If you asked almost anyone today who Doña Estefana Goseacochea de Cavazos de Cortina was, or what she did, you'd probably get a blank stare.
Not only have the accomplishments of this great Latina woman gone unnoticed by Texas and local history, but the importance of her family's pioneer efforts in South Texas have been obscured by time and the myopia of Anglo historians.
Doña Estefana was one of the pioneer Latinas who came to South Texas bringing with them the civilizing agents of education and religion. She was born in Camargo, Mexico, in 1782 (the Rio Grande wasn't a border then) and died in 1867 on her El Carmen ranch at 85. She was also owner of the Santa Rita Ranch, the first Cameron County seat.
Until the settlers came, the land was inhabited by wandering Native American nomads. Anthropologists have found little evidence of agriculture or livestock being developed there.With the coming of Salvador de la Garza (her father and grantee of the Espiritu Santo Land Grant), all that changed.
Doña Estefana was one of the pioneer Latinas who came to South Texas bringing with them the civilizing agents of education and religion. She was born in Camargo, Mexico, in 1782 (the Rio Grande wasn't a border then) and died in 1867 on her El Carmen ranch at 85. She was also owner of the Santa Rita Ranch, the first Cameron County seat.
Until the settlers came, the land was inhabited by wandering Native American nomads. Anthropologists have found little evidence of agriculture or livestock being developed there.With the coming of Salvador de la Garza (her father and grantee of the Espiritu Santo Land Grant), all that changed.
P. G. Cavazos, her great-great grandson, from San Pedro, was instrumental in getting the Texas Historical Commission to erect a marker on Doña Estefana's family cemetery off Military Highway where she and her family once operated her ranching empire.Hers was one of the first ones established in Cameron County. El Carmen Ranch was named after Doña Estefana’s daughter. Rancho Viejo was established by her father in 1770. El Carmen Avenue, named after her daughter, connected these two ranches. Santa Rita (now Villanueva, and the first seat of Cameron County) was also founded by Doña Estefana.
If you are travelong west on Military Highway, as you get to Villa Nueva there is a small road that turns left toward the irrigation district water pump on the Rio Grande River. There you will find a weathered granite marker and a leaning marker to the Oblate Trail.
That is all that's left of the ranching heritage that started the entire region. Of course, the Santa Rita marker makes no mention of Doña Estefana, merely that it was the "First Anglo settlement in Lower Rio Grande Valley..."
(It is a shame that Ernie Hernandez, the commissioner for Pct. 2, allows this unique historical site to crumble be ignored. There are places in the state, we would bet, who would give their eyeteeth to be the sites of historical gems like these.)
Cavazos said Doña Estefana would always make sure a chapel was built on every new ranch that was founded. Also, she made sure her children received an education, and they, in turn, would set up schools in the ranches for the sons and daughter of her ranch hands.
Thus, this pioneer woman, in fact, initiated the custom and culture of education long before the State of Texas, Cameron County, the City of Brownsville, or even the Brownsville Independent School District, existed. One of her sons (Jose Maria) went on to become a tax-assessor collector for the eventual Cameron County and another (Sabas) would become a wealthy and successful rancher dominating the local agrarian economy. He also served as a county commissioner and a justice of the peace.
Her deeds and accomplishments are often overshadowed by the activities and controversy surrounding her youngest son, Juan Cortina. However, there is no reason why her impact on the economic and social development of the area should take a back seat to his activities.
The new Veterans Memorial High School built by the Brownsville Independent School District is literally in the old La Carmen ranch's front yard. The original Carmen Avenue is on the property’s east side. Her son’s (Sabas) historical cemetery lies in San Pedro, on the northwest side of the school up Military Highway (US 281). His mother's historical cemetery marker is on the school's southeast side. Rancho Viejo, her father’s ranch, lies to its north. When the levee was built, most of the old cemetery was destroyed.
Cavazos said Doña Estefana would always make sure a chapel was built on every new ranch that was founded. Also, she made sure her children received an education, and they, in turn, would set up schools in the ranches for the sons and daughter of her ranch hands.
Thus, this pioneer woman, in fact, initiated the custom and culture of education long before the State of Texas, Cameron County, the City of Brownsville, or even the Brownsville Independent School District, existed. One of her sons (Jose Maria) went on to become a tax-assessor collector for the eventual Cameron County and another (Sabas) would become a wealthy and successful rancher dominating the local agrarian economy. He also served as a county commissioner and a justice of the peace.
Her deeds and accomplishments are often overshadowed by the activities and controversy surrounding her youngest son, Juan Cortina. However, there is no reason why her impact on the economic and social development of the area should take a back seat to his activities.
The new Veterans Memorial High School built by the Brownsville Independent School District is literally in the old La Carmen ranch's front yard. The original Carmen Avenue is on the property’s east side. Her son’s (Sabas) historical cemetery lies in San Pedro, on the northwest side of the school up Military Highway (US 281). His mother's historical cemetery marker is on the school's southeast side. Rancho Viejo, her father’s ranch, lies to its north. When the levee was built, most of the old cemetery was destroyed.
The Rio Grande River runs along the south side of where the old Santa Rita Ranch used to be and is a well-known crossing place for residents to either side of the river through the crossing known as Las Piedras. There, just a stone's throw away, is Mexico on the other side of the shallow river.
Doña Estefana's descendants include members of virtually every original family in South Texas. The Cavazos, Cortinas, Olivieras, Canales, Trevinos, Zavaletas (Dr. Tony Zavaleta, Dean of Exterior Affairs at UTB-TSC is her great-great-great grandson), Salinas, Tijerinas, De la Garzas, etc., all trace their distinct roots to this great woman who came to South Texas and built it with her own two hands.
Doña Estefana's descendants include members of virtually every original family in South Texas. The Cavazos, Cortinas, Olivieras, Canales, Trevinos, Zavaletas (Dr. Tony Zavaleta, Dean of Exterior Affairs at UTB-TSC is her great-great-great grandson), Salinas, Tijerinas, De la Garzas, etc., all trace their distinct roots to this great woman who came to South Texas and built it with her own two hands.
5 comments:
I am not surprised that locals don't want to remember the first Ango-American settlement in Cameron County. To much hatred for their presence to want to mark their history.
They would rather this still be part of Mexico with all that brings with it. I wonder if they really know what they wish for.
well, I guess that the Spanish with their light skin and blue eyes could be called anglo, technically. Anglo American though? They were here long before this country was here, so that's a stretch....or a lie. That term though has different meanings to different people. they should rename the veterans highschool after the Santa Rita Ranch. Maybe that would spark some desire to learn our local history by some of those students. I never understood why anyone would want to call a high school Veterans anyway. I mean, I agree that we should pay tribute to our veterans, but is a high school appropriate? this is an institution for children after all. good article. love our local history. keep em coming.
Great lady and great history. There are many relatives of this lady in the local area....other than Tony Zavaleta. Some have been proud enough to write about their family heritage. Her descendents also include J.T. Canales.
The RGV has an illustrious history but unfortunately few are interested and even fewer know anything about that history. We should look and learn from our ancestors....because current events here will have little impact on history as this city and its officials swirl down the toilet of current events.
RGV does indeed have a wonderful history that was forged by Texans, Tejanos, Americans, French, Spanish, Italians and Mexicans. It is too bad the "La Raza" types have so much hate in their hearts, they exclude all who participated in the settlement and growth of this area. To their way of thinking there was nothing but Mestizos who created this place. What a perversion of a great history.
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