Fernando Segura (Villalba)

The above is the birth record for Fernando Segura, another child of Juana and Alfredo Segura-Villalba, now found online at Familysearch.org This is a surprise because he does not appear in any of the family histories I have seen or heard.  There are several explanations for this that I will have to research; here are the most likely two:

1) he died when he was very young.  Often when this happened, it would be too painful for the family to talk about and then the later members of the families (including spouses who married into families) would not know about them to add them to family histories;

2) he was known by another name that I have heard of.  Sometimes there are saint or religious names that were added in front of the names people where called.  Or people were named for a relative, but because the name was used by a lot of members, people used another name to distinguish themselves;

Found in the 1902 Civil Registration book for San Salvador, El Salvador (click image to enbiggen!):

Mayo 2nd P.No. 944

Fernando Segura hijo legitimo de de Alfredo Segura y Juana Calabuig ambos originarios de Espana y vecinos del barrios del centro del esta cuidad, nacio a las cinco dela manana del dia cinco de Abril proximo pasado. [signature and title of registrar]

May 2nd [1902],  birth #944 in San Salvador

Fernando Segura, legitimate son of Alfredo Segura and Juana nee Calabuig.  Both parents are are originally from Spain but currently reside in a neighborhood in the center of this city (San Salvador).  Fernando was born at 5:00am on 5 April just passed (1902).

Carmen Segura Calabuig

Finding the information about my great-grandmother's hotel motivated me to do some other web searches.  In addition, the LDS church has committed to putting its entire microfilm and microfiche collection online in digital form and indexed!  Every day more and more is being added, and I had seen where some El Salvador records had been uploaded to their site, FamilySearch.org.  I tried a bunch of names and got nothing at first.  Then I realized I was entering names as if they were American.  So I started entering the double last names that are used in El Salvador. Sure enough, I got a lot of hits!

The first is the entry above - for Carmen Segura Villalva, my grandfather's sister, and daughter of the hotel proprietess, Juana de Villalba.   The transcription and my best translation, plus a reminder to click on the picture to embiggen:

Diciembre 6 PN 1906Carmen Segura Calabuig, hija legitima de Alfredo Segura Villalva originario de Valencia Espana y de Juana Calabuig originaria del mismo lugar y ambro vecinas del  Centro de esta ciudad, nacio a las nueve de la manana del dia veinte y dos de Septiembre ultimo, dando estos datos el padre de la recien nacido y firma.
[Signature of clerk]
[Signature of Alfredo Segura Villalba and below that, possibly Juana Segura Calabuig) 

6 December 1906Carmen Segura Calabuig, legitimate daughter of Alfredo Segura Villalba, originally from Valencia, Spain and of Juana Calabuig, originally from the same place [Valencia, Spain], and both living in a neighborhood close to the center of this city [San Salvador], born at nine in the morning of 22 September last, given this information by the father of the newborn with signature.

This one small birth entry gives us a lot of information and a mystery in a short space.  First, it tells me a lot about my great-grandfather and shows me his signature.  It places his death between 1906 (this entry) and 1916 (when Juana is listed as a widow in the previous entry).  It also gives me his name: Alfredo Segura Villalva (similar spelling but not the Villalba we know today).  If we look at this with American eyes - which would be an easy trap given we know the family continued the Villalba name - we would assume that Villalva was his surname and Segura was just another family name (likely his mother's).  However, this is reversed from the nomenclature used in El Salvador.  Segura is his father's name - his LAST name as we would say - and Villalva was his mother's.  So technically, we should be Seguras instead of Villalbas. Somewhere between this entry and 1916 the family switched names and adopted Alfredo's mother's name.  Why?  Was there something that became associated with Segura?  To avoid debts?  hmmmm.... new mystery!

Other information includes verification of my great-grandmother's maiden name (Calabuig) and that both Alfredo and Juana came from Valencia, Spain.  I also love how the baby was born in September but they didn't do the civil registration of the birth until December!

Pension Espana and Juana de Villalba

The above is a picture of the Pension Espana, established by my great grandmother, Juana de Villalba.  This 25-room hotel stood at 8 Av. Sur y 2 Calle Ote in San Salvador and was established by her in 1920.

