Abraham Gonzalez,Sr.

Gertrudis Salinas Serna

          Gertrudis Salinas Serna was born November 16, 1895 in Zapata, Texas. Her parents were Jose  Preciliano Salinas Garibay and Maria Josefa Serna Arredondo. She had two brothers, Antonio and Porfirio Salinas. Her family immigrated from Agualeguas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The family resided in Zapata, Texas. Jose Preciliano was a border ditch rider guarding the river by horseback. Her mother died when she was very young.
          Gertrudis (Tulitas) and Abraham got married (place/date?).  During their courtship, they communicated in a very creative and interesting way. Abraham would write Gertrudis a letter and place it in a glass jar and bury it in a specific area in the field (en la labor). Gertrudis would go and place her letter and get his letter whenever she had the opportunity. They had their own private post office. 
          They had three children, Margarita (Mague)born June 21, 1921, Francisca (Panchita) born January 29, 1924 and Abraham, Jr. (Abram) born August 9, 1926. They lived in the same residence at 307 N. Flores St. in Rio Grande City, Texas most of their lives. Their first home was a tiny adobe one room house with thick concrete walls keeping it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As the family grew, they added a large kitchen, a large bedroom and a bathroom. 
          Margarita, oldest daughter, got married to Ruben Jesus Salinas when she was 19 years old. She was schooled up to upper elementary, probably the fifth grade. They had five children and lived at Las Escobas Ranch. Francisca got married six years later to Guadalupe (Lupito) Olivarez January 13, 1946. They had seven children and lived in Rio Grande City, Texas. Abraham, Jr., the youngest of the three, was born August 9, 1926. He was drafted into the United States Army towards the end of World War II shortly after his sister Francisca's wedding. He served in the military from October 12, 1946 to October 11, 1949. He continued to serve in the National Guard after his active military service and helped his father at his business. He was an active Fire Fighter in Rio Grande City. He married in his 30s to Antonietta  (Toña) Villarreal December 31, 1956. They had three children and lived in Rio Grande City, Texas.
          Gertrudis devoted her life to her family and God. She worked very hard to keep the house clean and in order, cooked three delicious meals daily, washed, starched and pressed everything including sheets and pillow cases.  She would set the table with a perfect place setting, place mat, plate, napkin,  fork/knife/spoon, glass/cup with serving bowls of food in the center of the table and a prayer with the meal. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She was kind and warm hearted. She loved gardening and having flowers in her yard. She enjoyed watering the plants with the water hose and walking to church. She had a black and white television  and watched novelas, and shows such as Buscano Estrellas with Ruben Benavides and Lawrence Welk. She lived a very private life  dedicated to God and her family.  She visited with family occasionally, attended church services, chatted with neighbors over the fence, seldom went shopping, only went across the street to buy toritillas and on occasions took a few trips to listen to well known spiritual leaders such as Oral Roberts and Paulino Bernal.  She lived far from her Salinas family in Zapata and Robstown. Her mom died when she was a child so her children never met their maternal grandparents. 
     Gertrudis (Tulitas) died August 18, 1985 peacefully in her sleep  at her daughter Panchita's residence while her other daughter Mague was visiting her. 

 Abraham Gonzalez Gonzalez

         Abraham Gonzalez, Sr. was born March 26, 1900 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico  to Jose Atanacio Gonzalez Canales and Francisca  Gonzalez Chapa. He had six sisters and six brothers. According to the 1910 census the family was living in Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas. Abraham's father, Atanacio was 48 years old and his mother Francisca was 37 years old; eight children were listed as follows: Teodora-18 yrs., Juan-17 yrs., Natividad-16 yrs., Antonio-15 yrs., Abraham-9 yrs., Carlota-8 yrs., Tules-7 yrs., and Juana-3 yrs. old.  Felipa, Paula, Jesus and Felix were not listed in the census.  Most of the children were born in Mexico except for Tules and Juana born in Rio Grande City, Texas. According to birth records, the family lived in Mier, Tamps., Mexico and moved to Nuevo Laredo, Tamps., Mexico and in 1902 immigrated to the United States to reside in Rio Grande City, Texas. 
              Abraham worked at Sanchez Funeral Home as custodian for many years.  Shortly after working at the funeral home he ventured  into owning his own business.  He owned and operated a full service gasoline station next to his residence. In those days complete service was offered.  As you drove up into the service station,  a service attendant would fill up your car with gas, clean windshield, mirrors and windows, check the oil and water, and tires for free. He had  workers that fixed flat tires, washed cars and did minor car repairs. There were no credit cards at that time so most customers paid with cash or "on credit". Abraham had a ledger to record what the customer owed in services and gasoline.  Many times he had a hard time collecting what was owed to him. He at times forgave their debt and/or asked them to pay him with labor and he would put them to work for him. 
          Abraham was a very spiritual and devoted family man. He was involved in serving the less fortunate through church ministry. They both converted from Catholics to Protestants years after their children were married. They would travel to Camargo and Miguel Aleman, Mexico prepared with candy bags and piñatas for the children in Mexico. On Sundays after church they went to Mexico to take clothes and goodie bags for the children. The children would run to the car chasing it when they saw it coming. They knew he had goodies for them. Abraham would preach the Gospel in a church in Mexico on Sundays. He was a part time protestant minister and preached in different churches in Rio Grande City, Texas. He would preach the Gospel with speakers in his car as he drove all over the city. He built a small studio on top of the service station office with elaboarate speaker system for evangelization purposes. He had loud public speakers on the roof over the service station  to proclaim the Gospel on Sunday mornings to the entire community for a mile or so. His voice would blare out loudly, "Buenos Dias hermanos! Les habla su hermano Abram Gonzalez este domingo..." He read scripture, talked about God and his conversion and played spiritual hymns. The service would take about thirty minutes. The community leaders respected him and his mission that they didn't give him much of a problem when people/neighbors complained.
          Abraham was a devoted family man. He was very strict at home with his children. His daughters weren't allowed to wear pants or makeup. He taught high morals and values. Every person who visited his home prayed a short prayer before leaving. 
         Abraham Gonzalez, Sr. died July 31, 1965 at McAllen Medical Center Hospital at the age of 65. He was taken in an ambulance to the hospital but was pronounced dead before arrival.
     
          

Gertrudis Salinas Serna & abraham Gonzalez Gonzalez

Gertrudis Salinas Serna

Abraham Gonzalez Gonzalez

The Olivarez- Gonzalez Family

The Gonzalez-Villarreal Family

The Salinas-Gonzalez Family

The Gonzalez and Salinas Families connect