Valentine (Val) Valenzuela, Sr. (1851-1945), the patriarch of Patagonia’s Valenzuela family, moved from California to Crittenden 145 years ago. He married Luz Rabago (1858-1909) about 1881, and they had 11 children (six boys and five girls). The family lived for many years on land they homesteaded south of Crittenden. Sometime in the early 1900s they built and moved to a two-story adobe home at 289 Duquesne Rd. in Patagonia. Val Sr. was a consummate businessman, engaging in ranching and mining, and he owned and operated a stage line and meat shop. [Patagonia Regional Times, May 2018]. This article reviews the lives and contributions of his six sons. Next month, Val and Luz’s daughters will be featured.
Antonio “Tony” Maria (1881-1971) was the eldest child who often accompanied his father on his stage line trips. His earliest occupation was as a blacksmith. He married Virginia Corral (1884-1934) in 1907, and they had ten children. By 1920 Tony was working as a mining engineer in the Patagonia mining district. He was also “an expert with an automobile.” [Border Vidette, 4/12/1919]. In 1921 Tony and Virginia built an adobe home at 275 Duquesne Ave. adjacent to Val Sr.’s home, providing easy access to the aunts, uncles, and cousins living next door.
Valentine Jr. (1882-1972) never married and resided in his father’s home most of his life. He was a well-known merchant in Patagonia, working as manager of the Patagonia Commercial Company and the Richardson Real Estate, Mining, and Commercial Corporation store. By 1930 he owned and operated The Corner Store. Val Jr. provided interpreter services to Santa Cruz County and was very active in community affairs, especially the annual rodeo held at the Circle Z ranch to raise funds for Patagonia fire services.
Carlos (1886-1967) served with the American Expeditionary Force in Siberia from 1918 until 1919. After discharge, Carlos worked with his father’s mining operations and later held various laborer jobs. In 1936 Carlos married a young widow, Guadalupe Gomez Johnson; they had one son.
Ricardo (1888-1912) worked as a blacksmith and stage driver. In 1910, while driving the stage between Patagonia and Duquesne, Ricardo witnessed the confrontation between Dr. Andrew Russel and Capt. Stephen O’Connor, which resulted in Dr. Russel’s death. [Patagonia Regional Times, Jan 2022]. He testified at Capt. O’Connor’s trial. [The Oasis, 6/11/1910]. Ricardo and Francisca Bracamonte had one son.
Arturo G. (1890-1951) drove the mail wagon and later became a mining engineer. In 1912 he married Anita Rada; they had no children. Arturo served in France in WWI. He and Anita moved to Nogales where Arturo worked as a Santa Cruz County Superior Court bailiff and interpreter.
The youngest son, Federico “Fred” Fidel (1898-1983), first worked as a salesman with brother Val Jr. He joined the U.S. Customs Service in 1923, working at several Arizona border crossing stations, eventually settling permanently in Naco. [Arizona Republic, 12/4/1963].
Fred married Maria Bonorand in 1930; they had no children. He was working in Naco in 1929 when the town was bombed by Mexican federal troops and was frequently interviewed about his recollections of the event. [The Arizona Republic, 2/22/1978].
Tony, Val Jr., Carlos, and Ricardo remained in Patagonia throughout their lives. The two youngest, Arturo and Fred pursued careers in Nogales and Naco respectively.
Tony and Val Jr. both lived to age 90; Fred lived to age 85. Carlos and Arturo lived into their 50s and 60s. Ricardo died about 1912 when he was only 22; no record of the date or cause of his death has been located.