought to stop the trafficking of women as sex slaves. They also testified that in death, Segale has helped cancer patients and poor immigrants who have prayed to her for help.

Victoria Marie Forde of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati said documents showed Segale went out of her way to provide assistance to Italian-American immigrants and protect Mexican Americans facing violence in western territories.

"Sister Blandina as a canonized saint will lead and strengthen thousands of others to see that they, too, can fight injustice with compassion and untiring ingenuity," she said.

Last year, the archdiocese received permission from the Vatican to open her sainthood cause. It's the first time in New Mexico's 400-year history with the Roman Catholic Church that a decree opening the cause of beatification and canonization has been declared in the state, church officials said.
Segale, a nun with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, came to Trinidad, Colorado, in 1877 to teach poor children and was later transferred to Santa Fe, where she co-founded public and Catholic schools.

During her time in New Mexico, she worked with the poor, the sick and immigrants. She also advocated on behalf of Hispanics and Native Americans who were losing their land to swindlers.
Her encounters with Old West outlaws later became the stuff of legend and were the subject of an episode of the CBS series "Death Valley Days." The episode, called "The Fastest Nun in the West," focused on her efforts to save a man from a lynch mob.

But her encounters with Billy the Kid remain among her most popular and well-known Western frontier adventures.

According to one story, she received a tip that The Kid was coming to her town to scalp the four doctors who refused to treat his friend's gunshot wound. Segale nursed the friend to health, and when Billy went to Trinidad to thank her, she asked him to abandon his violent plan. He agreed.
Tales she wrote in letters to her sister later became the book "At the End of the Santa Fe Trail."
Peco Chavez, a lawyer who investigated historic claims about Segale stopping a mob attack, said he found evidence the event occurred, but documents couldn't verify if Segale intervened.
"But she was in Trinidad at that time," he said.

Later, Segale founded St. Joseph's Hospital in Albuquerque before returning to Cincinnati in 1897 to start Santa Maria Institute, which served recent immigrants.

Her work resonates today, with poverty, immigration and child care still being high-profile issues, said Allen Sanchez, president and CEO for CHI St. Joseph's Children in Albuquerque, a social service agency Segale founded.

Officials say determining whether Segale qualifies for sainthood could take up to a century. The Vatican has to investigate her work and monitor for any related "miracles."
Those miracles could come in the form of healings, assistance to immigrant children detained at the U.S. border or some other unexplained occurrences after devotees pray to her, officials said.

Nombres En Nuevo Mejico Y La Sagrada Familia

There were numerous individuals named Jesus Maria y Jose, many of them, in the historical period in New Mexico. There were others named Jose Maria, Jesus Maria, Jose Jesus and Jesus Jose. This is not to mention that about 30% of the males, me included, has the name Jose attached, almost like a title instead of a name. The women had Maria attached the same way the men had Jose. There were many Jesusas, Maria Jesusas and Jesusa Maria's as well as Josefa and Josefina's and Maria Josefina's and Jesusa Josefa's.... You get the picture..


When the Americans got here in force, after the American conquest and occupation of the province they were surprised and disgusted that so many "debased" (their words) individuals would be given these names, especially when it seemed to the Americans that everyone had one name or the other. Their disgust with the names comes across real clear when you read the history. They did not appreciate our ancestors devotion to the Holy Family, especially the "Savior's" name itself. On occasion a criminal would show up with one of these names that the Americans found sacrilegious. That would get the writers of history all in a tizzy.


Sort of funny when we look back at it. At the time it was not so funny, especially when it would get the Americans to writing their real thoughts about our ancestors.


Reminds me of the bumper sticker with different meanings for Spanish speakers and American Christians. JESUS SAVES and JESUS SAVE are almost identical and in Spanish America everyone wants to know what Jesus knows.

Those Who Passed Away in Abluquerque! One Days Obituaries. Changed Demographics, Again!

New Mexico, born and raised - Our state bird

From the Albuquerque Journal on August 15, 2015;

1) Bachis - Born in Albuquerque, his mother was a Hispanic New Mexican.
2) Burke - No indication of place of birth nor parents.
3) Durbin-Gonzales - Born in Denver, Colorado and married to a Hispanic, New Mexican.
4) Mora - No indication of where she was born or who her parents were, my guess is she married a local guy named Mora otherwise her New Mexican family would be noted.
5) Morrison - No indication of where he was born or who his parents were,
6) Myers - Lived in Albuquerque at the time he passed away.
7) Rowden - Lived in Albuquerque at the time he passed away.
8) Thomson - Lived in New Mexico and was originally from Port Chester, New York.
9) Wiska - Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1929.
10) Zak - Born in 1938 in Brooklyn, New York.

I find it odd that only individual No. 1, Mr. Bachis has a mother that was native to New Mexico while No. 3, Mrs. Durbin-Gonzales and No. 4, Mrs Mora appear to have been from somewhere else and married New Mexicans.

Aside of the fact that Mr. Bachis is the only one with any roots in New Mexico at all it is also interesting to note that not a single New Mexican born, 100% New Mexican passed away and/or had an obituary in the Albuquerque Journal today.

