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Telesforo Montes was born in
San Elizario, Texas, in 1820. His father Ramon Montes and
his
mother Dolores Arroyo were also born in San Elizario, in 1795.
Ramon and Dolores both died on July 18, 1848. There
is no explanation
available as to why they died on the same day. One theory
is that they were attacked and killed by Apache Indians. Telesforo
died in 1888. Telesforo and his parents were buried in San
Elizario
Presidio (San Elizario Mission). The cemetery is now listed
as Old San Elizario Cemetery.
Telesforo’s brothers and sisters, all
born in San Elizario, were the following: Cecilia Montes, born
in 1822; Anastacio Montes, born in 1824; Josefa Montes, born
in 1826; Andres Montes, born in 1830; and Hermengieldo Montes,
born in 1838. They were baptized and confirmed in the San Elizario
Mission.
Telesforo Montes and Maria Quirina Alderete
were married on December 3, 1840 at Nuestra Senora De Guadalupe,
in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. They had the following children
which were all born in San Elizario, Texas: Maria Angela Montes,
born in 1842; Francisca Montes, born in 1845; Maria Rosenda
Montes born in 1848, Juan Montes, born in 1849;
Agapito De Jesus Montes (Jesus Montes), born in 1851; Carlota
Montes, born in 1852; J. Antonio Severo
Montes (Severo Montes), born in 1854;
Jose Elizario Montes, born in 1855, Marina Jenara Montes, born
in 1856; Guadalupita Montes, born in 1857; Maria Dolores Montes,
born in 1858 and Josefa Montes, born in 1859. Telesforo and
Quirina had all their children baptized and confirmed in the
San Elizario Mission. Josefa Montes became a “Sisters
of Loretto” nun and was known as Sister Petra.
According to the 1860 Census, Telesforo Montes
lived between Gregorio N. Garcia and Tomas Garcia in San Elizario,
Texas. Tomas was the son of Gregorio and was married to Telesforo’s
daughter, Maria Angela Montes. Besides being neighbors, Gregorio
and Telesforo were also compadres (Spanish word used to describe
the relationship between the parents and godparents when the
infant is baptized in the Catholic Church), in-laws, friends
and colleagues. Like Telesforo, Gregorio had also been a captain
in the Texas Rangers, a judge and a justice of the peace in
San Elizario. Additionally, Telesforo’s daughter, Marina
Jenara Montes married Carlos Garcia, the son of Gregorio. Telesforo’s
son, Jesus Montes married Maria Maxima Garcia, the daughter
of Gregorio N. Garcia.
When Telesforo was commissioned a Lieutenant
in the Texas Rangers in 1874 he had in his command, 25 men.
Under his command were his two sons, Jesus and Severo Montes.
Although, Severo’s name does not appear in the original
roster, he did serve in his father’s command (Severo’s
name can be found in the Texas Adjutant General Service Records,
1836-1935, {See Links Page}). Also included in his command were
Tomas Garcia and Carlos Garcia. Tomas Garcia was the Sergeant
in Telesforo’s command, a very crucial and important rank
during that rough period in Texas history. “These men
were commissioned to provide protection of the frontier of the
state of Texas against the invasion of hostile Indians, Mexicans
or other marauding or thieving parties,” as noted on the
original document, dated April 10, 1874.
According to my father, Conrado Virgilio Montes
of San Elizario, Telesforo and Gregorio N. Garcia were instrumental
in establishing the first catholic school for girls, which is
now Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas. “The idea was bold
for its time. When Loretto Academy was founded by the Sisters
of Loretto in San Elizario, Texas, in 1879, it was the first
Catholic preparatory school for women in the Southwest. Here,
young women could receive a rigorous and challenging education
in a supportive environment,” as, acknowledged in the
school’s history section. Telesforo’s granddaughter
Maria, daughter of Marina Jenara Montes and Carlos Garcia, was
the valedictorian of her graduating class at Loretto Academy
in 1892. This was the last class to graduate from the Academy
in San Elizario, taught by the Sisters of Loretto, before the
Academy was moved to El Paso, Texas. |
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Excerpts, Quotes, and Accomplishments Concerning
Telesforo Montes
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Captain Telesforo Montes was named for Pope St. Telesphorus
who lived about 125-136AD. Excerpt from “The Bells of
San Eli” by Amelia Montes Skaggs.