I don't have much on my great-grandmother, and found nothing searching for her with a last name of Segura, Villalba or Calabuik (probably Calabuig or Calabuix).  Then I remembered that my grandmother Rosie often used "de Villalba" to indicate her married name.  Searching for Juana de Villabla, I found three sources referencing her and her hotel!

The first was Camaro27's Flickr site, where this picture was taken from and where he has a whole set of pictures of El Salvador 1880-1950.  This picture had the following caption:

Pension Espana, San Salvador 1916
Vista de la Pension Espana de dona Juana viuda de Villalba.  Utilizado en los anos sesenta por Boarding House Warletta, este edificio permanecio en pie hasta 1986, cuando fue demolido.  En el presente, es un lote balidio. 

Translated:
View of the Pension Espana, owned by the widow Dona Juana deVillalba.  Used in the sixties by Warletta Boarding House, this building remained standing until 1986, when it was demolished.  Currently, its former site is a vacant lot.

Camaro27's wonderful set of photos can be view at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camaro27/sets/72157624218503138/with/7876421686/

The second was a website devoted to hotels and tourism and contained a table with the Pension Espana listed (I listed the facts in my first paragraph above).  It can be viewed at:
 http://wwwisis.ufg.edu.sv/wwwisis/documentos/TE/647.94-A581p/647.94-A581p-Capitulo%20I.pdf

The last one was from the website for the Asociacion Salvadorena de Hoteles and had a little longer write up:

Pension Espana:  Segun relata el Libro Azul de El Salvador, su propietario Juana de Villalba habia logrado que este popular centro de recreo fuera merecedor de la alta estima de que gozaba.  La excelencia de sue mesa habia llamado la atencion de aquellas personas que la vistaban, el edificio tenia dos pisos y el segundo se encontraba las habitaciones de precios mas modicos.  Estaba ubicado a una cuadra de la residencia Presidencial, en la esquina de la 8a avenida y 2a calle oriente. 

Translated:
Pension Espana:  According to the Blue Book of El Salvador, the owner of this popular recreation center, Juana de Villalba, has earned high esteem which she enjoys.  The excellence of its appointments has garnered praise from those who have stayed there.  The building has two floors and the second floor rooms are more modestly priced.  It is located a block away from the Presidential Residence, on the corner of 8a Avenue South and 2a Street East.

The link for this website is: http://www.hoteles-elsalvador.com/old/index.php?lang=es&articulo=41

Enlarging Pictures on the Blog

Ok, time out from genealogy for a little housekeeping. I've stated before that I have been working on getting the pictures on the blog to show up bigger and easier to read. Unfortunately, nothing I've tried has worked, so this has been really frustrating for me.
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Imagine my surprise when my hubby was reading my latest post and had a HUGE image of the census on his screen! When I asked how he got that, he looked mildly confused and said "I just clicked on the image." D'oh! Ok, I hadn't tried that.
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So for all those of you (if any) who, like me, hadn't figured this out: Click on the image to get a larger view of it. It makes things like the census much easier to read. To get back to the blog, just hit your browsers "Back" button.
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And thank you to my hubby for the tip (and not pointing out that I was being a ditz).

Don Sixto Barrios (Part II)

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As per the previous post, this is the bottom portion of Don Sixto Barrios' page in the Miguel Angel Garcia's Diccionario. The Spanish transcription:

Senor Redactor de "El Faro Salvadoreno",

Ruego a Ud. se sirva dar lugar en las columnas de su periodico a las siguientias lineas que dirijo.

Al Br. senor don Abel Barrios, a consecuencia de la tragica muerte de su caro padre el senor don Sixto Barrios.

En sentimiento es el unico elemento
moral capaz de aniquilar al hombre.

El justo y acerbo dolor que un fatal acontecimiento engendra hoy en mi espiritu, hace que por primera vez haga escuchar al publico la debil voz que en medio del dolor alcamzo a pronunciar; omitir esta expresion que un sentimiento de mi alma me impele a dirigir, seria violentar [unreadable] justa y sensible inclinacion de mi consternado corazon.

