http://www.mtmestas.com/

Greetings My name is Jerry Vigil and I am doing some research on my family line. I have searched the Huerfano page and have drawn a blank. If someone has some info they could share I would greatly appriceate it! My grand parents are Elui Vigil(b. 1903) and Anna Maria Vigil( Anna Maria Santana Garcia b. 1907) married in Huerfano Co. Elui was born in Rancho de Taos, NM to Silas and Benina Vigil(Vaca or Baca), Elui had 6 siblings:Emma, Lloyd, Frank, Levi and two females. Anna was born in Huerfano Co. to J. (Joe or Joseph) Garcia and Ruby Martinez (Ruby was daughter of Agapita Archuleta and Prnevito(Trevo) Martinez). Anna had 12 siblings: 2 females, Gilbert, Ester, Madeiline (Mage, Roybal is married name) Stella, Delia, Lloyd Candido, Delores, Cedelio, and Emilio. Anna and Elui had 9 kids: Frank, Sally, Polecarpio Johnny, Evelyn, Anna Orlinda, Harold, Gilbert roland, and Lavenia. Both Anna and Elui wer survivors of the Ludlow massacre as kids according to oral histories. Elui was a miner. I believe that Elui will appear in the 1920 census but do not have access to the 1920 census. My mother's birth certificate shows the town of Maitland. I hope this can get something started! thanks! And thanks Karen! j. vigil Jerry Vigil, Artist/Santero CHAC Chairman/ media Contact 303-412-1849 HM http://www.jvigil.com http://www.chacweb.org

Karen Mitchell km1109@aculink.net USGenWeb County Coordinator Huerfano County, Colorado http://www.kmitch.com/Huerfano/index.html Pueblo County, Colorado http://www.kmitch.com/Pueblo/index.html Taos County, New Mexico http://www.kmitch.com/Taos/index.htm

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. When eating I hope you all share this. Toni The First Thanksgiving (The Pilgrims Missed It) by Pauline Chavez Bent Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a holiday like no other: families gather to celebrate and enjoy the blessings of this land of freedom and plentitude. But to those of us who descend from the original colonizing families of New Mexico, our special day is April 30th. On April 30th four centuries ago, our ancestors, led by Don Juan de Oñate, reached the banks of El Rio Bravo (Rio Grande). The first recorded act of thanksgiving by colonizing Europeans on this continent occurred on that April day in 1598 in Nuevo Mexico, about 25 miles south of what is now El Paso, Texas. After having begun their northward trek in March of that same year, the entire caravan was gathered at this point. The 400 person expedition included soldiers, families, servants, personal belongings, and livestock . . . virtually a living village. Two thirds of the colonizers were from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands). There was even one Greek and a man from Flanders! The rest were Mexican Indians and mestizos (mixed bloods). The starting point for the colonists had been in Zacatecas, Nueva España (now Mexico) and by being part of the colonizing expedition they had been promised the title of Hidalgo, men with rights and privileges equal to Spain's nobility. Juan de Oñate was a man of wealth and prominence, the son of Cristobal Oñate, silver mine owner whose family had come to the New World from the Basque region of Spain. Titles granted to him by Viceroy Luis de Velasco were Governor and Adelantado of New Mexico. The colonists suffered hardships and deprivations as they headed north, but they were also headed toward posterity: they would participate in the first recorded act of Thanksgiving by colonizing Europeans on this continent—22 years before the English colonists similarly gave thanks on the Atlantic coast. The expedition is well recorded by Gaspar Perez de Villagrá, the Spanish poet who traveled with the group. He wrote, "We were sadly lacking in all knowledge of the stars, the winds, and other knowledge by which to guide our steps." On April 30, 1598, the scouts made camp along the Rio Grande and prepared to drink and eat their fill, for there they found fishes and waterfowl. Villagrá wrote, "We built a great bonfire and roasted meat and fish, and then sat down to a repast the like of which we had never enjoyed before." Before this bountiful meal, Don Juan de Oñate personally nailed a cross to a living tree and prayed, "Open the door to these heathens, establish the church altars where the body and blood of the Son of God may be offered, open to us the way to security and peace for their preservation and ours, and give to our king and to me in his royal name, peaceful possession of these kingdoms and provinces for His blessed glory. Amen." On April 30, many of us with roots in New Mexico commemorate that first Thanksgiving, not with "turkey and all the trimmings," but with the knowledge that our ancestors helped settle and develop this land—through tenacity, perseverance and deep faith. It is partly through their contributions that America was destined to become unique; providing freedom as well as opportunity to all people wishing to come to its shores. Happy Thanksgiving Day! Suggested reading: The Last Conquistador: Juan de Oñate and the Settling of the Far Southwest, by Marc Simmons. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991, pp. 97-101. Don Juan de Oñate, Colonizer of New Mexico, 1595-1628, by George P. Hammond and Agapito Rey. University of New Mexico Press, 1953. This article is from the New Mexico Genealogist, March 1999.

