Augustina Rosales (nee De Leon)

Jourdanton, Texas

March 22, 2003

Tina A. Elkins

Palo Alto College

History 1302 - Spring 2003

INTRODUCTION

Augustina De Leon (Rosales) was born on May 28,1929. Her parents were Felipa and Adolfo De Leon. Augustina has one sister, Maria De Leon, and two brothers who are deceased, Francisco and Blas De Leon. She was born in Nixon, Texas, and was raised in Tilden, Texas. She now lives in Jourdanton, Texas, and has been a resident of this community for the past 37 years. She attended school in Tilden, reaching the fifth grade. Her primary occupation was to wash and iron clothes to supplement her family's, and later her spouse's income. Augustina married Jesus Rosales on December 6, 1951, in Tilden. The ceremony was performed by District Judge Clifton Wheeler. Augustina already had one son named Ramon out of wedlock, and in her marriage to Jesus they had a total of five children, Rosa, Mary Elsa, Jesus Jr., Leo, and Roberto. She was raised Catholic and attended St. Joseph's Church in Tilden. She is now a widow and spends time working on her yard and listening to music, she now attends church at St. Rose of Lima, in Charlotte, Texas. Augustina is my maternal grandmother, and I conducted this interview at her home in Jourdanton, Texas, on Waltom Ave., in her living room. I asked Augustina all the questions in English, however, Augustina responded to all the questions primarily in Spanish with some responses in English, she is able to speak both languages.

TRANSCRIPTION

I know you were born in Nixon, Texas, but how about your mother or father where were they born?

My mother was born in Leesville, Texas and I don't remember where my father was born.

How about your grandparents? Do you know where any of them were born?

Well, mother's mother was born in Panna Maria, Texas, and everyone else was from over there in Nixon, Smiley, and Leesville.

Once you and your family moved to McMullen County, what did your father do for a living?

He worked very little because he had asthma very bad, but he used to work clearing land and building fences on different ranches. Right over there where Dick Horton has his ranch, he cleared all that land. That was the first thing he did when we moved to Tilden.

So you didn't live in town, you lived outside of town on this ranch?

Well we were there camped out because my father was working there. That's how people did back then. Our tent was made out of a cotton picking sack, and we had to cook outside on a open fire. We made all meals outside and we used to even bake yeast bread on the open fire.

I know your father died when you were only 10 years old, so what did your family do then after his death?

We went back to live in town and my mother got married again not too long after that.

Who did she marry and did they have any children together?

Oh yes, she married Esteban Garcia, and they had a set of twin boys Jesus and Jose Garcia, Jose died before he turned one, and a daughter Anita Garcia, and a son Anastasio "Tacho" Garcia.

Where did you live after she married Esteban?

We lived in Tilden. Esteban bought us this little house in town. It only had two rooms, and we had an outhouse.

Do you remember any times that you were discriminated against while living in Tilden? Where Hispanics treated differently by Anglos when you were growing up?

Oh yes, they (Anglos) didn't like drinking after Mexican people drank. They used to not give them a glass or cup to drink nothing they didn't like for Mexicans to touch them.

So you were not allowed to eat in restaurants?

They (Anglos) didn't sell to Mexicans inside they had to take it. They would wrap up the food and they had to take it home and eat it.

So you were treated differently by Anglos, but you still worked for Anglos washing and ironing clothes?

Oh yes, they (Anglos) did like that, for us to wash and iron their clothes.

How much were you paid to wash and iron clothes?

A $1.50 for a full 100 lbs. sack of dirty clothes-they were so cruel.

When you married Jesus Rosales, where did you live then?

We came to Mr. Dillworth's ranch they built us a little house.

What did your husband do for Mr. Dillworth?

He worked cattle and he had to cross the Frio River on a horse to the other side of the ranch. It was not an easy job, but the man was good and he paid him very good.

Where else did he work?

Well, he was already working there before we got married, and he worked there the first year we was married. Then he went to work for Mr. Clay Wyatt.

Augustina holding her daughter Rosa, to the left is her sister-in-law Feliz Rosales Menchaca, and on the right is her husband Jesus Rosales in 1952

What did your husband do for Mr. Wyatt?

Like I tell you, he worked with Clay Wyatt clearing land, build fences, and other jobs. He would go with Clay to Charlotte and work with the Hindes. Clay took him everywhere. One time they went to La Pryor, Texas to clear brush and they were gone for three days. Then here they came and Clay had all this food for us. (she laughs)

So Mr. Clay Wyatt was a good man and he treated you well?

Oh, Clay was like a second father to us, he was so nice and his wife Clara too. They were the best people in McMullen County.

So your husband stayed working in McMullen County for Mr. Wyatt, and then for other ranch owners until 1966, then your family moved to Jourdanton?

Well, I didn't want to leave Tilden, I cried, me and the kids cried we didn't want to leave.

Why did your family leave?