Un suceso cuyas circuntancias an ignoro, privo la noche del 10 del que numeramos, a la patria de un honrado e interesante ciudadano; a la agricultura salvadorena de un valioso y excelente productor, que colocado por sus propios esfuerzos al nivel de los grandes empresarios del pais, era ya una columna que sostenia el comercio de la Republica; a una esposa de tierno y carinosa esposa; a un hijo de un padre que no era para el, sino un conjunto de halagos amorosos; desaparecio en fin la fatal noche en que el que fue don Sixto Barrios exhalo su ultimo suspiro, un amigo de un amigo de un sin numero de personas que hoy se miran precisadas a apurar la amarga copa del dolor.

Y tu querido Abel amigo mio, que consuelo pudieras recibir del que os ayuda tambien a padecer? nimguno.... Pues yo cual tu, tambien lo necesito; pero recuerda amigo, que "en el hombre hay algo mas que barro" y que ese algo no esta sujeto al poder de la materia; y al permitirme que yo pueda apreciar, cuanto tenia de grande, de noble y generosa el alma de vuestro querido padre podre decir con certeza; que ella goza de mejor vida en la mansion que a los justos da el Senor.

Sea esta una debil prueba el sufimiento con que os ayuda a llorar vuesto inolvidable amigo.

(1) El Faro Salvadoreno No. 248 de 23 de agosto de 1869.

The English Transcription:

Mr. Editor of "El Faro Salvadoreno" [the Salvadorean Light, a newspaper],

I request that you use this in your opinion columns of your newspaper.


To Mr. Abel Barrios, as a result of the tragic death of his beloved father, Mr. Sixto Barrios,

Sentiment is the only moral element
capable of annihilating a man

The fatal event generates a just and scathing pain in my spirit today, causing me for the first time to make the public listen to my weak voice the pain causes; to ignore this expression of my soul would cause me to do serious violence to this just and sensible incliniation of my heart's consternation.

An event on the 10th, whose circumstances I won't go into, deprived our Country [El Salvador] of an honest and interesting citizen; [deprived] the Salvadorean agricultural community of a valuable and excellent producer, who through his efforts was one of the great industrialists of the country, and a column which supported the commerce of the Republic; [deprived] a wife of a tender and loving husband; [deprived] a son of a father who was unequalled except for a set of loving flatteries; vanished for good that fatal night when Don Sixto Barrios breathed his last, a friend of friends without number, [friends] who today drink from the bitter glass of pain.



And you, my dear friend Abel, are you consoled by that which would also make you suffer [referring, I believe, to kind words about his father]? No... I, as your friend, also need it [to be consoled]. I urge you to remember that "man is but made of clay" and that we are all subject to this matter, and when time permits me to appreciate, to say with certainty, that the great, generous and noble soul of your father enjoys a better life in the house of one who gives justice to him.



May this weak attempt be sufficient in helping alleviate your sorrows, my friend.



(1) Published in El Faro Salvadorena, #248 on Aug. 23rd, 1869

Don Sixto Barrios (Part III)

While the page from Miguel Angel Garcia's Diccionario does not provide a direct link to Don Sixto Barrios to Dr. Sixto Barrios (my great-grandfather), there are indirect clues.
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First, Don Sixto was murdered at his hacienda, Managua, the Sesori district of San Miguel, El Salvador in 1869. Dr. Sixto Barrios was born three years later on the same estate.
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Second, the flowery eulogy to Don Sixto was written to his son, Abel, who also lived at the above-mentioned hacienda. Abel Barrios was named as the father of Dr. Sixto Barrios in his write-up.
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Given that there was probably not two Abel Barrios of similar age living at the hacienda at the time, and that Dr. Sixto Barrios was probably named for Don Sixto, I am currently working on the assumption that Don Sixto was Dr. Sixto Barrios' grandfather. I will continue to try to prove this connection, and will post any findings when I get them.
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Also, to stop any confusion between the two Sixto Barrios, I will list their birth year next to their name. Hence, Don Sixto Barrios (1822) is grandfather to Dr. Sixto Barrios (1872).

Don Sixto Barrios (Part I)

Another Sixto Barrios (not my grandfather) is also included in Miguel Angel Garcia's Diccionario Historico-Enciclopedico de la Republica de El Salvador, Volume 7, page 23. I've divided up his page to prevent the blog entries from being overly long, and this is the top portion of his entry. After posting and translating his page, I'll post an entry discussing his relationship to our family.

