b-1/26/1886, Guadalupe de los Reyes, Durango, Mexico
d-10/7/1955, Los Angeles, CA
b-10/23/1883, Baja California, Mexico
d-3/28/1928, Los Angeles, CA
Around the year 1850, three Escobosa brothers left Spain for Mexico to find a new life in the new world. When they arrived they separated. One to Sonora, one to Sinaloa and one to Durango. Each of these men were adventurous and proficient in business and each became wealthy in their separate enterprises.
Genero Escobosa became engaged in mining and owned stock in various mines. However, during the uprising of troops in Pancho Villa's time, had to give up his business suddenly and retire to the grocery and banking businesses with the help of a son. This son had a store in San Dimas, Durango, "Escobosa and Burnes Department Store" and Genero and other members of the family worked at the store, including my grandfather, Jose Antonio Carlos Manriquez.
Don Jose Antonio Escobosa, another brother, was also engaged in mining and became extremely wealthy. He had three wives and produced 5 children with each. The first two died in childbirth and their names are not known at this time. The third wife was Esperansa Pico. Jose Antonio was also a romanticist. He fell in love and took his mistress, Regina Catalan. With her they produced 3 children which then gave him a total of 18 children. My maternal great-grandfather, Placido Catalan, was a product of this romance.
We don't know much about Regina escept that she was born in Catalona, Spain. During some research while in Spain I could not find a Catalan family but I did fina an Antonio Catalan who was an attorney in 1545 responsible for establishing the archives of Spain by order of King Carlos I. It is possible Regina was a descendant of this Antonio and I continue to search for her family. If anyone reading this can help in the search, I would love to hear from you.
The three children born to Don Antonio and Regina were Placido, Leonor and Jeronimo. Because of the romance, these children refused to take the Escobosa surname and, instead, took the surname of their mother. Thus the surname Catalan continues to present day.
Placido Catalan married Gertrudis Carrasco in 1885 in El Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico. They produced 14 children, the eldest daughter being my maternal grandmother. Josefa Catalan was probably the most wonderful, kind, thoughtful grandmother anyone could have. Mommie, as we called her, was born in 1886. She was very intelligent and at the age of 18 became principal of a small school in San Dimas.
Placido married Gertrudis Carrasco in 1885
Josefa Catalan upper right
b-1886 and d-1955
Carlos and Josefa met on the beach in LaPaz and were married in December 1906 in San Dimas, Durango.
Carlos and Josefa stayed in Durango until about 1912 when they moved to El Rosario, Sinaloa and lived there several years. There, Carlos became a Rent Recorder for the Mexican Federal Government and since he worked for the government, his life and the lives of his family were in constant danger.
Since the children were very young during the revolution, they did not understand what was happening however they saw much bloodshed and cruelty. Carlos tried to maintain his home as happy as possible under all the terrible circumstances but kept his family oblivious of the refolution as best he could.
The family was not wealthy but were very comfortable. They resided on a small ranch with chickens, horses, cows and pigs and they had a large home. They had ranch hands who worked the animals and care of the property and maids who came to wash, iron, clean the home and help with the children when needed.
Josefa was capable of taking care of anything but Carlos allowwed her only the responsibility of the children. He made sure there was plenty of flour, potatoes, corn and any other foods. He assured proper care of the ranch by the ranch hands and the home by the maids. He had total disciplinary control of the children. He was extremely good to Josefa and the children but allowed no one to get out of line. He was very strict and severe punishment was his only means of gaining total obedience. Carlos knew everything his famly did and where they went even when he was away at work. They lived in a small town and everyone knew the family. If anything happened in the family, good or bad, and if he was not told, he'd find out from someone in town or a neighbor. He was always aware of his children's activities.
Carlos and Josefa had discussed the dangerous situation and that he wanted his children to have a better chance in life. Some day they would go to the United States to reestablish permanent goals. That some day came sooner than they had expected. The destruction of Mexico was getting very close to them and he became convinced they would have to leave.
The family lived close to school and each eay the children would walk home for their lunch. School started at 8:30 in the morning, they'd have a two hour lunch breat at noon and then return to school until after 6:00. Sas twelve months year around.
One day while on their lunch break and helping the ranch hands with the horses which were out to pasture, they saw a band of men on horses and another group of about 15 or 20 horses with bodies of men thrown over them. Some were chained while others were roped. When the children questioned Carlos and Josefa about what they had seen, they were just told not to worry but the incident confirmed his decision. Carlos had to take his family away.
Josefa sold everything and packed what remained; clothing a few personal belongings. She arranged everything: pass ports, photos, visas. A friend of the family whom they called "Viejito" Moreno offered his services to help Josefa with the eight children to the United States. Viejito became like a member of the family and lived with them for many years. He later lived with his brother, Miguel and his family until he died. They left El Rosario to Mazatlan on stage coach. Upon arrival there they stayed one night with Dona Maria Escobosa who had a very large beautiful home which was set behind walls, a fountain in the center of the patio and a balcony overlooking the patio. Carlos was supposed to meet them there but could not so the next morning the family took the train to Nogales. Cince the train went no farther then Nogales, they had to walk to the gates across the boarder into the United States. Now safe, they boarded another train in Nogales, Arizona which took them to the old depot in Los Angeles, California where Carlos met them. At the time of this drastic move, Carlos and Josefa had eight children. The family arrived in Los Angeles on July 12, 1922.
Carlos had secured a home for them which was located at 740 North Hill Street near Sunset Blvd.
Following are some of the tradegies which happened to them after they arrived in Los Angeles.