Now before anyone accuses me of racism or something else let me state that while my ancestors were all from New Mexico, I personally was born in Denver, Colorado and am married to a foreigner, at least foreigner as far as being from New Mexico goes.

Unusual Terms in New Mexican Baptismal Records

Padres, no conosidos - Unknown parents.... It is hard for me to believe that an infant of unknown parentage would be baptized. It could be that the parents were known and the priest was trying to protect the parents. But it was not unheard of for this term to be used for children abandoned at the church for whatever reason. Sort of like "hijo de la iglesia" listed below.

*Espuestos - That some of the "espuestos" were indeed "foundlings", and possibly the victims of poverty, is certainly not excluded. Undoubtedly some of the so called "espuestos" were children of captive Indian women fathered by their masters or older household members. Because of the local social stigma associated with illegitimacy it is likely that in most instances some of these vague terms were used euphemistically. It served to keep illegitimacy managable, especially in church records.

Hijo(a) Espurio(a) - Bastard child of.... The archaic term  Espurio(a) literally means bastard. Usually used when the mother of the bastard child was identified.

Hijo(a) Natural - Nicer way of saying bastard child of..... The same meaning as espurio(a) except it has a softer ring after the centuries.

Hijo(a) ligitimo(a) - Legitimate child of......

De la nacion de "_______" - Belonging to the Indian nation of..... This tern was used when baptizing Indians of known backgrounds. When the Spanish priest knew where the Indian child came from. Indian children were commonly integrated into Hispanic New Mexican households.

Hijo(a) de la Iglesia - Son or daughter of the church..... Who knows what this meant. Does not necessarily mean a priesthood holder had to be the father. It could simply mean the child was raised by the church. Often times when they would be abandoned or left in care of the church. Although every now and then it was common for church leaders to have children out of wedlock like the case with Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.

Hijo(a) de "Gaspar" y "Rosa", No last name given - Son or daughter of Gaspar and Rosa with no last name given for the parents...... These children were, in most cases, children of Indians who for one reason or another did not have last names. In most cases the Indian child being baptized would be assigned the last name of the "padrino".

*NOTE: Some information comes from the New Mexico Historical Review, Volume 70, July 1995, Number 5. An article there titled " Analysis of Deaths in New Mexico's Rio Abajo during the late Spanish Colonial and Mexican Periods, 1793 - 1846 written by Oswaldo G. Baca.

Being A Spy In New Mexico During the Mexican/Fur Trapper Era, 1820 - 1846.

It was easy, very easy. Mexico in general and New Mexico in particular were easy targets, easy to spy against and easy and ready to be invaded.  There were a lot of spies. Most all of the "fur trappers" from the "states" were spies passing information back to the authorities in the United States, either personally during visits back or in many other ways. Some, if not all, of the traders associated with the "Santa Fe Trade" were also spies. How do we tell who were the trappers? Who were spies? Read the accounts of the folks who came with the Army of the West. Read some of the accounts of the trappers themselves, that is if they could read or write, which most could not. They were every bit as ignorant and unschooled and uneducated as those they were spying on, probably more so.

Christopher "Kit" Carson,
Samuel Magoffin,
Richens "Uncle Dick" Wooten,
"Governor" Charles Bent

The list of spies is actually quite large, I could go on and on. The spies included some of our New Mexican ancestors, the Oteros being the best example. Many of these spies were headquartered in Taos and they did pay the price for their treachery against New Mexico. The names of some are etched in history as some of the political appointees in the aftermath of the occupation and prior to the rebellion by the folks in Taos.

Bent's Fort just over the Arkansas River in what is now Colorado was a nest of spies, spying against New Mexico and also against the Indians. But that is another story altogether.

These spies were spying for the Unites States, it  really does not matter how a person looks at the conquering, occupation and annexation of the New Mexican province by the United States in 1846. It does not matter if, in retrospect, you agree or disagree with it, it does not matter if you think it was a good thing or a bad thing and it does not matter if you think it was a moral or immoral thing for the United States to annex the province.

The bottom line is that these folks mentioned were spies pretending to be friends of the Mexican Republic and New Mexicans. Some were even married to Hispanic New Mexican women, some were Mexican citizens and others even converted to the Catholic faith as part of their "cover". Christopher "Kit" Carson is THE prime example.

There were non New Mexicans, mostly German and French, in the province who were not spies, but very few of them. Maybe one or two of the American trappers were not carrying information back to the "states".

In all reality these folks were spies. Spies with a capitol S. As such, it really all depends on how you feel about spies, sneaks and outright liars. I imagine there are many things that come into play when looking at the subject.

How to Deal With "Unclaimed" Relatives in Our Trees

The view in early spring driving between Raton, NM and Cimarron, NM

How do we deal with "unclaimed" relatives in our "trees". The proverbial red headed stepchild? I do not mean how do we deal with them in real life, I mean how do we deal with this information in our charts, our genealogical family trees?