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Transcription in Spanish:

BARRIOS DON SIXTO

Nacio en ano 1822 en la Hacienda de San Jorge en jurisdiccion de Sesori en el departmento de San Miguel. Fueron sus padres don Mariano Barrios y dona Gertrudis Espinosa, hondurena. El ano de 1846 contrajo matrimonio en la cuidad de Jucuapa de dona Encarnacion Araujo. A fuerza de trabajo honrado llego a formar una fortuna y prodigo el bien siempre que pudo. Para la introduccion del agua del Jucuapa contribuyo con fuertas sumas de dinero y el dia de la inauguracion en marzo de 1868 despues del discurso pronunciado por el ilustre doctor don Miguel Brioso, el senor Barrios obsequio a la sociedad de Jucuapa un esplendido banquete. Murio asesinado en su hacienda Managuare el dia 10 de agosto de 1869.

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Transcription in English

MR. SIXTO BARRIOS

Born in 1882 in the Hacienda de San Jorge, Sesori jurisdiction of San Miguel County [of El Salvador]. His parents were Mariano Barrios and Gertrudis Espinosa, a Honduran lady. In 1846, he married Encarnacion Araujo in the city of Jucuapa. By force of honest work, he amassed a fortune and lavished good whenever he could. For the introduction of the water [system] to Jucuapa, he contributed much of the money, and the day of the inauguration [of the water system] in March of 1868, he was subject to much flattery in the speech by the illustrious doctor Don Miguel Brioso, and was honored by a splendid banquet by the society of Jucuapa. He was assassinated on his property of Managuare on 10 of August of 1869.

Happy Birthday Mom!

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A shout out to my mother, Rosa Miriam Villalba, on her 74th birthday. The above photo was taken when she was 16.

Barrios Doctor Sixto

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The above is a page from the Diccionario Historic=Enciclopedico de la Republica de El Salvador, by Miguel Angel Garcia, 1946 about my great-grandfather, Sixto Barrios. I'll type the Spanish transcription first, then my best English translation:

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BARRIOS DOCTOR SIXTO

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Nacio el ano de 1872 en la Hacienda de Managuare jurisdiccion de Sesori en el departamento de San Miguel. Tuvo por padres don Abel Barrios y dona Teresa Alvarenga. Hizo sus estudios primarios y secundarios en el Liceo Salvadoreno e Instituto Nacional. Obtuvo el titulo de doctor en Jurisprudencia y Ciencias Sociales en la Universidad Nacional el ano de 1899. Ha ocupado varios e importantes puestos publicos en la administracion de Justicia, come Juez de la. Instancia de San Salvador, Santa Ana y Santa Tecla, Magistrado de la Camara de Occidente y de la Suprema Corte de justicia, Registrador de la Propiedad Raiz. Secretario de la Universidad Nacional y Profesor de varias asignaturas de Derecho. El ano de 1921 electo Diputado a la Constituyente Federal que se reunio en Tegucigalpa.

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DR. SIXTO BARRIOS

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He was born in the year 1872 on the Managuare Ranch, Sesori, San Miguel. His parents were Don Abel Barrios and Dona Teresa Alvarenga. He had his primary and secondary education in the Liceo Salvadoreno and Instituto Nacional. He obtained his doctorate in Jurisprudence and Social Science from the Universidad Nacional in the year 1899. He has occupied several important public positions in the administration of Justice, like Judge of the Courts of San Salvador, Santa Ana and Santa Tecla, Magistrate of the Chamber of the West and of the Supreme Court of Justice, Registrar of Properties. He was also Secretary of the National University and a professor of various subjects of Law. In 1921, he was elected a Deputy of the Federal Constituency that gathered in Tegucigalpa.

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Source: Diccionario historico-enciclopedico de la Republic de El Salvador, Vol. 7

Garcia, Miguel Angel, 1862 or 3-1955

San Salvador, tipografia "La Luz", 1927-

F1483.G21 v7, Green Library, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

Signature Surprise

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Sometimes when you are looking for one thing, you get a nice surprise and find something else....

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I was looking through the Jucuapa, Usulutan records for information about my great-grandparents when the signature above started popping up! The signature is my grandfather's Jorge (George) Villalba!

