Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, 1901 poster: El cinco de Mayo de 1862 y el sitio de Puebla Alternative Title: May 5, 1862 and the siege of Puebla. Creator: Frias, Heriberto, 1870-1925. Contributors: Posada, Jose Guadalupe, 1852-1913 (illustrator); Maucci Hermanos, Mexico (publisher). Part of Biblioteca del niño mexicano. Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library. Available from DeGolyer Library and Wikimedia Commons.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over the occupying French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Mexican President Benito Juárez declared the day a national holiday on May 9. 1862. Although it is no longer a national holiday throughout Mexico, schools are closed throughout Mexico  It is mostly celebrated in the state of Puebla; it is a holiday there and in the neighboring state of Veracruz.

Cinco de Mayo is also celebrated in the United States. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. Many celebrations take place along the United States/Mexico border and in areas with large Mexican-American populations. The holiday has become a celebration of Mexican culture.

Although I do not have Mexican ancestors, the wife of one of my cousins is from Mexico, and my maternal grandmother's brother Carl Schneider lived in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico at the end of his life.

References
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo from Mexonline.com - The Battle of Puebla, Mexico in 1862
Cinco de Mayo Observance Is Important Because It Provides a Collective Identity for Latinos, Says UCLA Center 

52 Ancestors: Week 21 "Military": Thomas J. Tarkington

Because I have not yet been able to prove the parentage of my 3rd-great-grandfather Joseph Tarkington, I cannot be sure of the relationship between myself and Thomas J. Tarkington. But if my theory is correct and Joseph S. Tarkington lied on his Southern Claims Commission claim because he thought his claim would not be approved if he admitted to having a son who was in the Confederate Army, Thomas was my 3rd-great-grandfather's brother, and my 3rd-great-grandfather's son Thomas was probably named after him.

Thomas J. Tarkington was the son of Joseph S. Tarkington and Amelia Owen, who married in Williamson County, Tennessee on 6 June 1818. In 1830, the family was living in Giles County, Tennessee. Thomas was under 5 years old at the time of the 1830 United States census. In 1833, Joseph S. Tarkington married Nancy (Sanders) Theall in St. Mary's Parish, Louisiana. Thomas was not in his father's household at the time of the 1840 United States census. I am not sure who he was living with. In 1843, Joseph S. Tarkington, who had remained in Louisiana, deeded Thomas 380 acres of land on the Big Harpeth River in Williamson County, Tennessee. (Armistead, Sarah Peery; Sawyer, Ova Lee Peery; and Russell, Lorraine Peery. Boyer, Penny Russell, ed. Tarkington-Kersey, Theresa, photo ed. Tarkingtons of Tennessee: Genealogy of John G. Tarkington. 2001.)

On 30 November 1843, Thomas married Rosanah (or Rosannah or Rosanna) Midyett in Williamson County, Tennessee. He gave B. H. Harrison power of attorney to sign and seal his name to obtain a marriage bond.

Power of attorney to sign bond to obtain marriage license. Nomination and appointment of B. H. Harrison by Thomas J. Tarkington. 30 November 1843. Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

Marriage, Thomas J. Tarkinton and Rosanna Midyett. Williamson County, Tennessee. 30 November 1843. Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

Thomas and Rosanah had two daughters, Nancy and Elizabeth.

On 16 June 1846 in Alton, Madison County, Illinois, Thomas enlisted in the army. Alton is close to the Missouri border, near St. Louis. Two of Rosanah's half-brothers had left Tennessee and gone to Missouri; maybe Thomas had taken his family to stay with one of them, and then left to enlist. Thomas was a private in the 2nd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers.

Record of the Services of Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War, 1831-32, and in the Mexican War, 1846-8. Prepared by Isaac H. Elliott, Adjutant-General of the State of Illinois. Springfield, IL: H. W. Rpkker, 1992. Page 235. Available from Google Books.

Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Mexican War, compiled 1899 - 1927, documenting the period 1846 - 1848. Thomas J. Tarkinton, Wheeler's Co., 2 Illinois Foot Vols. (Bissell's), Mexican War. NARA M616. Available from Fold3.

In his Southern Claims Commission claim, Joseph S. Tarkington stated that his only son (I am skeptical about the "only" claim) was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista.

Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Page 4. Available from Fold3.

Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Page 19.  Available from Fold3.

The Battle of Buena Vista (also called the Battle of Angostura) took place in Puerto de la Angostura, Coahuila, Mexico on 22-23 February 1847. It was the last major battle in northern Mexico during the Mexican War. Major General Zachary Taylor and General John E. Wool led the United States troops to victory over the Mexican army.

Battle of Buena Vista. Lithograph published and printed by Henry R. Robinson, from a sketch by Major Eaton. Available from Library of Congress and Wikimedia Commons.

Map of Battle of Buena Vista. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

Rosanah married Thomas E. Adams on 3 January 1850 in Panola County, Texas. Thomas and Rosanah's daughter Nancy lived with her paternal grandfather and his wife in St. Mary's Parish, Louisiana at the time of the 1850 United States census.