Hello Folks: Karen and I are pleased to announce that the Tri-County Obituary database has just been revamped for easier loading and updated with an additional 1,046 obituaries for a grand total of 14,032 obituaries to date. This has been a long, drawn-out process; and we greatly appreciate your patience while we've made these changes. Our next goal is 15,000, and by working together we can make that a reality before the end of the year. Sincere appreciation to those who have so diligently contributed since the last update. Your continued efforts to build this database over the years, makes our Tri-County Obituary Database a valuable resource for those doing research in Huerfano, Las Animas, and Pueblo Counties. May we encourage you to continue with the valuable contributions as they become available! You may view the updated Tri-County Obituary Database at: http://www.kmitch.com/Pueblo/obits/obitindex.html Warm regards, Louise Adams Tri-County Obituary Coordinator

We are once again having problems with our list server. This is a test. You do not need to respond. Thanks Karen

Hi Gregg, THANK YOU so much! Hugs, Karen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gregg Skala" <ggskala@msn.com> To: <COHUERFA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2004 3:53 PM Subject: Re: [COHUERFA] 11-10-2004/Vigil Happy Birthday Karen!

Happy Birthday Karen! I didn't realize I was getting this list until I looked in this one mail box, for some reason MSN is not putting it in my in box but I have found it. This list is new to me, for people who don't know me I'm doing and have done research on the Garcia family. My wife's mother was a Garcia, she was born at Rugby Colorado. Her grandparents were from Huerfano County, precinct one. They were Teodosio Garcia and Maria Luisa Truijllo. Toni, I see you are doing a book about the vigil's, I'am trying to find Timoteo Vigil and his wife Maria Francisca who used to be a Garcia, Teodosio and Luisa's daughter. Timoteo and Maria Francisca were married 1879 and I have found them on the 1880 census but can't find them after that on the census records. Jose Timoteo was the son of Jose Martin Vigil and Maria Concepcion Apodaca, Timoteo was born in Taos County, New Mexico, before the family came to Huerfano County in 1870 they lived in Arroyo Hondo. Jose Martin and Maria Concepcion also had a son Francisco and a daughter Maria Juana. Maria Juana married Juan Pedro Duran. Maria Concepcion Apodaca who later in life still went by the name Apodaca passed away June 11, 1921 in Gardner of the age of 111 years old. I really want to find Timoteo and Francisca Vigil and their children. Francisca is my wife's great grandfather's sister. If you can help me send me an e-mail direct. Thanks, Gregg Skala ggskala@msn.com >From: CHASESTONE@aol.com >To: COHUERFA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [COHUERFA] 11-10-2004 >Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 17:55:45 EST > >And I echo you thanks for Louise, she has helped me also! >Humm you pose a big problem. Who exactly would I leave my papers to? I have >children also who do not seem to care much about all my research, only the >outcome of it all. >I am in the process of making a book on all the Vigil research I have done >which includes some copies of original documents. Maybe I should do one on >each >of my ancestors, that way ALL the documents will be copied? >Toni >

Reported on Friday's evening's news - Wednesday night, the day before Veteran's Day unknown vandals desecrated 50 monuments and signs in the Chickamauga Battlefield National Military Park with swastikas and other markings including vulgar words and KKK symbols. Only Federal stones, monuments and signs were desecrated. This will take some time and a good amount of work and funds to repair / remove.