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Evidentially, he was involved in the Jucuapa City government during the early 1950's. Family lore has him being mayor during the huge 1951 earthquake that destroyed a lot of the city. In Jucuapa, when a death was reported, there was an informal inquiry into it, just to make sure there was no foul play. Once the report was written up, members of the committee had to sign to say they went through the records and it was written up correctly. From 1951 through 1954, the above signature is one of several that appear after the report for each record.

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Side note that has nothing to do with my family history:

The reports often list how many legitimate and illegitimate children a person left behind. While going through this microfilm, it has become an... um... interest of mine to look to see the total number. There are a lot of people with 13 (or less, but 13 seems to be a magic number). However, the record holders are 21 (!) and 32 (!!)

Laredo Border Crossing 1943

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Above is the documentation from a 1943 Laredo border crossing of Sixto Barrios & his granddaughters, Yolanda and Miriam, as he escorted the girls to their mother in San Francisco. It comes courtesy of Ancestry.com's new on-line collection of Mexico/US border crossings.

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My best transcription:

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TOP IMAGE (front of record):

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Top Line: MANIFEST Port of Laredo May 28, 1943

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Family Name: Barrios

Given Name: Sixto

Accompanied by: grand daughters
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Yolanda and Miriam Villalba, both admitted Immigrant ?(c)

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? No: None

Place and Date of birth: 1-2-1874

?: Act of 1924

(next blocks empty)

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Place of birth: San Salvador, El Salvador

Age: 69 yrs

Sex: M

Married (letter M circled)

Occupation: Lawyer

?: Y

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Language: Spanish

?: Latin America

Nationality: El Salvador

Last place of residence: San Salvador, El Salvador

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Name of relative from where applicant came: Wife, Inez Monterosa Barrios, San Salvador, El Salvador

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Every been to USA before: Yes [something unreadable]

Passage paid by: Self

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Name of Relative or destination: Daughter, Rosa Barrios de Villalba, 684 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA

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Amount of money on person: $500.00

Ever been [unreadable] and deported or [barred] from admission: No

Purpose and duration of trip: Pleasure -- 6 months

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[Unreadable] Tax Status: A

Height: 5 ft. [unreadable] in.

Complexion: Dark

Hair: Black

Eyes: Br

Defining Marks: ----

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[unclear, something about immigration visa]: 982/5-A of 5/1943 re: adm. with Gratis Visa. ml.

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[unreadable]: adm. 3(2)

Arrived by: Laredo Bridge

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handwritten number on bottom of form: 35011

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BOTTOM IMAGE (back of form):

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Typed on side of image: Checked out at Laredo, Texas July 24, 1943 by J.J. Burke, Jr. 7/26/43 [unreadable]

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Boxes at top of form empty. Under MEDICAL CERTIFICATE is handwritten "Fingerprints and Registry forms lifted"

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Stamp at bottom right of top half:

Inspected and Passed

JAMES L. CRAWFORD

[title unreadable]

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On bottom half, is REMARKS AND ENDORSEMENTS is handwritten:

Has diplomatic PP #19, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Relations in San Salvador, El Salvador, 4-6-43 (as Justice of the Supreme Court)

dated 4-17-43

Sec. 3(2) Diplomatic Visa #12, [Unreadable] Ligation, El Salvador, El Salvador

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Signature of Applicant: Sixto Barrios

You Can't Believe Everything You Read...