Travel Tuesday: Margaret (Schneider) Boe's Trip to Mexico After the Death of Her Brother, 1974

After her brother Carl died in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico in 1974, my maternal grandmother Margaret (Schneider) Boe traveled to Mexico. She flew alone to Texas, and then flew to Mexico on a smaller plane which, according to my aunt Joan, she had described as a "Piper Cub." She brought her brother's will with her. She met Guadalupe Sanchez, who said she was Carl's wife, and made a settlement with her. My family is not sure that Carl and Guadalupe were actually married; she was a much younger woman, and may have claimed to be his wife because she wanted to collect his benefits. According to the report of Carl's death, he and his wife were separated and her address was unknown, so there could be some truth to this claim.

One of Carl's few possessions was a gold watch. My grandmother thought it might be the watch that he had inherited from their father, but it turned not to be valuable. My grandparents described it as a "bar watch."

Report of the Death of an American Citizen, 6 November 1975. Carl J. Schneider. Ancestry.com. Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Reports of the Deaths of American Citizens, compiled 01/1835-12/1974. Publication A1 566. ARC ID: 613857. Record Group 59. National Archives at College Park, Maryland, U.S.A.

Mappy Monday: Tamaulipas, Mexico

Map of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Available from http://web.archive.org/web/20111126162506/http://mexicochannel.net/maps/tamaulipas_sct.jpg.

This map shows the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. My maternal grandmother's brother Carl Schneider lived in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico at the end of his life and died there in 1974.

Those Places Thursday: Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico

After the death of his second wife Verna in 1970, my maternal grandmother's brother Carl Schneider left the United States and moved to Mexico. He died in the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Ciudad Mante on 1 August 1974, and was buried in Ciudad Mante Cemetery.

Ciudad Mante is located in the extreme southern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is the seat of the municipality of El Mante. In 2005, the population of Ciudad Mante was 81,884, and the population of El Mante was 112,061. Regional air traffic is handled by Ciudad Mante National Airport.

The economy of Ciudad Mante used to be based on sugar cane. The sugar mill, Ingenio el Mante,  opened in 1930. The official slogan of Mante is "Donde el Azucar es mas Dulce que la Miel." ("Where sugar is sweeter than honey.") Agricultural products such as sorghum, cotton, corn, and tomatoes are grown and exported. Other exports are mangos, fertilizer, and soap.

There are many tourist attractions in and around the area. Places to swim include El Nacimiento ("The Birthplace"), a spring located 7 miles from the city; La Aguja ("The Needle"), constructed between 1927 and 1929 along with a dam on the Mante River; and the beaches of Limon, located 7.5 miles away. Caverns in the Sierra de Cucharas mountain range include La Cava del Abra and La Gruta del Quintero.  El Cielo ("The Heaven") is a biosphere reserve which is inhabited by 175 species of migratory birds, 225 local fowl, butterflies, jaguars, ocelots, white-tailed deer, black bear, and other forms of wildlife. 4 wooden cabins are available.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning, advising the deferment of non-essential travel to Tamaulipas. The Mexican Drug War has led to violence in the area, including robberies, carjackings, kidnappings, and murder. Los Zetas control Ciudad Mante.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Available from MexicoEnFotos. My great-uncle Carl Schneider died here.

Zona Centro. Available from MexicoEnFotos.

Estación del ferrocarril. Available from MexicoEnFotos.

Nacimiento del Río Mante. Available from MexicoEnFotos.

Presa La Aguja. Available from MexicoEnFotos.

References 

Bus hijackings in Tamaulipas becoming more common

Ciudad Mante 

Mante: Commerce 

Mante: Tourism 

Mante Strives to Make It On Its Own 

Mexico Travel Warning 

Reserva de la Biósfera El Cielo

Tour By Mexico: Ciudad Mante  

Will American Tourists Return to Mexico's El Cielo Rainforest? 

El Grito de Dolores/Mexican Independence Day

Municipal president giving the "grito" of "Viva Mexico" at the commencement of Independence Day festivities in Mexico at 11 PM, 15 Sept 2008. Photo by Thelmadatter (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

On 16 September 1810 in Dolores, Mexico, the Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave a speech known as El Grito de Dolores. He called for the end of 300 years of Spanish rule, redistribution of land, and racial equality. Since October 1825, Mexico's independence has been celebrated on September 16.

At around 11:00 PM on September 15, the president of Mexico rings the bell of the National Palace in Mexico City, shouts a "grito" based on El Grito de Dolores, and waves the Mexican flag. A military parade is held on September 16. Parties are held and flags are displayed. In September, schoolchildren often paint pictures and perform plays based on El Grito de Dolores and Mexican independence.

The wife of one of my cousins is from Mexico, and my maternal grandmother's brother Carl Schneider lived in Mexico at the end of his life.

Church and statue of Hidalgo. March 2004. Photo by Paigemorrison [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5), GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

References
El Grito de Dolores
Grito de Dolores
Mexican War of Independence begins
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
Teach September 16! El Grito de Dolores, Mexican independence, and the Zapatistas