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My Father's
name was Francisco Navarro Verdeja and he was raised in Kingsbury,
Texas in the mid 1920s. His parents were Pedro and Carlotta Verdeja.
My father's siblings were Patricio, Pedro, Isabel, Otilla, and the
baby of the family was Celestino. My father passed away the day
before Thanksgiving 2005; the last of his siblings. In our family
there are seven children, six boys and one girl. That would be me.
I loved my father very much. He was a good man and a hard worker.
When I was a young girl he used to tell me stories about living
in Kingsbury and Seguin.
I used to think "Wow!" Living out in the open with lots of land
and trees and listening to the family sing their songs on the porch.
The smell of home cooking... what more could anyone ask? So young
and enjoying life on the ranch - poor but yet so rich.
When World War II began my father and all of his brothers were drafted
and they wouldn't see each other for awhile. My father told me that
he hadn't heard from his brothers for months - and one day his company
had stopped to rest. As they were resting another company was moving
out. It wasn't until later that evening my father found out that
his brother Patricio was in the company that had just pulled out
- and he missed seeing him by a few hours. My father told me he
felt so bad that he didn't get to see him and ask him how he was.
My father and uncles would meet again to bury their youngest brother
Celestino. Celestino was killed when his company crossed the Rhein
River. He was just seventeen, and was such a handsome man. I know
because of the pictures my father gave me. He sang and played the
guitar. My father said he had a great voice and could really sing.
Not long after Celestino's death, my father's oldest sister Otilla
passed away. My father's uncle and aunt were Leopoldo & Escolostica
Marines. They and my grandfather Pedro moved the family to Seguin
where Pedro was the caretaker of the Marines property.
It was several years later that Grandpa Pedro passed away. Grandma
Carlotta had the rest of her children to take care of but Escolostica
gave 196.9 acres of land to my grandmother so she would stay there
and be able to take care of the rest of her children. Grandma Carlotta
entered into an oil lease agreement and set up trust funds for her
children. But something happend and Grandma Carlotta packed her
bags and took her children to the West Side of St. Paul, Minnesota.
This is where my brothers and I were born. Try to imagine a widow
with seven grandchildren without a command of English moving into
a Jewish community in Minnesota. Wow! It must've been some serious
culture shock; but she did it and we're still here to this day.
Carlotta Verdeja's grandchildren.
I'm writing about my father and would like to get as much information
as I can about him and his family during their time in Kingsbury
and Seguin. I would appreciate any information anyone can provide.
If there is anyone out there who knew of my father please contact
me. My email address is Lydia.Belair@ci.stpaul.mn.us Thank you so
much. - Lydia Belair, St. Paul, Minnesota, May 4, 2006
I received
an e-mail from someone, I just can't believe what I have received
OH! MY! I tried to e-mail this individual back but the e-mail will
not go through. I have so many questions to ask if you could please!
please! add this to your paper I would appreciate it very much.
Thank you for adding my letter to your internet newletter you have
no idea what this has done for our family. - Lydia, May 11, 2006
Dora
Please call me or send me your correct e-mail we need to talk what
you have sent me is so amazing! I need to talk to you about my father
and the land and the documents you sent, so many many questions.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! so please call me!! My phone number
is # 651-224-1104, Lydia, May 11, 2006
See Seguin,
Texas
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