It certainly was wonderful to find a news article about a relative, especially a nice one that talks about their achievements or good business doings. I'm thrilled to have the article.
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However, a news story is just one piece of the puzzle, and often have "slants" -- stories edited or shaped by the writer's or paper's view. Add to that small misunderstandings that occur between people, especially when talking with an accent or a second language (like Emma undoubtedly was) and there will definitely be discrepancies or skewing of facts.
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Looking at this story, we find a definite slant -- the focus is on what would be considered womanly: romance and looks. The main part of the story is talks about Emma's marital status, that she's heart free (she says -- is there doubt?), that she's good looking and got a lot of attention on the ship coming up, and that she's traveling alone (horrors! This was considered very brazen and dangerous in 1929). Her business acumen (while also very "modern" or unusual for 1929) is really downplayed or left to the end of the story. Basically, the Chronicle is putting a huge arrow over Emma's head and letting the boys know that there is a young, single heiress alone in S.F. and ready to be romanced. Think Paris Hilton, backdated and not so fancy-free and you'll see the press hasn't changed much.
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Looking at the facts, we can find some other discrepancies:
A ship's list from the 5/3/1929 arrival of the Guatamala (I'll post this later) shows that Emma was traveling with Inez (her mother) and Arturo Barrios (her brother), so her travel was not as scandalous as it's made out to be. Plus, she is visiting with her sister (Rosa Josephina) and new niece, Carmen.
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This was also not Emma's first time to San Francisco. She was on the Albert Vogler in the 11/5/06 post on the blog, "Passport Photo and Journey." This ship arrived in San Francisco on Sept. 9, 1927.
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And in 1929, she had not inherited her estate from her father. My mother (Rosa Miriam)remembers her grandfather very well, and she was born in 1933! However, Emma was very involved in the Coffee Grower's Association in San Salvador (my mother remembers her taking them there and having ice cream in the cafeteria), so a business trip to a convention or meeting of importers is not out of the question.
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I have no doubt that Emma was in her 20s during this visit. I do find it amusing, however, that she was 21 on the Vogler's passenger list in 1927, and she is 21 on the Guatemala's passenger list! I will be posting all the passenger lists for the Barrios/Villalba families in later posts.

Coffee Queen in America

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Above is a San Francisco Chronicle article about Emma Barrios (Rosa Josephina's sister) that was printed on May 4, 1929. I'm sure the picture was more flattering when it was actually printed! It totally destroys my ability to rescue it when it's been put on newsprint, then microfiched.

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My transcription:

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Above Photo: To Boost Trade

Below Photo: Miss Emma Barrios

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Young Coffee Queen in S. F.

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Miss Emma Barrios Comes From Salvador to Consult Importers

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Owner of a 2000-acre coffee plantation in Salvador, Miss Emma Barrios, who arrived here yesterday on the Panama Mail liner Guatemala, is still in her early twenties and, she says, heart free.

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"But it's not to look for a husband I have come to San Francisco," she laughed. "I have come here to consult with the coffee importers and boom trade for Salvador coffee growers. That, and to see this famous California for the first time, is the object of my trip."

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Miss Barrios, who travels alone, was the center of attraction and admiration on the Guatemala, on its trip from Salvador.

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The 1928-29 coffee crop of Salvador, Miss Barrios said, will the the largest and the best in its history. Much of the coffee grown there is imported to the United States through San Francisco. Her own coffee plantation she inherited from her father.

Alfredo Villalba

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My mom has this beautiful photo of her grandfather, Alfredo Villalba, that I've scanned for you above. It is one of the few photographs that I have of the Villabla side of the family.
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Family lore has it that Alfredo was a conductor/composer for a Zarzuela Troop, and his wife, Juana Segura de Villalba was a singer/dancer. The Zarzuela Troop was on tour of Latin America from Spain, and while they were in El Salvador, Alfredo passed away. His wife stayed behind to bury her husband and thus ended her career, staying in El Salvador. Besides this story, I have really no other information on Alfredo.
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For those of you who are not familiar with Zarzuela (I wasn't!), it is a form of comic opera popular in Spain and Latin America. Think Gilbert & Sullivan with a Spanish flair.

Barrios Lineage by Grandma Rosie

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The above note is actually a family tree written by my late grandmother, Rosa Barrio. I've transcribed from the top with my additions in brackets:

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Cerbulo Araujo (Father)

[of] Encarnacion Araujo

[who married] Abel Barrios

[and they had]

Geraldo [Barrios, president of El Salvador, and]

Sixto Barrios (assinated (sic))

Abel Barrios

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[Abel Barrios, son of Abel & Encarnacion, married]

Teresa Albarenja

[and they had]

Sixto

Gustavo

Merced

Teresa

Mina

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Sixto Barrios [son of Abel and Teresa, married]

Inez Carrillo [previously listed as Ines Monterosa]

[and they were the parents of ]

Rosa

[along with other children]

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Rosa Barrios [married]

Jorge Villalba

[and they were the parents of]

Mimi

[along with other children]

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Mimi Villalba

[Mother of] Gina and Didi

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My Family Tree

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Rosa Villalba's SS-5

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An SS-5 is the form you fill out to receive a Social Security Number. Under the Freedom of Information Act, you can request an SS-5 for a deceased person, which is a big help for genealogists. The above image is of the SS-5 for Rosa Barrios-Villalba. Here is the transcription:

