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.

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.

The Marriage of Rosa Josephina & Jorge, Part II

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City and County of San Francisco

State of California
City and County of San Francisco
MARRIAGE LICENSE
No. 347

These Presents are to authorize and license any Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice of the District Court of Appeals, Judge of the Superior Court, Judge of the Police Court, Justice of the Peace, Priest or Minister of the Gospel of any denomination, to solemnize, within said county, the Marriage of

George Villalba (white) and Rosa Barrios (white)
aged 26 yrs and past, resident of City and, age 24 yrs and past, resident of City and,
County of San Francisco, State of California, County of San Francisco, State of California

said parties being of sufficient age to be capable of contracting marriage as appears by affidavit of record in my office.

In Witness Thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City of County of San Francisco, this 18 day of Jan., 1928

(seal) H.I. MCULCREVY, County Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of said Superior Court
by A.J. Walcott, Deputy

State of California
City and County of San Francisco
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
George Villalba and Rose Barrios
the parties in the above license, were joined in marriage by me on the 19th day of January, A.D. 1928
in said City and County and State,
that Emma Barrios, a resident of City and, County of San Francisco, State of California,
and Robert Villalba, a resident of City and, County of San Francisco, State of California,
were present as witnesses of said ceremony.

Witnesses:
Name: M. Emma Barrios, No. 231 Delano St.
Name: Robert Villalba, No. 231 Delano St.
In Withness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of January A.D. 1928
Gil Casarez, Catholic Priest
Filed for Record at the request of Gil Casarez on Jan. 20th, 1928.

There are several things that struck me about this marriage license when I found it. One is that all the parties involved (except the priest and SF officials) all lived at the same house, 231 Delano, in San Francisco! This is unusual because (a) bride and groom living together in the late 1920's was pretty scandalous, and (b) according to family lore, Emma never lived in the U.S. That a priest would marry them, living in sin, or that Emma would lie about her residence to a priest seemed more than a little odd. Possible explanations for (a) was that Emma and Rosa were staying with the Villalbas (family friends from El Salvador) when the couple decide to marry, and for (b), that Emma was simply asked where are you staying and she gave that address. It was not uncommon for this type of misunderstanding to occur, as the difference between where one resides/lives and where one is staying can be very subtle, especially when a language translation was involved as it was here. The priest would certainly not look askance at this explanation of same addresses for the parties involved.

The Marriage of Rosa Josephina & Jorge, Part I

This is page one of the marriage license of Rosa Josephina Barrios and Jorge Villalba. I'll post the second page of this certificate next (with discussion). Even though I've tried to enlarge the blog post, it's still fairly hard to read. My best transcription:

Groom Information (left side)

Name: George Villalba
Address: 231 Delano Avenue [San Francisco]
Race: White
Age last birthday: 26
Marital Status before this marriage: Single
Number of Marriage: 1
Birthplace: San Salvador, CA
Occupation: Clerk
Name of Father: Alfred Villalba
Father's Birthplace: Spain
Name of Mother: Juana Segura
Mother's Birthplace: Spain

Bride Information (left side)

Name: Rosa Josephine Barrios
Address: 231 Delano Avenue [San Francisco]
Race: White
Age last birthday: 24
Marital Status before this marriage: Single
Number of Marriage: 1
Birthplace: San Salvador
Occupation: Domestic
Name of Father: Sixto Barrios
Father's Birthplace: San Salvador, CA
Name of Mother: Inez Monterie
Mother's Birthplace: San Salvador, CA

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: George Villalba and Rosa J. Barrios
Filled out in the presence of A. J. Walcott, Deputy County Clerk

Certificate of Person Performing Ceremony

I HEREBY CERTIFY that George Villalba and Rosa Josephine Barrios were joined in marriage by me in accordance with the laws of the State of California at Sacred Heart Church, City and County of San Francisco, State of California, this 19th day of January, 1928.

Witness to the Marriage: M. Emma Barrios [no address given]
Signature of Person performing the Ceremony: Gil Casarez, Catholic Priest
546 Fillmore St [San Francisco]
Filed Jan. 20, 1928

They came in ships....

This is the picture of the "Albert Vogler", mentioned in the previous blog, "Passport Photo and Journey". In 1927 it was part of the Hugo Stinnes Linien (Hugo Stinnes Line) which ran liners and freight around the world. From the passenger list, we learn that this particular ship sailed to the following ports:

8/11/1927 Corinto, Nicaragua
8/18/1927 La Libertad, El Salvador
8/22/1927 Acajutla, El Salvador
9/2/1927 Mazatlan, Mexico
9/9/1927 San Francisco, CA, USA

It's unclear which Salvadorean port the Barrios boarded at. Both ports are shown lumped together. The other first class passengers from El Salvador were Porfirio Garcia Suerez, Asst. Sec. of Finance for El Salvador, and Luisa Salguero, a housewife. In Mexico, the ship picked up Fritz Unger, German Consul in Mazatlan.

While this is the first documented voyage to San Francisco (that I can find), it certainly is not the last. My grandmother made many trips back and forth between San Francisco and El Salvador during her lifetime, both via ship and via airplane.

Passport Photo and Journey

This is the earliest photo I currently have of the Barrios Family. From left to right, Emma, Rosa Josephina (my grandmother), Dr. Sixto Barrios and Ines Monterosa Barrios. The photo is possibly a passport photo for their journey to San Franciso in 1927. The styles and photo certainly date from that era.

According to Passenger Lists, Sixto, Emma and Rosa travelled on the ship Albert Vogler, as First Class Passengers. They arrived on Sept. 9th, 1927, which was a little over 3 months before Rosa's marriage to Jorge Villalba on Jan. 19th, 1928. Ines is not listed as being on the ship, so at this time I am assuming that she stayed in El Salvador. I will try to post the passenger list, as well as a picture of the ship and its route in other entries.