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Telesforo Montes was elected Justice of the Peace in El Paso
County, Precinct 4, on July 1, 1872. This data was reproduced
from the Holdings of the Texas State Archives (Texas Library
and Archives Commission).
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Telesforo Montes was a County
Judge on September 5, 1872.
This data was found in the book, “El Paso To 1900”
by Nancy Lee Hammons. Header in her book read, “Names
of El Paso County officials as they appear in the El Paso
County Deed Records D, E, and F, and in the Minutes of the
El Paso County Police Court, 1866-1875.”
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“…Telesforo Montes of San Elizario, was authorized
to muster a company on May 27, 1874. Like Garcia’s company,
most of the members were local, and Montes’s Rangers
were designated the Minute Company of the Frontier Battalion.”
Excerpt from “The Men Who Wear The Star” by Charles
M. Robinson III, ‘The Story Of The Texas Rangers.’
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Original
Document Listing Of The Men That Served Under Telesforo Montes(721KB) |
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"Among our citizens of Mexican origin who stood by the
side of law and order at the risk of their lives, I can mention
Captain Gregorio Garcia and his sons, Telesforo Montes, Jesus
Cobos, Judge Gregorio N. Garcia, Juan N. Garcia, Maximo
Aranda,
Pablo Mejia, Porfirio Garcia, Pablo Romero, all intelligent
and leading men. "Excerpt from: “Texas Border”
by Robert Joseph Casey.
Note: The original quote can be found
in: House of Representatives, 45th Congress, 2nd Session,
Ex. Doc. No. 93, Page 98.
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“Telesforo Montes, who had replaced Garcia (Captain
Gregorio N. Garcia) as justice of the peace in 1871, now replaced
him in the field. With a company of Texas Rangers, Montes
battled the Apaches for the next two years.” Excerpt
from: “San Elizario Spanish Presidio To Texas County
Seat” by Rick Hendricks and W. H. Timmons.
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“ ‘Ba, ba ba, que burrada!’ growled Father
Borrajo, and he went out among his people telling them to
pay no attention to the crazy American laws. Telesforo Montes,
an ex-Ranger captain and a great man in San Elizario, had
a daughter sixteen years old when Ellis was sheriff. She was
a young lady, not merely too old to be in school with boys,
but too old to be in school at all. Consequently she did not
go to school. Others followed her example. Ellis was reminded
repeatedly that he had a duty to perform, and finally he did
it. He put Telesforo Montes and two of his friends in jail,
where they enjoyed martyrdom for three weeks. At the end of
that time Ellis turned them loose to save worse trouble.”
Excerpt from “The El Paso Salt War 1877” by C.
L. Sonnichsen. Illustrations by Jose Cisneros.
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“Along with this powerful padre a good many prominent
Mexican – Americans were associated with Mills and his
organization. Among them was J. Lujan – Don Mauro –
who lived in big adobe house near the church in San Elizario,
the county seat. His fellow townsman Telesforo Montes, a famous
Ranger and Indian fighter, was another, as were Maximo Aranda,
judge, legislator, collector of customs, businessman, and
Gregorio Garcia, justice of the peace. Martin and Benigno
Alderete of Ysleta, leaders of a prosperous and prominent
clan, belonged to the group. In fact, almost everybody who
was anybody was on the side of the Mills – Fountain
– Borrajo faction.” Excerpt from “Pass of
the North” Volume 1 – 1529 – 1917, Four
Centuries on the Rio Grande by C. L. Sonnichsen
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Testimonies Regarding Frontier Troubles
in Texas
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Testimony taken Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Issue: Texas Frontier Troubles. Depredations by Indians
and Mexicans. Austin, Texas, January 1, 1878.