Because Grandpa (Jesus) sent for us, he was working over here at the dairy, at Webb's Dairy. Then after that he went to work at the Feed Pen, then he jumped to Yantis Construction Company until he got too sick to work, but my sons Jesse, and Robert still work for Yantis. And Clay, he still came to visit us. He always stayed our friend he was so nice. I can't believe he died so quickly, and his wife is still alive there in Tilden.

How long have you lived here in Jourdanton in this house on Waltom Avenue?

I have lived here in this house for 37 years.

How would you compare your life now from when you were growing up?

I have lots now. When Grandpa (Jesus) and I got married we both had to work. It was not easy to raise six kids, a lot of work. Like my daughter Rosa she says she is always tired I say if I be 50 years old I'd jump as high as a house. I was never tired.

What do you like doing now that all your kids are grown and you're a widow?

I sometimes wish Grandpa (Jesus) was still here. Then I would have someone to fight with. (she laughs) I bought me this CD player and I like it so much. I can't live without a radio. Sometimes I got the radio on and I watch TV at the same time. I never dreamed I would be doing that!

I also see you have a lot of plants and flowers, especially roses growing, you must like spending time taking care of all the flowers?

Oh, yes Grandpa (Jesus) planted all the roses every single one of them. I go outside and water my plants and pull weeds.

Jesus & Augustina Rosales 1990 in
front of their house in Jourdanton, TX

I take it that you have no plans on moving from here?

Oh no, I don't know if I can do two more years. I'm on the last string. A lot of people say I'm gonna live to be a 100 years old. I say no, I don't even dream about it.

ANALYSIS

The one thing I learned from interviewing my Grandmother, Augustina, was that she had to overcome so much. Her father died when she was only 10 years old, and she had to drop out of school after only completing the fifth grade to work in order to help her family survive. I never knew how my Grandmother lived when she was growing up. I knew her father was sick and they didn't have much money, but I never knew that she lived out under a tree, basically homeless. I also was surprised to hear the stories about discrimination, I had no idea Hispanic people were treated differently even in a little town like Tilden. I look back at my Grandmother's life, and I now understand why she doesn't like change in her life. She expects things to be in order, she does not welcome change; this is because she had to endure so many changes while growing up. The best benefits about this project was that I had a chance to listen to a person's personal history right from the source. The only drawbacks were that when I had my mother (Augustina's daughter Rosa Rosales Elkins) help me translate the transcript she would constantly correct my Grandmother's recollection. This is a prime example of how everyone has a different perspective about everything, even about the past. I do believe that this is an effective way about learning of the past. In my case, even though my Mother might not have agreed on the sequence of the information my Grandmother was telling me; she did agree the information was true. I happen to be happy with the information I received, even if at times my Grandmother got it turned around. Overall, I learned about my Grandmother's past, and I mostly enjoyed spending the time with my Grandmother, and listening to her stories; that to me is priceless.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Patton, Jennifer/ Criswell, Jacob . Small Town History-Jourdanton, Texas Robert R. Hines, Department of History, Palo Alto College http://pacweb.alamo.edu/InteractiveHistory/projects/rhines/Students.htm#projects (2003). Histories of Small Towns in South Texas. On this web site you will find the research that has been conducted Mr. Hines History 1301 students. It has a main focus on towns in South Texas primarily surrounding San Antonio, Texas.

Brown, Delle Colwell Leesville, Texas The Handbook of Texas online, The Texas State Historical Association http://www.tsha.utexas .edu/handbook/online/ (2002).The Handbook of Texas Online is a multi disciplinary encyclopedia of Texas history, geography, and culture sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association and the General Libraries at UT Austin.

Brinkhous,Teresa A. Panna Maria, Texas Robert R. Hines, Department of History, Palo Alto College http://www.accd.edu/ pac/history/rhines/Students.htm#projects (2003). Histories of Small Towns in South Texas. On this web site you will find the research that has been conducted Mr. Hines History 1301 students. It has a main focus on towns in South Texas primarily surrounding San Antonio, Texas.

An Analysis of Texas Waterways (Austin: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1974). Frio River The Handbook of Texas online, The Texas State Historical Association http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/ (2002).The Handbook of Texas Online is a multi disciplinary encyclopedia of Texas history, geography, and culture sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association and the General Libraries at UT Austin.

Smelley, Renee McMullen County McMullen County TXGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/ ~txgenweb/(2003)This web site has a lot of information and history of McMullen County. It has pictures and vital statistic information, this project is continuous effort and openly asks for any information individuals might have that relate to McMullen County.

Yantis Company, Yantis Construction Company The Yantis Company Home Page http://www.yantiscompany.com (2002) This web site includes the company's philosophy, management, and employment opportunities, as well as other company information. I added this site because our family has had ties to this company for about 30 years; my Grandfather Jesus worked here, and my Uncles Jesse, and Robert are still employed there, and my Grandmother Augustina spoke so highly of this company.

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