1. (Name): Rosa de Villalba
2. (Address): 684 Guerrero St., San Francisco
3. (Name at birth): Rosa Barrios
4. (Age last birthday): 42
5. (Date of Birth): September 28, 1901
Note: It looks like the year was originally 1900, but the last zero was filled in to make a one.
6. (Place of birth): San Salvador, El Salvador
7. (Father's Name): Sixto Barrios
8. (Mother's Maiden Name): Ines Monterrosa
9. (Sex): Female (box checked)
10. (Race): White (box checked)
11. Left Blank
(Asks if you have applied for a Social Security number before or are eligible for Railroad Retirement)
12. (Where employed): Unemployed
13. (Today's date): 3-9-43
Note: 9 March 1943
14. (Signature): Rosa de Villalba

The most significant information on the SS-5 is that Rosa used "de Villalba" as her legal name. This is a carry over from her Spanish upbringing as it is common there to designate a woman's married name in that manner. However, used here in the United States, it becomes her legal name, which creates another name or alias to look for her under.

The other interesting bit is that she shaved some years off of her age when filing. The date of birth is correct (she was born on Sept. 28th) but the year should be 1898, not 1901. This again was a common practice as (a) women of this generation could be particularly sensitive about their age and would lie about it to be younger, and (b) many times an older employee would be discriminated against or could not find work. Even a few years could mean the difference between getting a job or not.

Housekeeping: Gone to Oz!

You may not see any more posts this year (2006) because I will be on vacation until Jan. 7, 2007. I will be in Australia (aka Oz) with my family, hunting down those elusive ancestors ~ maybe the ones I can't find moved there? Just kidding. I have no known family who have moved there, but I will be taking a much-needed break.

Have a great Holiday Season and a Happy New Years! I will continue to post after I get back (give me a few days to recover from jet lag!)

When Family Lore and Census Data Collide...

The census in the previous blog has a lot of information -- not only in what it actually says, but in the family lore that it contradicts. This blog entry will detail that contradiction, as well as discuss the actual information too.

But first, housekeeping! I forgot to give credit where credit was due! The citation for the link (and a big thank you!) goes to: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.

Ok, the contradiction: Family lore is that Sixto sent Rosa and Emma to San Francisco so that Rosa would not marry George (Jorge) Villalba. But George followed her to SF and convinced her to marry him against her parents' wishes.

But as the previous posts show, George was living in San Francisco BEFORE Rosa came. And ship records show that Emma came to SF right before the wedding, and her passage was paid for by her father. If she was sent to dissuade her sister, then it would be unlikely that she would serve as maid of honor/witness. Hmmm.... definitely have to do more research on this!

Other things that this census points to that will need more research:
(a) was this Alfred Villalba a brother? a cousin? someone totally not related but with the same name?
(b) relationship of the other Salvadoreans living in the house at that time
(c) Naturalization records for Robert and George! This census states that they exist, and if they do, they detail a lot about where the person, and the person's family, came from.
(d) need to research ships' passenger records for more information and Villalba sailings
(e) definitely need to go to SF and get pictures of the house (if it still exists) and walk around. It is always cool to walk the same sidewalks as an ancestor.

George Villalba on the 1920 US Census

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The above image, although not very clear here, is the 1920 US Census for San Francisco. The top two lines are the details for Robert and George Villalba. The bottom line of the previous page [not shown] lists an Alfred Villalba also living at the same place. I'm not sure if Alfred is a sibling of George's or not, but I will list his information here just in case.

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Robert, Alfred and George were lodging in a house, along with several other men from San Salvador. I have written down the information for the other Salvadoreans in the house, and will research them to see if they are related or friends of the family [which can sometimes turn out to be distant relatives]. Sometimes if you can't find your family, you can trace the neighbors or close friends to find them!

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I'll comment on what this census information means in relation to our genealogy in the next blog.

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Transcription of the above (Villalba info):

1920 United States Federal Census

State of California

County of San Francisco

City of San Francisco

Enumeration District: 4

Sheet Number 5A [Alfred on Sheet 4B]

Enumeration Date: 5 January 1920

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Address: 1511 O'Farrell St.

