The Arizona Soza family was founded by Jose Maria Soza I, a cavalryman in the Royal Spanish Army.  He was at the Tubac Presidio when Inspector General Hugo O'Conor inventoried the presidio.  Don Jose Maria is listed as being 28 years old, a Spaniard of good health and good circumstances.

The 1798 census of the village of Tucson, shows Jose Maria married to Rita Espinosa and the parents of one son and three daughters.   According to a letter writeen by Fra. Pedro Arriquibar, Jose Maria died prior to 1811.

Jose Maria Soza II, was the Civil Administrator of the Tumacacori Mission during the 1830's, and was married to Dona Gregoria Nunes.  The 1831 census of Tubac lists the eight children of Jose Maria and Gregoria, namely, Ramon, Rita, Marla Guadalupe, Ygnacio, Calistro, Maria Tomasa, Manuel and Jose Maria III.   Most of the families which researchers have been able to trace are descendants of Jose Maria III, Manuel and Calistro, so that a vast task still remains before a complete genealogy can be prepared.

The Casa del Gobernador was originally built by Jose Maria Soza III and Solana Mendoza in the early 1850's.  Their daughter, Manuela Mendoza Soza married Michael McKenna, a Civil War veteran, and they created the McKenna branch of the family.    Descendants of Manuela and Michael McKenna live in Arizona and California.

The descendants of Manuel and Calistro Sosa branched out severally to include the families of Antonio Campa Soza, Placido Campa Soza, Nicolas Campa Soza and Juan Soza; also, eventually Jesus Mari Mungula.

The Juan Soza branch became early settlers of Tempe and have roots with the Hayden Family.  They were later joined by the Placido Sosa branch.  They were among the earliest arrivals in the 1870/80's.

The Nicolas branch of the family settled severally in Texas, Arizona and California, as did the Soza/Fimbres branch, which is prominent in American Legion affairs.

The Antonio Soza branch of the family became the most numerous because of three marriages which took place at San Agustin Church in 1864, 1869 and 1878 respectively.  This branch of the family has long been associated with Tucson and the San Pedro River Valley, where Antonio homesteaded and was engaged in farming and as a rancher.  Seventeen Soza cattle brands attest to the extent of the Soza family activitities in cattle.

Descendants of the three marriages of Antonio Campa Soza are widely scattered, but a goodly number live in Arizona and California.

Geographical features with the Soza name are Soza Ranch, Soza Wash, Soza Mesa and Soza Canyon in the Redington, Arizona area near Tucson and Mount Soza at the South Pole, the latter named in honor of Ezekial Rodriguez Soza, grandson of Juan Soza, who is my deceased Uncle and pictured below. 

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