“November 1875 – El Paso County Frontier Company
followed trail of three Indians, who stole nine horses and
one mule from Socorro. Killed one Indian and recovered the
stock, besides capturing three Indian ponies.”
“March 1876 – Lieutenant Telesforo Montes,
El Paso County Frontierman, reports that Indians were in
last week and stole horses.”
“April 1876 – Lieutenant Telesforo Montes,
El Paso County Frontier Company, followed the trail of Indians
(who on the 16th stole horses at San Elizario) for two days
and nights until they saw the Indians go over the mountains
into their reservation at Dog Cañon (Canyon). While
resting, company was fired into by about 200 Indians armed
with needle-guns and pistols, and company escaped during
night.”
The compilation of selected testimony shown above came from
the following:
House of Representatives, 45th Congress, 2nd Session, Report
(No. 701) and Accompanying Documents of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs on the Relations of the United States with Mexico,
April 25, 1878.
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Testimony regarding the Resolution of the House of Representatives,
transmitting reports of the commission appointed to investigate
the El Paso Troubles in Texas, May 1878.
Note: The trouble
surrounding this investigation had to do with who owned the
rights to the salt ponds located ninety miles from San Elizario,
Texas. What resulted from this crisis became known as the, “El Paso Salt War” or the “Salt
War of Texas.”
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Following is the testimony (House of Representatives, 45th
Congress, 2nd Session, Ex. Doc. No. 93, Page 39) taken by
Porfirio Garcia from Telesforo Montes on January 10, 1878
in San Elizario, Texas:
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“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority,
Telesforo Montes, who, being duly sworn according to law,
deposes and says:
That he was born in San Elizario, Texas, fifty-eight years
ago, and has been a resident of that town ever since that
time. that he was present during all the recent outrages
here; that he knows of fourteen of the mob coming from the
Mexican side of the river; saw them in this town armed;
that they did not come over in organized bodies; that their
chief object was to assist their friends on this side against
Howard and his party, whom they considered their worst enemy,
and to rob and plunder and seize all the arms they could;
that he is further of the opinion, that they had no intention
of offering any resistance to the United States troops,
or to become involved in any manner with the Government
of the United States; that as soon as they heard of the
United States troops approaching the town they dispersed
and went over on the other side; that in his opinion no
armed parties crossed from the other to this side of the
river subsequent to that time.”
Telesforo Montes
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Sworn and subscribed to before me this 10th
day of January 1878.
Porfirio Garcia
J. C. C., No. 4
True copy.
Thos. Blair,
Captain,
Fifteenth Infantry
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Continuation of Testimony regarding the Resolution of the
House of Representatives, transmitting reports of the commission
appointed to investigate the El Paso Troubles in Texas. The
following is an excerpt from testimony from H. H. Harvey.
The entire testimony can be found in the House of Representatives,
45th Congress, 2nd Session, Ex. Doc. No. 93, Page 64.
“H. H. Harvey appeared in person before the board
of officers and gave the following testimony: I reside in
this town and keep a saloon, and am deputy sheriff of the
county.
…I was here the day Louis Cardis was killed, and
was in the store about five or ten minutes after he was
killed…
…During the last days of the fighting at San Elizario,
I was in El Paso, Mexico, and I asked two young ladies why
the Feast was so poorly attended this year, and she said
that most of the young men were down at San Elizario. I
asked them to go to the theater, and they said they couldn’t
go, and when I pressed them for the reason, they told me
that their cousin had been killed at San Elizario, and they
were in mourning…
…They belonged to the Silver City crowd, Tucker’s
or Kinney’s ‘gang,’ but they had been
discharged by the sheriff. They said that shots had been
fired on both sides; and Captain Montes, called the commandant
of the city guards, told me that five of the party of Americans
came to him and asked him for protection, and he arrested
four more of them and locked the five and four men up and
kept them all night. Mexicans and Americans he locked up
about twenty-six in all, to stop the row. They were all
released, and came over the next morning. They were not
fined.”