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Line No. 1

Name: Robert Villalba

Relation to head of household: Lodger

Sex: M

Color or Race: W[hite]

Age at last birthday: 22

Single, Married or Widowed: S

Year of Immigration to the US: 1914

Naturalized or Alien: Naturalized

Year of Naturalization: 1919

Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: [blank]

Able to read: Yes

Able to write: Yes

Place of Birth: San Salvador

Mother Tongue: Spanish

Father's Place of Birth: Spain

Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish

Mother's Place of Birth: Spain

Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish

Able to speak English: Yes

Kind of work done: Laborer

Establishment where work done: Dray Company

Employer, Salary or Wage earner: W[age]

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Line No. 2
Name: George Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 21
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1918
Naturalized or Alien: Naturalized
Year of Naturalization: 1919
Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: no
Able to read: Yes
Able to write: Yes
Place of Birth: San Salvador
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: Yes
Kind of work done: Laborer
Establishment where work done: Dray Company
Employer, Salary or Wage earner: W[age]

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Last line on page 4B
Name: Alfred Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 24
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1919
Naturalized or Alien: Pa

[I'm not sure what this stands for; definitely not the Na they used for naturalized citizens]
Year of Naturalization: [blank]

Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: [blank]
Able to read: [blank]
Able to write: [blank]
Place of Birth: Spain
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: No
Kind of work done: none
Establishment where work done: [blank]

Employer, Salary or Wage earner: [blank]

Another Marriage in the Family

Sometimes researching a collateral line yields new information. A collateral line is a non-direct blood line, basically researching the sibling of someone in your direct line or another relative. As an example, and to continue the research on this line, I am posting the above, page one of the marriage license of Jorge (George) Villalba's brother, Robert to my "Aunt Helen" (although she is my mom's aunt. I won't be posting the second part of the marriage license, as I did with Jorge and Rosa.

My best transcription:

Groom Information (left side)
Name: Robert Segura Villalba
Address: 16 Walter St.
Race: White
Age last birthday: 28
Marital Status before this marriage: [blank, but x's over widowed, divorced]
Number of Marriage: 1
Birthplace: Spain
Occupation: Mechanic
Name of Father: Alfred S. Villalba
Father's Birthplace: Spain
Name of Mother: Juana Calabuik
Mother's Birthplace: Spain

Bride Information (left side)
Name: Mrs. Helen Elisabeth Vincent
Address: 16 Walter St.
Race: White
Age last birthday: 26
Marital Status before this marriage: [blank, x's over single, widowed, indicated divorced]
Number of Marriage: 2
Birthplace: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: housewife
Name of Father: Louie Hillcourt
Father's Birthplace: Denmark
Name of Mother: Phoebe Ranzan
Mother's Birthplace: Oregon
Maiden Name of Bride if previous married: Helen Hillcourt

We, the Groom and Bride named in this Certificate, hereby certified that the information given therein is correct, to the best of our knowledge and belief.
Signed: Robert Segura Villalba and Helen Elisabeth Vincent

Filled out in the presence of Barry J. Gould, Deputy County Clerk

Certificate of Person Performing Ceremony
I HEREBY CERTIFY that Robert Segura Villalba and Helen Elisabeth Hillcourt were joined in marriage by me in accordance with the laws of the State of California at [blank], City and County of San Francisco, State of California, this 16th day of October, 1923.

Witness to the Marriage: Salvador Brand, 1345 Laguna St.
[not listed is second witness named on pg. 2: J. Castille of 1714 Sutter]

Signature of Person performing the Ceremony: Frank W. Dunn, Justice of the Peace

Filed Oct. 20, 1923 E. Godchaux, Recorder


There is lots of additional and new information on this one page of the certificate. First, Robert was born in Spain around 1897 [date of marriage - 26 yrs of age]. This make the time spent in El Salvador by the family less than 30 years, and also gives me a new location -- Spain -- to look for information. With this time frame, I can now look for immigration information for the family from Spain to Central America to San Francisco.

Second, Robert lists his mother's maiden name as Calabuik, not Segura that Jorge listed. Given that the Spanish naming sequence is very different from the American one, it is possible that both are correct! This also give me more avenues to research.

The last bit of information is the names of the Witnesses. Normally these are more than passing aquaintances, and sometimes are relatives. If Salvador or J. Castille came to the US with Robert, it is possible they could be cousins or some other connection.