For us it all depends on the source, sometimes information on unclaimed individuals was common knowledge, sometimes the information was just there and we bumped into it by accident, sometimes someone let's us in on the "secret".

We always look at the source of the information before adding or subtracting the individual from our database. It also causes us to go looking for the evidence and if it is there we add the individual if not I may keep the information and wait to see if some additional information will show up.

We have been at this, genealogy, for a long, long, time. We work as a team, we rarely work at this alone. Both of us combing this book or that book or deciding where the information we need my be had. I input the names into the database and Donna keeps me honest. The database we maintain now contains over 26,000 names, somehow all connected to my sons. That is a lot of data and folks would be surprised at what information we bump into.

Both Donna and I work at compiling the information, sometimes alone but most likely together. We spend some time most days on the subject, sometimes a little time other times several hours and sometimes the whole day. It all depends what it is we are after. We have traveled to west Texas to Southern Colorado and points in Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska in search of information. Some places in Minnesota and Wisconsin have also been visited, as some of her family comes from that area. We actually moved and lived in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, retracing some ancestral footsteps of her people

Anyway, one piece of information on an unclaimed relative just came into our possession via a comment on one of the posts here on this weblog. That has begun a new quest for information on someone who we knew about but did not know that she had been married and had children. In other words we knew about her and some of her ancestors but knew/know zero about her descendants. But someone knows something about the matter, somewhere the information is waiting to be found. We will see what comes up for Maria Abrana Lucero AKA Maria Abrana Ebel.

New Mexican chained to a huge rock

Johnson Mesa in Colfax County New Mexico

A guy died and arrived in heaven at the pearly gates. St. Peter advises he can proceed in. As he does he sees a  man in chains chained to a huge rock looking beaten. The guy walks up to God standing next to him and asks him why is this guy chained to the rock.

God tells him the reason he is chained is because the person is a New Mexican.

The guy then asks God what does that have to do with it.

God tells him that it is spring in New Mexico after some rains, the flowers are out and the grass is green on the hill sides, the iris are in bloom and if we don't chain them down they will all go back.

Grifos y tecatos in New Mexico

Reading an article (study) in the April 1981 edition of the New Mexico Historical Review titled "Guns and Butter, Albuquerque Hispanics, 1940 - 1975". Very interesting article and addresses the illegal drug problems "Hispanics" have in New Mexico. I have always wondered if "grifos" who are marijuana users or "tecatos" who use heroin or other hard drugs have always been the pox on New Mexican society that they are now. I have found no reference to these drugs in historical records. There are many references to alcohol use in the record. Not only by "Hispanic" New Mexicans but "anglos" as well as Indians.

The article (study) states that prior to the WWII drug use was minimal in New Mexico but increased dramatically when workers and soldiers started arriving back from the Ft. Bliss government facility in the El Paso area and also from overseas and the shipyards in the west coast, particularly Los Angles, California. They had been hooked, one way or another, while away from home.

Later it increased with heroin and opium users arriving back from Korea and Viet Nam. It calls this phenomena the "victims not only of hostilities but also the derangements of war".

Today the use of all types of illegal drugs by all segments of society, is rampant in New Mexico with some calling for the legalization of this or that drug as a cure all for the problems we have which are caused by people who are addicted.

Any way, if you can find a copy of the publication at your local library, it makes for enlightening and interesting reading.

Banana Cream Pie In Rowe, New Mexico in the middle 1950's

My cousin and I were on our way to the river about a mile away from town to fish, or swim, or both when we heard someone behind us..... We went into the forest and hid while they went by. The property was private, belonging to the actress Greer Garson and her millionaire husband "Buddy" Fogelson.  It was part of the old Los Trigos Land Grant which was lately owned by Jane Fonda. Anyway, we did not want to get caught fishing or swimming there but the odds of that happening were slim to none as we were experts at hiding in the adjacent woods.

Anyway, it was an "anglo" couple with some small kids who were behind us. I do not know if they were sneaking in too or if they had permission to be or go there. It did not matter, we let them pass and then followed them out of curiosity. Just to see what they were up to. They got to an area and "set up" the spot. Picnic basket and a tablecloth to cover the ground before they all went down about 100 yards to the river.

Opportunity was knocking and we decided my cousin would be the lookout while I went down to see what they had set out. Just looking really, at least I recall that was what I was thinking at the time. Anyway, I opened the basket and lo and behold a funny looking pie was there. Never seen a pie with all white on the top before. I dipped my finger to taste it and the taste was out of this world. I took the pie and some plastic spoons and high tailed it to where my cousin was waiting.

My first taste of banana cream pie.... God sent it to us, I just knew it. My forced church attendance was paying off right then. It was the best thing, outside of panocha for la semana santa, that I had ever tasted. We took off to the ole swimming hole to swim without waiting to see what the white folks did when they found the pie missing. I still don't know if they figured it out or if the ole man blamed the woman for forgetting the pie.

We did not know what type of pie it was, just that it was good. The next time I tasted banana cream pie again was in Nebraska one summer while traveling through many years later. Now when I have a piece, I remember back...