Miguel Cordova (abt. 1835 - abt. 1875)

Born about 1835 in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina

Ancestors

Husband of Beatriz Valenzuela (Merino) Cordova — married 23 Nov 1858 in Hermosillo, Sonora, México

Descendants

Died about 1875 at about age 40 in Picacho Peak, Arizona, USA

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Biography

Miguel Cordova was born in Argentina

Miguel was born about 1836. He passed away about 1878.

Migl, son of Juardin de Cordova, was baptized on 29 September 1808 in Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, Argentina.^[1]

Beatris (age 18) married Miguel Cordova (age 22) on 23 November 1858 in Hermosillo, Sonora, México.^[2]

Maria Beatriz Valenzuela Merino – Maternal Line

Beatrice is remembered in her family as a strict woman, a devout Catholic who believed that God was near when he was needed. She was of light complexion and she stood ramrod straight. She became heavy-set in later years and was a heavy smoker. She carried “Le Recorte” Tobacco, a coarse, strong, tobacco in a tightly woven basket. She rolled her own cigarettes. She is remembered both as crabby and good-natured at times. She was also known to smack with her cane a small body who was tardy in moving out of her way.

Miguel and Beatrice Cordova had at least four children; Maria Cleotilde Cordova c. 25 Dec 1858 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Juan Miguel Merino Cordova c. 26 Apr 1861 in Magdalena, Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico; Jose Manuel Gorgonio Cordova c. 17 Sep 1863 in Altar De Altar, Sonora, Mexico, and Vincente Merino Cordova c. 09 Feb 1866, in Tucson, Pima, Arizona.

Miguel Cordova and Beatrice Merino had three children in Mexico.

1. Maria Cleotilde Merino Cordova was baptized on 25 Dec 1858 in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Hermosillo, Mexico, about a month after the marriage of Miguel and Beatrice.

2. Juan Miguel Cordova was baptized on 26 Apr 1861 at Santa María Magdalena Church in Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico.

3. Jose Manuel Gorgonio Cordova Merino was baptized 17 Sep 1863 at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Altar, Sonora, Mexico.

In 1864, Miguel, Beatrice, Miguel, and Manuel Cordova are listed in the 1864 Territorial Census of Arizona in the town of Fresnal, Arizona. Miguel is a merchant who has resided in Fresnal for two years. His property is valued at $300. Beatrice, Miguel, and Manuel have resided in Fresnal for one year. Their daughter, Cleotilde is not listed with the family, possibly because she died young.

1864 Arizona Census lists Miguel Cordova, 29; Beatrice Merino, 24, Miguel, 3 and Manuel 2. Miguel has been in Fresnal for 2 years and Beatrice and the children 1 year. All were born in Sonora, Mexico. Miguel is a merchant, and the value of his property was $300.

Immigration

Miguel Cordova, Jr. [1836-1878] and Maria Beatriz Valenzuela Merino [1837-1921] Immigrants from Mexico to Arizona, United States

The 1864 Arizona Census lists Miguel Cordova, 29 [b. 1835]; Beatrice Merino 24 [b. 1840], Miguel, 3 [b. 1861] and Manuel 2 [b.1862].

Miguel has been in Fresnal for two years [immigrated 1862] and Beatrice and the children one year [immigrate 1863]. All were born in Sonora, Mexico. Miguel is a merchant. The value of his property is $300.

Children of Miguel and Beatrice Merino Cordova: Maria Cleotilde Cordova b. 25 Dec 1858; [Juan] Miguel Merino Cordova b. 26 Apr 1861 [Jose] Manuel Gorgonio Cordova b. 17 Sep 1863 Vincente Merino Cordova b. 19 Sep 1942

Narrative Biography

Miguel Cordova, Jr. was born in 1836 to Miguel Cordova, Sr., and Maria Yga Sestiayal, according to the marriage registration for Miguel Cordova and Beatrice Miranda {Merino}.

Miguel was a freighter, driving freight wagons from Mexico to Tucson, then on to Phoenix. Freighter wagons were hitched to teams of six to eight horses with a spare team tied to the back of the wagon. The wagons had no springs, so they were called “dead ax” wagons. They were loaded with straw [dry wheat stalk] for comfort. The freighters brought olives, oranges, lemons, tobacco, and silver coins from Mexico to Arizona.

When Miguel’s son, Vicente, was nine, about 1875, he made his first freighter trip with his father, Miguel. They were taking supplies between Tucson and Phoenix. The shipping route passed at the base of Pichacho Peak where the earth was rockier, therefore, not as muddy as the valley floor. Freighters were always prey to marauding Indians and had been attacked before at Pichacho Peak.

As the wagon train rounded Pichacho Peak, on this trip, they were attacked by Yuma Apache Indians. Miguel hid Vicente behind some boulders and told him, “Don’t move, don’t make a sound, no matter what you see or hear. Wait until dark and go back to your mother.” Vicente heard the Indians as the attack began. He saw his father killed and then saw him scalped. The Indian cut from each eye to each ear, across the bridge of the nose, and peeled away the scalp.

In shock, Vicente, the only survivor, waited till dark and walked back to Tucson. His mother and other relatives of the members of the wagon train returned to Pichacho Peak and buried the dead in a mass grave and said the final prayers. In later years, Beatrice would stop at the grave and pray as she traveled between Tucson and Phoenix.

After the death of Miguel, Beatrice returned to her family in Hermosillo, Sonora, México. Beatrice married Raphael Mendoval and they returned to Tucson where they raised Miguel’s sons. They had no children of their own. Rafael and Beatrice lived in a guest room at Vicente’s home.

Raphael Mendoval was a jolly man of medium height, with a full head of hair and white whiskers. He often bounced his grandchildren on his knee and told them “war” stories. He was a Mexican “filibuster”. His favorite stories were about sticking his sword in a gringo bell and watching the belly stretch a long way before detaching from the sword. The blood, he would explain, would freeze against the cold steel, which caused it to stretch before detaching from the sword. He was a good storyteller.

Family tradition is that Raphael set Vicente up in business in Tucson. Vicente’s brother, Manuel, was a rancher in Tucson.

Research Notes

The details in the wedding record for Miguel Cordova and Beatrice Miranda/Merino establish the link to their parents. Miranda is neither the father's nor the mother's surname. It may be a version of Merino. Miranda will not be used.

Miguel Cordova Vital • Mexico, Sonora, Catholic Church Records, 1657-1994 Collection Information Mexico, Sonora, Catholic Church Records, 1657-1994

Event Type Marriage Event Date 23 Nov 1858 Event Place Hermosillo, Sonora, México Event Place La Asunción, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

Bride Beatris Valenzuela Merino Age 18 years Birth Year (Estimated) 1840 Parent Name Ma[ria] Dolores Valenzuela Second Parent's Name Visente Merino

Groom Miguel Cordova Spouse's Age 22 years Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1836 Spouse's Parent's Name Ma[ria] Yga Sestiayal Spouse's Second Parent's Name Miguel Cordova

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Argentina Baptisms, 1645-1930"
   citing FHL microfilm: 1109615; Record number: 3162;
   FamilySearch Record: XNJG-YSH (accessed 10 February 2023)
   Migl de Cordova baptism on 29 Sep 1808, son of Juardin de Cordova, in Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, Argentina.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Mexico, Sonora, Catholic Church Records, 1657-1994"
   FamilySearch Record: QK8K-P2XB (accessed 8 February 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 9Q97-YS2Z-D79
   Beatris Miranda (18) marriage to Miguel Cordova (22) on 23 Nov 1858 in Hermosillo, Sonora, México.