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H. H. Harvey
El Paso, ----, 1878
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Other Citizens of San
Elizario, Texas that Testified |
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The following citizens testified in accordance with the
Resolution of the House of Representatives, transmitting reports
of the commission appointed to investigate the El Paso Troubles
in Texas, regarding the Salt War:
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Gregorio N. Garcia: Telesforo Montes and Gregorio Garcia
were compadres, friends, colleagues, and in-laws. Testified
in San Elizario, Texas, January 2 and March 2, 1878.
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Hermengieldo Montes: Brother of Telesforo Montes. Testified
in San Elizario, Texas, March 2, 1878. |
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Maximo Aranda: Friend and colleague of Telesforo Montes.
Testified in San Elizario, Texas, March 2, 1878
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Jesus Cobos: In-law, compadre and colleague of Telesforo
Montes. Testified in San Elizario, Texas, February 4 and
March 2, 1878.
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Benigno Alderete: Sergeant under the command of Telesforo
Montes, Minute Company of the Frontier Battalion, April 1874.
Testified in Ysleta, Texas, March 2, 1878.
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Cipriano Alderete: Telesforo Montes and Cipriano were compadres,
friends and neighbors. Testified in San Elizario, Texas, February,
1878.
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Note: Porfirio Garcia took testimony from Telesforo Montes
and other people during the Salt War investigation. According
to the 1860 Census of San Elizario, Texas: Porfirio was 25
years old at the time and Gregorio Garcia and Telesforo Montes
were his neighbors.
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Regarding the Salt War, my grandfather and grandson of Telesforo,
Jose Jesus Montes of San Elizario, Texas once told me that
his father Jesus on many occasions recounted him stories about
Telesforo and his numerous accomplishments. Jesus said that
his father Telesforo, a prominent, respected, admired and
well-loved man in San Elizario had attempted to settle the
Salt War peacefully but was unsuccessful, as history has revealed.
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The majority of the above information is
based on San Elizario Catholic Church Records, Congressional
Document Indexes, 1789 – 1969, Census Records,
and Family Contributions. Further information came
from friends, numerous books and data retrieved from
the Internet. The Salt Lake Family History Library
and local Family History Centers provided added information.
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The following
information was retrieved from the University of Texas at
El Paso Library. This documentation came from the archives
department,
which contains film records of San Elizario Town Meetings
from the mid to late 1800’s.
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Telesforo Montes served as Mayor of San Elizario, Texas in
1884. His secretary was Octaviano
Ambrosio Larrazolo. At the
same time, Telesforo Montes was the President of the San Elizario
Board of School Trustees.
On August 30, 1884, the San Elizario Board of School Trustees
ruled on the following: “By a unanimous vote of said
board, Mr. Octaviano A. Larrazolo of San Elizario, State and
County of El Paso aforesaid, was duly engaged to teach the
public white female free school, in and for the town of San
Elizario, for the scholastic year beginning on the 1st day
of September A.D. 1884 and ending August the 31 A.D. 1885.” The
Board of School Trustees members were the following: Jose Talamantes
(Secretary), Benito Chasco, Rafael Telles, Bonifacio Madrid
and Romulo Baca. Sister Mary Margaret was the principal at
the school where Octaviano would be teaching. Gregorio Nacianceno
Garcia I donated Los Portales to the town of San Elizario for
use as a school in 1870, which is where Octaviano began teaching.
When Octaviano A. Larrazolo accepted his teaching post, he
resigned his position as secretary to Mayor Montes. Following
Octaviano’s resignation, G. N. Garcia II took over the
secretarial responsibilities for the mayor. In 1919, Octaviano
Ambrosio Larrazolo became Governor of New Mexico. In 1928,
he became a United States Senator also for New Mexico. Octaviano
married Maria Montes Garcia who was the granddaughter of Telesforo
Montes and Gregorio N. Garcia I.
Telesforo Montes successfully executed his position as mayor
of San Elizario through 1885.
Los Portales now serves as a Museum and Information Center
operated by the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society.
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