HI Toni, and all, I think the only way that we can be certain that our work will endure through time is to put it in several repositories. It's a wonderful idea to make a book for each line of the family, and sometimes you will have to separate it down even more depending on how much data you have on each line. But while you are making those books, consider making additional ones that you will donate to various other places, i.e. State library, state Genealogy Society, State Historical Society, County in which they came from, County in which you live. I just think the more copies you have out there, the better chance for future generations to find them. Anyone else have any ideas? SO now that brings you to "What do I do with all the originals"? What do all of you think should be done with your originals? And Toni, THANK YOU again for the Birthday greeting! Hugs, Karen ----- Original Message ----- From: <CHASESTONE@aol.com> To: <COHUERFA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [COHUERFA] 11-10-2004 And I echo you thanks for Louise, she has helped me also! Humm you pose a big problem. Who exactly would I leave my papers to? I have children also who do not seem to care much about all my research, only the outcome of it all. I am in the process of making a book on all the Vigil research I have done which includes some copies of original documents. Maybe I should do one on each of my ancestors, that way ALL the documents will be copied? Toni

Someone (a nurse) posted this URL to my mailbox and I thought I would share in case anyone is interested..... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6436966 It puts genealogy into a perspective most of us don't think about when doing our pages.....

Dear Jesse: Your thoughtfulness and generosity is greatly appreciated! Edith was one of the most helpful researchers on our list; and although we can never repay those who have helped us, we can pass the favor along to others who are just beginning their fabulous journey of genealogical research. The importance of the work done by each person is to be valued highly, preserved, protected, and made available for the benefit of Colorado history. As I have always stressed, what we collect and preserve today becomes history for future generations. Hats off to you Jesse! Louise Adams

And I echo you thanks for Louise, she has helped me also! Humm you pose a big problem. Who exactly would I leave my papers to? I have children also who do not seem to care much about all my research, only the outcome of it all. I am in the process of making a book on all the Vigil research I have done which includes some copies of original documents. Maybe I should do one on each of my ancestors, that way ALL the documents will be copied? Toni

hi everybody! i wanted to chime in w/not only my continued thanks to karen and louise!!!! THANK YOU KAREN & LOUISE!!!! but also w/a huge thank you to everyone else who is working on stuff. my own genealogy would never have developed w/out the help of all of you! & i sincerely appreciate it! i don't know about everyone else but i've found that because of my research, i really do appreciate people so much more, from past to present. i think its because i have to think so much (well that in itself is a wonder, ha ha) about details of people's lives, what they went thru, how they lived, what was important to them etc. etc. and that i'm linked to them. & if you go back far enough we're all linked & i think i've come to appreciate that a lot more. SO, because of all of you volunteers, i'm a better person, how about that!!!! and a special thank you to sharon & the roselawn project, that's true dedication & thank you very much sharon for all of your time & effort! AND a very special thank you, to jesse and edith. i've told my husband & my family that the boxes & piles of paper should be donated to the local library but i've also mentioned the huerfano website & others in the event something happens to me. everyone's research is so vital & important. since computerized genealogy is really fairly new it's people like edith & karen & louise & all of you that have such valuable info. some of which may not exist anymore. fires, floods, etc. etc. have destroyed so many records (everyone collectively sigh over the 1890 census loss) so individual reserachers works may contain unbelievable goodies & important facts.... SO THANK YOU JESSE!!!! and a wink & thank you straight upwards, to edith, whom i'm sure is now finding out all the secrets she couldn't here on terra firma! my sincere thanks to all of you wonderful volunteers! taylor

Who is researching Nathan Cicero & Rhoda Jane (Spears) Patterson that are buried in the Old La Veta Cemetery? I have a cousin for you. Karen

HI Everyone, I had to laugh when I got Toni's message, you see what she meant was that when everyone saw Louise's Birthday greeting, several hit "Reply" to send me greetings, and they went to Louise instead of going on the List. But graciously Louise sent them on to me. SO she was getting my birthday greetings. Everyone please remember to hit "Reply All" when you want something to go to the list. I know it "sounded" like she was saying that I do all the work and Louise gets the credit for it, which I assure you she did not mean. Everyone knows how hard Louise works for our web pages, especially me. We wouldn't have the Obits or the Diaries or a myriad of other items, without Louise. Just a couple days ago I received the newest update for the Obits pages, and believe me this lady is totally committed to what she is doing. With this update we will have over 14,000 obits online. What a massive project this has been and it would have NEVER happened without Louise. The Obits pages are going to be broken down with this new update, there's just to many of each letter to leave them all on one page. Louise has broken them down by the first three letters of the surname. I think they will be easier to navigate and will load faster for you. Just wanted to clarify that. And I want all of our wonderful volunteers to know that I appreciate any work they do for our pages. I hope to be able to work on the obits later tonight and hopefully tomorrow. Today I'm on my way to Pueblo to see the Dr. (my social life anymore), and just hope the snow holds off till I get home. We are still working on the cemetery extraction project but I haven't heard from some of the volunteers since we started so I hope they will check in soon. Sheri and Brandi I really need to hear from both of you. I had really hoped to be done with that project by the end of the year, but I don't think we're going to make it. I did figure out how people WITHOUT Excel could help with the project so if any of you are interested, PLEASE contact me so we can get this wrapped up. It's such a simple solution, I just don't know why I didn't think of it before! Guess my only excuse is that I'm getting older! LOL I always say I've forgotten more than I ever knew LOL. I am supposed to be getting a new "super dooper" scanning program soon. If it works like its touted, We are going to have projects going full blast for the rest of the winter! Doesn't take much to make me happy, does it! It always makes me happy when we get new pages and data posted. But please keep in mind that I do have 3 counties and also try to do a lot for another County that I am a co-CC for, so my time has to be spread around among the 4, that's why all of my volunteers mean so much to me. One person can not do all there is needed to do. Right now, I have a wonderful volunteer, Sharon, in Pueblo County that is filming the Roselawn cemetery. Her office is near Roselawn so she goes everyday at lunch and takes photos and sends them to me. Each one of those photos have to go through a 6 step process on my end, before it can be posted to the internet, and right now she has submitted close to 300 photos. So that project has taken alot of time. But I am SO THANKFUL she is doing this. Next spring we hope to get together to do some of the rural cemeteries so get ready to hear more about the adventures we have. I heard from Jessie Todd the other day. Some of you met Jessie and her Mother Edith at our Gen-Con. As some of you know Edith was one of our very staunch supporters and had been doing Pueblo and Huerfano County research for quite a few years. We lost Edith one year ago, and I still miss her. She was a wonderfully warm and generous person. When her sons came home for the funeral they wanted to burn all of her genealogy papers but Jessie wouldn't allow it. Jessie knew that this was her Mother's life work. I'm sure they didn't mean any harm, they just didn't realize what it meant to Edith. Some families don't. Seems Jessie has committed to giving all of Edith's research to us in the next few months. She said she wants her Mother's work to live on through us. Isn't that wonderful? I know her Moma is smiling down on Jessie, I know Edith would want all of her work to be preserved for future generations. PLEASE folks, extend your THANKS to Jessie here on the list so I can forward them all to her. She needs to know how much we appreciate her generosity. Once we receive the data and do extractions, we will be donating the material to the local Historical Society so that it will all be preserved in at least two places, into the future. Which brings me to the next subject. I'm not going to live forever. So I need to Will all of my genealogy research to someone else. Yes, my children are interested, and they will receive all of our family records, but I have so much stuff here that they won't be using and I think you and I need to discuss this. I'm not being morbid, I'm being realistic. One of the Projects that we are with has a Legacy program and copies of all of our pages will be Willed to that. That's one reason I feel such an urgent need to get everything I have online. This is pretty massive since I've been doing research since 1967. So what about all the stuff we don't have online? Which means all the boxes and 4 4-drawer file cabinets, and various other places I have stuff stored (grin). Who wants it? Who will take receivership of whatever we don't have online? This has always been a big worry for me. I want my work to live on also. This is something each of you should consider for your own research also. And with that I am going to close for now and hope to hear all of your thoughts on the subjects here. You all take care and I'll leave the light on for you! (grin) Karen

quatrogatos4@hotmail.com happy happy HAPPY bday karen!!!! thanks for letting us know louise & toni! I was so happy to send greetings. Karen works so hard for the "group" but Louise gets the credit! My old age doesn't even remind ME when its my birthday! Hahhahaha I hope Karen has a good dinner with her family! Toni

happy happy HAPPY bday karen!!!! thanks for letting us know louise & toni! >From: LAdams2341@aol.com >To: COHUERFA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [COHUERFA] Happy Birthday Karen!!! >Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 11:57:51 EST > >Dear Karen: > >Warm wishes for a very Happy Birthday! > >Hugs, >Louise > _________________________________________________________________ On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement

HI, Happy Birthday, Karen and many many more. Don't work today - go out and do something real fun! But come back tomorrow, hahaha TOni

THANK YOU so much Toni. How I wish I could even "go out"...at home with a bad stomach! But Friday My son and family are taking me out to dinner and listen to some music, so I'm looking forward to that. Hugs! Karen ----- Original Message ----- From: <CHASESTONE@aol.com> To: <COHUERFA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 12:27 PM Subject: [COHUERFA] Happy Birthday, Karen HI, Happy Birthday, Karen and many many more. Don't work today - go out and do something real fun! But come back tomorrow, hahaha TOni